furniture bank final report

1

Moving furniture and lives one

donation at a time.

First Methodist

Furniture Bank

November 29, 2012

3

Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary …………………………………………………………… pg. 5 - 8

Overview ………………………………………………………………………. pg. 9 - 12

Proposal ……………………………………………………………………….. pg. 14 - 16

Costs …………………………………………………………………………… pg. 17 - 20

Website ………………………………………………………………………… pg. 21 - 27

Logo ……………………………………………………………………………. pg. 29 - 30

Deliverables ……………………………………………………………………. pg. 31 - 36,

………………………………………………………………………………………. 79 - 80

Church Event …………………………………………………………………… pg. 37 - 39

News Conference ………………………………………………………………. pg. 41 - 43

Media Advisory Templates …………………………………………………….. pg. 45 - 47

Media Advisory ………………………………………………………………… pg. 49 - 50

News Release …………………………………………………………………… pg. 51 - 55

Invitations ………………………………………………………………………. pg. 57 - 60

News Conference Script ………………………………………………………… pg. 61 - 67

Newspaper Articles ………………………………………………………………pg. 69 - 75

Future Moves ……………………………………………………………………. pg. 77

Meet Our Team ………………………………………………………………… pg. 81 - 82

5


Executive Summary:

6


Executive Summary

This report covers our efforts to launch the First United Methodist Furniture Bank,

which is a part of a larger Furniture Cooperative. Located in Lafayette, Indiana, the Bank pro-

vides furniture to families in need through multiple agencies in the Greater Lafayette Area

and Tippecanoe County. The organization uses a donated warehouse and costs are covered by

the First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette. Its intensive labor is handled by un-

paid volunteers and operational communication and records are maintained by FUMC church

members. When we evaluated the internal and external factors of the Furniture Bank we

found that the warehouse being used was not open to the public and the organization had few

reliable staff members available to monitor activities of the warehouse itself. It also wasn’t

well known in the community.

We then did an analysis on the Furniture Bank’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities

and challenges. We assessed that the current cooperative and facility, that included the cur-

rent supply of donated furniture at the moment in time, was a strong point for the organiza-

tion. The weaknesses included no regular hours of operations and the lack of communication

among church leaders was limiting the organization’s outreach in the community. The Bank

had several opportunities which included efforts to launch the agency publicly and informing

and recruiting the community. The challenges for the non-profit included possible long-term

commitment problems, other agencies and businesses that accept furniture and finding usable

space for furniture deliveries.

7


From this analysis our proposal was created. In the proposal we outlined five goals to

accomplish for the Furniture Bank. These were: (1) Publicly launch the Furniture Bank in the

community; (2) increase furniture donations; (3) increase volunteers; (4) generate monetary

donations; and (5) increase church community involvement. From these goals we developed

our objectives, strategies and tactics. Our objectives included increasing awareness in the

community through media, promotion and online information. We also included donation and

volunteer goals for the Bank, set to specific numerical goals. From these objectives our

strategies emerged. We planned to create an event to launch the Furniture Bank, improve web

content, reach out to key audiences and create a new county-wide missions-related

organization to address community needs. Our tactics for achieving these goals included

holding a furniture drive and community pick-up day, and creating a lunch for all church

mission representatives in Tippecanoe County to raise awareness of the Furniture Bank. We

also organized and managed a news conference and issued a press release to media regarding

the Furniture Bank and the furniture drive. Other tactics included improving the current web

site, creating a logo and an e-invitation, ghost-writing a letter-to-the-editor to send to local

newspapers and creating and distributing flyers. We also created brochures and business

cards to help promote the Furniture Bank as well as a pull-up banner to be used at the church

event and press conference. Photos and copies of these supporting materials can be found in

this report.

