Ministry of Concern will have furniture program back on the road soon
Provided photo: Chris Chilson (left), Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Chief, hands the keys to a truck to Laverne Bates, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. They are pictured by a low mileage truck in red that was purchased by GOMOC from FHM. The previous truck in yellow needed costly repairs.
ALBION – A furniture program operated by the Genesee-Orleans Minsitry of Concern should be back on the road later this month after the agency purchased a low-mileage truck from the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire District.
The program has been suspended due to a disabled truck that was too costly to repair. The 2004 GMC Savana van had about 160,000 miles and needed another engine, and other repairs totaling $8,000.
The predicament was highlighted in news stories by the Orleans Hub and The Daily News of Batavia, resulting in donations from the public for a replacement truck.
“Generous donations from the community provided the needed finances to complete the deal,” GOMOC stated in a news release today. “The Furniture Program will be back and fully operational before the end of September.”
GOMOC picks up used appliances and furniture and matches them with people in need in Orleans and Genesee counties. There are about 100 people on a waiting list for furniture and appliances – refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers.
Two part-time employees run the furniture program, which on average makes deliveries to 23 families each month or nearly 300 a year.
“This great team effort will provide needed furniture, bedding and appliances to families in need for years to come,” GOMOC said in a statement. “Many poor and working poor in our community are cash strapped when it comes to having the money to buy expensive household items such as stoves, refrigerators, beds and other household furnishings. To meet basic needs, they often have no alternative but to turn to rent-to-own businesses or make credit arrangements with high interest rates. They end up paying three times the amount they would have paid if they had the upfront cash to buy new.”
The GOMOC service helps people who have gently used household items to donate by providing free pick-up.
“We are grateful to our donors and to the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Department for the role they have played in getting getting our furniture program us and running again,” GOMOC stated. “ With ongoing support from our donors to pay for staff working in the program we will continue to provide this valuable service to the community.”