On October 22, 2012, we held a joint news conference for the launch of the Furniture

Bank and Furniture Cooperative at the American Red Cross conference room at the Howarth

Center. Local media such as WLFI, WBAA and Journal and Courier were in attendance. All

of the preparations, scripts, media advisories, new releases, video, pictures and invites to

respected members of the community also are contained in this report. On Oct. 27, the

furniture drive and community pick-up day took place to great success. The event was

covered by the local TV news channel. A Purdue fraternity,

volunteers for Purdue’s “Make A Difference Day,” members of the

church and Coca Cola Refreshments participated. We were able to

accomplish our goals for the drive, which can be found in this

report in more detail.

8


There were several opportunities that we weren’t able to accomplish that the

organization can focus on in the future. One of those objectives is to raise monetary donations

for mattresses, because mattresses are hard to come by for actual donations. Another

objective that we weren’t able to achieve is focusing on obtaining reliable volunteers that can

do future furniture pick-ups. The Furniture Bank can also focus on working with several local

organizations to help move furniture and organize the warehouse. Another objective the

organization can also do is to contact Life Care and Matrix and request that they forward

furniture donations that they are unable to store to the Furniture Bank. The Furniture Bank

can continue to the refine its community outreaches by improving and maintaining

membership with its current Furniture Cooperative it is a part of and the local area churches

involvement. The organization is growing and will continue to grow with these

recommendations and continuation of the set goals and strategies that we laid out through this

report.

9


Overview:

10

The First Methodist Furniture Bank is an up-and-coming charity created to provide

furniture to families in need. Along with two other agencies, the furniture bank collects

furniture as donations from the community in the Greater Lafayette are of Indiana. These

three warehouses are a part of a cooperative of non-profit agencies that help distribute the

donated furniture to families in need.

First Methodist Furniture Bank uses a donated warehouse to store all furniture

donated by the community. Incidental costs for the furniture bank are covered by the

Mission and Social Concerns Committee of First Methodist. First Methodist Furniture

Bank was able to buy mattresses with the church’s endowment fund. Unpaid volunteers are

used for all labor intensive work.

First Church

on a Mission...


11

Location: 501 N. Third St. (between Brown and Cincinnati)

Clientele

American Red Cross, Tippecanoe County Chapter

Bauer Community Center

Family Promise

First United Methodist Church

Food Finder’s Food Bank Inc.

Lafayette Transitional Housing Center

Lafayette Urban Ministry

Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County

The Salvation Army

Wabash Valley Mental Health Center

Weed and Seed

YWCA Domestic Violence and Intervention Program

Scope: The First Methodist Furniture Bank was created to help provide free furniture and household

items to clients assisted by non-profit agencies. It serves clients of agencies in Tippecanoe County.

Without overt publicity, the furniture bank has taken more than 160 pieces of furniture including

couches, chairs, beds, dressers, tables and other items. Of those, more than 85 pieces has been

distributed as of Sept. 12.

Internal/External Factors

Internal

The furniture bank warehouse is not open to public

There is few staff available to help monitor the warehouse and its inventory

There is a lack of information available about the furniture bank and what it has to offer.

External

There are a good number of agencies using the furniture bank as a source to help families

in need

The furniture bank needs to find people that are willing to volunteer even though there are

no regular set hours.


12

Strengths:

The warehouse location provides a large space to store many more furniture donations.

The furniture bank is a part of a larger cooperative that includes many other local non-

profit agencies. There are also several other local businesses and organizations that

support the furniture bank. There is a substantial amount of existing furniture available.

Working solely with other agencies, as opposed to the community directly, allows First

Methodist Furniture Bank to be specialized and focused on collecting donations.

Weaknesses:

There are no regular hours of operation for the warehouse or for donation pick-ups.

Little information is currently available to the public about the furniture bank. The

communication among church leaders is poor, limiting the organization’s outreach to

the Greater Lafayette community.

Opportunities:

First Methodist Furniture Bank has many opportunities surrounding its efforts to

launch the agency publicly. The furniture bank hopes to be able to inform the people in

the community and other agencies about First Methodist Furniture Bank by holding a

news release. It wants to be able to recruit volunteers and donors. It wishes the oppor-

tunity to host events that could result in monetary donations to be used for the purchase

of mattresses. The furniture bank wishes to add to what is currently available online

and create a website.

Challenges:

Volunteers might not commit long term. There are other

agencies in the Lafayette area that also accept furniture,

which could affect donations. Another challenge may be

finding a usable space for furniture to be delivered because

First Methodist Furniture Bank does not want furniture

delivered directly to the warehouse.


13


Proposal:

14

Goals

Launch the First Methodist Furniture Bank

Increase furniture donations

Increase volunteers

Generate monetary donations

Increase church community involvement

Objectives

Increase awareness of the furniture bank within the community.

Increase the amount of information available online

Increase furniture donations to two per week

Raise money to help pay for mattresses

Gain at least two additional volunteer drivers for furniture pick-ups and two organizations

willing and able to help move furniture and organize the warehouse

Strategies

Create event to launch the furniture bank

Create a new county-wide missions-related

organization to discuss ideas and efforts to

address community needs


15

Tactics

Hold a furniture drive and community pick-up day event

Set up drop-off locations for furniture donations

Recruit volunteer drivers, i.e., local churches, youth groups, etc., for the day

to help with the furniture drive

Attend and help with the First United Methodist Church’s dinner/event to raise

awareness for the furniture bank

Design and send invitations

Write a script

Create a PowerPoint

Set up room

Distribute name badges

Create an informational piece that can be given to participants.

Discuss the use of a newsletter to better connect and organize church efforts

in the community

Hold a news conference and issue a press release to raise awareness for the furni-

ture drive and community pick-up day event that will advertise the furniture bank in

general

Call and email media representatives/media advisory

Contact previous clients and see if anyone is willing to write a testimonial,

be contacted by media about their experience or attend the news conference

Invite necessary representatives of the furniture bank and cooperative to

speak at the news conference

Send out a press release to media unable to attend the news conference


16

Tactics Continued

Make current page on the First Methodist site more visually interesting

Create a website that will include information such as the furniture bank’s mis-

sion, goals, needs and information on how to help

Include information online letting people know that drivers are needed

and who they can contact if they are interested in volunteering

Add information online to let interested parties know why the furniture

bank needs donations and how to donate

Ghost-write an article/

opinion column to send

to local newspapers

Create brochures, flyers

and business cards that

include information

about the furniture bank,

i.e., the cause, needs, contact information, etc.

Distribute flyers with information about the furniture bank services for the

furniture drive at local businesses and furniture stores, i.e., Furniture Row,

Furniture1 and La-Z-Boy, Lehnen’s and Andersen Furniture


17


Costs:

18


Description of Project 250 Words or Less (use a separate sheet if needed)

Income of Proposed Budget

List expected revenue for the project (if any) including sources and amounts. Community or-

ganizations or agencies receiving the service might choose to participate in the cost of the pro-

ject or service. (use a separate sheet if needed)

We would like to help launch the First Methodist Furniture Bank. The furniture bank

is a warehouse that stores donated furniture and forwards those furniture donations to

other local nonprofit agencies who can then provide them at no charge to local fami-

lies in need. We would like to implement a public relations campaign that will help

the furniture bank to increase its donations and volunteers. We would also like to

make an effort to raise money for the furniture bank that would be applied to the pur-

chase of mattresses for families in need. This opportunity would not only help a local

organization and worthy cause, but would also help our student team to learn about

public relations through a unique hands-on experience.

To do this, we propose to create a news conference, utilize news media, create infor-

mation packets for media, create brochures and business cards and create signage for

a furniture drop-off event. In addition, we will partner with another class team to cre-

ate the first county-wide conference of missions representatives. At that conference,

we will announce the furniture bank and ask for volunteers and donations. We also

will use it as a launching pad to create the county’s first e-newsletter for area churches

through which to announce service activities and needs of non-profit organizations.

A local church will provide in-kind donations of food for the event.

19


Expenses of Proposed Budget

Provide an itemized list of the expected expenses by expenditure type that will be charged to

this grant. The following items are included as approvable expenditures: publicity, printing,

postage, transportation, supplies and materials necessary to complete the project, and minimal

refreshment costs where justified as necessary for the service or project. (use a separate sheet

if needed)

Printed materials: $700

Tri-fold color brochures

Full-page flyers

Business cards

Press packets

Web: $50

Domain name for website

Banner with furniture bank’s logo for news conference and events: $300

Event: $150

Supplies for church event

Rental of equipment and

Technical support

Report: $100

6 final reports printed with campaign summary and references for the furni-

ture bank

20


Final Expenses:

Printed materials: $335

Tri-fold color brochures - $302

Flyers (Full with tear offs and double) - $33

Business cards - Donated by Food Finders group $36

Banner with furniture bank’s logo for news conference and events: $165

Report: Donated by the Food Finders group $82

21

Website:


22

http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture


23

http://www.fumcwl.org/whatweaccept


24

http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture4


25

http://www.fumcwl.org/getinvolved


26



27



29

Logo:


30


Logo:

31

Deliverables:


32


Brochure:

33


Banner:

34

Donate to families in need

Sponsored by First Methodist Furniture Bank

and Weed & Seed

Furniture Drive!

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Date: Saturday October 27th

Drop off: at parking lot on SE corner of 3rd and Cincinnati

Arrange for pickup: [email protected] by Friday or call

765-491-1460 on Saturday

After Saturday, call 765-426-1403 or 765-807-1087

For more info contact Jeanne Norberg 765-491-1460, email:

[email protected]


Flyer:

35

Flyer:


36

Business Card:


Want to donate? Email us

at: [email protected]

For more information,

contact Jeanne Norberg

765.491.1460

Need furniture? Call 211 or

work through one of the

social service agencies listed

on our website:

37


Church Event:

38

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]

On Behalf Of Norberg, Jeanne V

Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 3:22 PM

To: [email protected]

Cc: Ethan Walter; Erin Mullen; Susan Bonitati; Jasmine Windham; Rachel Camp; Colleen

Quinn; Melanie Spitznagel; Jordan Hartig

Subject: [Missions] Summary from Sunday's Tippecanoe County on a Mission gathering

Thanks all of you who participated in “Tippecanoe County on a Mission” Sunday at First United

Methodist Church. We had a very good turn out.

Each church not only shared information about the missions its congregation supports, but some

participants also reminded us to honor the dignity of those we serve. Let the individuals we are

helping assist as well, whether cooking a community meal or helping with the logistics of a mo-

bile food pantry.

There were a few announcements:

First United Methodist Church has launched a furniture bank to provide good used furniture at no

charge to those in need. Attached is the announcement from the news conference held today to

launch the First Methodist Furniture Bank as well as a flyer for a furniture drive planned for

Saturday kick off the effort. Please forward both to anyone who may be able to help.


39

We’ve been challenged to a competition to see which church can raise the most food

Drive Away Hunger food drive for Food Finders Food Bank Oct. 25-Nov. 30. Please join

the competition by filling out the attached application form. Instructions also are at-

tached.

Lafayette Urban Ministry has stepped up its social media presence and plans to carry

news from its church members. Churches then canforward that to their congregations or

forward selected sections in their own e-news letters or add items to their bulletins. This

will go a long way to helping us all communicate better. I look forward to hearing more

specificsfrom Joe Micon, LUM’s executive director. You can reach Joe at

[email protected].

Congress Street United Methodist Church is looking for help in its effort to provide fire-

wood to those in need as well as help sort through grain leftover from farmers’ markets

and the like. Volunteers identify what can be useful to Food Finders and its agency part-

ners.

What am I forgetting? Feel free to chime in!

Best,

Jeanne

Jeanne Norberg


765-491-1460

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

41

News Conference:


42

Pitch—

Make the calls Oct. 10 & 11

Hi my name is Jasmine Windham and I am in Jeanne Norberg’s public relations class. I am

calling you to invite you to a news conference that will be announcing a major initiative

among non-profit organizations serving the low-income residents of Tippecanoe County. The

conference will be held on at 1:30 on Oct. 22, 2012.

I would like to send the (Journal and Courier/WBAA/

WLFI) additional information. Are you the correct person

to send this to? Do I have the correct contact infor-

mation? (read off email).

If it is the right person, email it right away.

If it the wrong person, contact the right one and start over.

DO NOT leave a message. If they are not there, call

back


43

JC:

Dorothy Schneider, Local Editor:

[email protected]

765-420-5339

Best times to call: 10-4 Monday-Friday

WLFI

Ask the receptionist for the newsroom (not for Jeff Smith). Once you get the

newsroom, as for Jeff Smith, news director. This will help you avoid voice mail.

[email protected]

463-1800:

Best times to call: 10-11 and 2-4 Monday-Friday


WBAA

Mike Loizzo, news director

[email protected]

765-494-3969

Best times to call: 9-11 and 2-4 Monday-Friday




45

Media Advisory

Templates:


46

Furniture Cooperative Of Greater Lafayette

Making Empty Houses Homes

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date

Contact:

Phone:

Cell Phone:

Email:

Title

What:

When:

Why:

Who:

Where:

The Furniture Collaborative of Greater Lafayette provides good used furniture to Tippecanoe

County non-profit service agencies whose clients are in need. It consists of the First Methodist

Furniture Bank, Weed and Seed and area social service agencies.

###


Template:

47

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date

Contact:

Phone:

Cell Phone:

Email:

Title

What:

When:

Why:

Who:

Where:

The First Methodist Furniture Bank was founded by the First United Methodist Church of West

Lafayette, Indiana. The bank provides good used furniture to Tippecanoe County non-profit ser-

vice agencies whose clients are in need. The bank is also a part of a furniture cooperative that

consists of Weed and Seed and area social service agencies.

###


Template:

49

Media Advisory:


50

MEDIA ADVISORY Oct. 8, 2012

Contact: Jeanne Norberg

Phone: (765) 494-2084

Cell Phone: (765) 491-1460

Email: [email protected]

Announcement of a major initiative to help the Greater Lafayette area.

What: News conference

When: Monday, October 22, 2012, 1:30p.m. ET

Why: To announce a major initiative among non-profit organizations serving the low-income resi-

dents of Tippecanoe County.

Who: Jennifer Leighton, executive director, Lafayette Transitional Housing Center

Jeanne Norberg, First United Methodist Church

Adam Murphy, the site coordinator, Weed and Seed

Bob Wollenburg, the executive director, Tippecanoe County Chapter of the American

Red Cross

Where: American Red Cross conference room

615 North 18th Street, Lafayette, Indiana

(Howarth Center on 18th Street just south of Union Street)

The First Methodist Furniture Bank was founded by the First United Methodist Church of West

Lafayette, Indiana. The bank provides good used furniture to Tippecanoe County non-profit service

agencies whose clients are in need. The bank is also a part of a furniture cooperative that consists of

Weed and Seed and area social service agencies.

###


51

News Release:


52



October 22, 2012

Cooperative formed to provide free used furnishings to disadvantaged

Area agencies and a West Lafayette church have joined hands to meet a long-standing need

for disadvantaged members of the community.

Together they have formed a cooperative to supply free used furniture and household goods

for individuals and families getting back on their feet after a fire, unemployment or tragedy.

Two downtown warehouses store the donated items until needed. One is operated by First

United Methodist Church in West Lafayette (www.fumcwl.org/furniture) and the other is

maintained by the City of Lafayette’s Weed and Seed program.

To kick off the partnership, the group will hold a furniture drive 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

(10/27). Used furniture and furnishings can be dropped off at the parking lot at Cincinnati and

Third streets just north of the downtown. Donors who need items picked up can make

arrangements by e-mailing [email protected] by Friday evening or by calling 765-491-1460

on Saturday. Trucks will by participating agencies and the Coca-Cola Refreshments in Lafayette.

After Saturday, donors can leave a message to arrange for a

pick at either (765) 426-1403 or 765-807-1087.

For the new First Methodist Furniture Bank, members of the

congregation pick up donated furnishings with the help of area

students. Weed and Seed collects household items and small

appliances as well as furniture. Area agencies access the

warehouses’ inventory online and choose the furnishings for

their clients.


53

“Several agencies told us that one of their most critical, unmet needs is furniture,” said

Jeanne Norberg, who helped start the First Methodist Furniture Bank. “The agencies get people

back on their feet and into housing, but they have struggled to supply furniture and day-to-day

items we all need like sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, dishes, silverware, pots and pans.

“A community like ours certainly can meet this challenge. We are especially pleased that

students have joined the First Methodist effort, including members of the Purdue’s Glee Club

and two fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Kappa Tau, as well as members of the West

Lafayette football team.”

Adam Murphy, Weed and Seed site coordinator, has operated his warehouse since 2008.

Murphy says, “We use donated furniture and household items to outfit new living spaces for the

chronically homeless, persons returning from incarceration, and domestic violence victim fami-

lies. We live in a very generous community, and so what items we have beyond our program

needs are made available to other agencies for their clients.”

Participating agencies agree to share any furniture they may have as well as to direct do-

nors to the First Methodist or Weed and Seed warehouses. Community members in need work

through the agencies for assistance. The agencies involved so far include:

• American Red Cross, Tippecanoe County Chapter

• Bauer Community Center

• Family Promise

• First United Methodist Church

• Food Finder’s Food Bank Inc.

• Lafayette Transitional Housing Center

• Lafayette Urban Ministry

• Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County

• The Salvation Army

• Wabash Valley Mental Health Center

• Weed and Seed

• YWCA Domestic Violence and Intervention Program


54

Jennifer Layton, executive director for Lafayette Transitional Housing Center, said the

cooperative began quietly accepting furniture in June and already has picked up over 200 items

and helped scores of families.

“Lafayette Transitional Housing helps people who are homeless or in a housing crisis,”

Layton said. “Our first delivery was for an elderly woman who had heart surgery and couldn’t

be released from the hospital because she didn’t have a bed. All she had in her apartment was a

lawn chair. More recently, a 7-year-old little girl couldn’t stop smiling when she came to pick

up her first bed and dresser. She had been sleeping on the floor with all she owned in a box.”

Bob Wollenburg, executive director of the American Red Cross Tippecanoe Chapter,

says his agency often needs furniture to assist clients who lose everything in a fire but it’s hard

to keep up with demand.

"This co-operative, led by First United Methodist, enables the Red Cross and other com-

munity agencies to do a better job of helping out in an emergency,” Wollenburg said. “Instead

of spending valuable time hunting for furnishings, we can focus on aiding in other ways.”

Used furniture also can find a home at several other locations that sell items, with the

proceeds going to support specific agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big

Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and Trinity Mission.


55

“The main difference,” Murphy said, “is that these organizations sell donated items to

raise money for good causes. The Greater Lafayette Furniture Cooperative directly benefits

those who cannot even afford thrift store prices.”

Area businesses also are stepping up to help, including Lehnen’s furniture, which has

supplied shelving; Magna Dry, which is providing cleaning supplies; and Anderson Furniture

Galleries, which is providing at-cost bedding.

“Our greatest challenge is mattresses and bed frames,” Norberg said. “Because of con-

cerns about bed bugs, we try to buy new ones and can use financial support toward that.”

Contacts:

Jeanne Norberg, First United Methodist Church: 765-491-1460, [email protected]

Adam Murphy, 765-807-1087, [email protected]

Jennifer Layton, executive director, Lafayette Transitional Housing Corp., 765-423-4880, JLay-

[email protected]

Bob Wollenburg, executive director, American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Chapter, 765-742

-6975 x2210, [email protected]


57

Invitations:


58



Mayor John Dennis

City of West Lafayette

609 W. Navajo St

West Lafayette, Ind. 47906

October 8, 2012

Dear Mayor Dennis,

We would like to invite you or your representative to join us at 1:30 Monday Oct. 22 for a news

conference to announce the formation of the Furniture Cooperative of Greater Lafayette. The event

will take place at conference room of the American Red Cross, Howarth Center, 612 N. 18th St.,

Lafayette.

The cooperative is comprised of the new First Methodist Furniture Bank, Weed and Seed and area

social service agencies, who say that used furniture is one of the greatest needs for their clients.

Speakers at the news conference are Jeanne Norberg from First Methodist; Adam Murphy, site co-

ordinator for Weed and Seed; Jennifer Layton of Lafayette Transitional Housing Center; and Bob

Wollenburg, executive director of the American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Chapter.

This information is confidential until the news conference.

Please let us know if you can attend by emailing [email protected].

Sincerely,

Jeanne Norberg


Adam Murphy

Weed and Seed


Invitation:


59



Rev. Dan Berger


1700 State Road 26 W

West Lafayette, IN 47906

October 8, 2012

Dear Rev. Berger,


conference to announce the formation of the Furniture Cooperative of Greater Lafayette. The

event will take place at conference room of the American Red Cross, Howarth Center, 612 N. 18th

St., Lafayette.



Speakers at the news conference are Jeanne Norberg from First Methodist; Adam Murphy, site

coordinator for Weed and Seed; Jennifer Layton of Lafayette Transitional Housing Center; and

Bob Wollenburg, executive director of the American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Chapter.



Sincerely,

Jeanne Norberg


Adam Murphy

Weed and Seed


Invitation:


60



Mayor Tony Roswarski

City of Lafayette

20 N. 6th St.

Lafayette, Ind. 47901

October 8, 2012

Dear Mayor Roswarski,


conference to announce the formation of the Furniture Cooperative of Greater Lafayette. The event

will take place at conference room of the American Red Cross, Howarth Center, 612 N. 18th St.,

Lafayette.



Speakers at the news conference are Jeanne Norberg from First Methodist; Adam Murphy, site co-

ordinator for Weed and Seed; Jennifer Layton of Lafayette Transitional Housing Center; and Bob

Wollenburg, executive director of the American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Chapter.



Sincerely,

Jeanne Norberg


Adam Murphy

Weed and Seed


Invitation:


61

News Conference

Script:


62

Furniture Cooperative

Of Greater Lafayette Making Empty Houses Homes

To: Adam Murphy, Jennifer Layton, Bob Wollenburg

From: Jeanne Norberg

Date: October 18, 2012

Thank you for taking time to speak at the news conference launching the Furniture Cooperative

of Greater Lafayette, First Methodist Furniture Bank, and the upcoming furniture drive. The

news conference will start at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22 in the Red Cross conference room. We

hope you will invite staff to attend as well to help express their interest.

To ensure that our comments do not overlap, I suggest the following topics for each:

Jordan Hartig (Student moderator): Will welcome guests and any city officials and then

introduce the speakers.

Jeanne Norberg (Furniture Bank) – Will announce the formation of the Furniture Cooperative

of Greater Lafayette and the First Methodist Furniture Bank, explain how they work and suggest

how the public can help.


Script for News Conference:

63

Adam Murphy (Weed and Seed) – Will announce the furniture drive being held at 9 a.m. – 1

p.m. Saturday (Oct. 27). He will identify the agencies that are part of the cooperative, explain

how others may join, and explain what part Weed and Seed plays in the cooperative.

Jennifer Layton (Transitional Housing) – Will give examples of the need and those who have

been helped.

Bob Wollenburg (Red Cross) – Will give examples of the need and urge participation in the

furniture drive.

Moderator Hartig: After the speakers are finished, she will ask for questions and comments

from audience and media.

At the conclusion of the news conference: Speakers should plan to make themselves

available to the news media should they want individual interviews.

Jennifer, if you have a client who might want to talk during the actual news conference, please

let me know and we can add him or her.

Thank you for your help. I look forward to seeing you Monday. The news release, which you

have already reviewed, will be provided to the news media at the time of the news conference.


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Introduction: Good afternoon and welcome. My name is Jordan Hartig and I will be the moderator this after-

noon for this very special news conference. We’d like to share our thanks and appreciation to the

Journal & Courier, WLFI and WBAA for being here. We would also like to thank Mayor Tony

Roswarski for dedicating his time with us and all of the agencies and guests that join us today.

This afternoon, the order of speakers will be as follows:

Jeanne Norberg with First United Methodist Church will start us off.

Followed by Adam Murphy, Site Coordinator at Weed and Seed,

Next will be Bob Wollenburg, Executive Director at the American Red Cross here in Tippecanoe

County

Jennifer Layton, Executive Director at the Lafayette Transitional Housing Center and

Her client Jennifer Faurote and daughter Baylee will wrap things up.

After the speakers have finished, I will open up the news conference to questions and comments

from the media and audience, followed by one-on-one interviews with the speakers if desired

from the media

So now let me invite Jeanne Norberg to the podium.


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News Conference

1:30 p.m. 10/22/2012

Red Cross conference room

Comments by Jeanne Norberg, First Methodist Church

We are here today because of the “Can Do” spirit and caring hearts of this community.

Today we are announcing the formation of the First Methodist Furniture Bank and the Furniture

Cooperative of Greater Lafayette.

Social service agencies have said for a long time that one of their greatest needs was good used

furniture. People who lose their housing — through a fire, after they are laid off or in the wake of

monumental medical issues — also lose their furnishing, what little they may have. If you loose

your housing, there is no place to put furniture, so you have to give it away.

Area social service agencies work with these individuals to get them back on their feet, back into

jobs, back into housing…. but the housing is unfurnished.

Surely, we said, in a community like ours, we can solve this problem. All we needed was lo-

gistics and a cooperative spirit. That spirit formed our Furniture Cooperative and the First Meth-

odist Furniture Bank, two of the three main legs in this effort. The other is Weed and Seed, an

agency of the city of

Lafayette.

The key was that all the

agencies in the coopera-

tive — now a dozen —

pledged to help the

Furniture Bank and help

one another.


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I’m going to tell you about the First Methodist Furniture Bank, how it works, who is helping,

and what help is still needed. Adam will tell you about Weed and Seed and a furniture drive

we have coming up Saturday. Jennifer and Bob are here to talk about the need for the furni-

ture. Jennifer Faurote, who was one of the first recipients of furniture, will talk about her fami-

ly’s experience.

The Furniture Bank, is comprised of several sets of volunteers:

Since May, we have been picking up donated furniture thanks to the trucks of

First Methodist Men

The agencies in our cooperative

And the muscle of West Lafayette

football team and three Purdue

groups

▪ Alpha Tau Omega

▪ Phi Kappa Tau fraternity

▪ And the Purdue Glee Club

Coca-Cola Refreshments also is

helping for our furniture drive.

We store the furniture in a donated warehouse, where we have fabulous shelving donated

by Lehnen’s furniture

First Methodist women inventory the items and post the inventory on line with photos.

Agencies then shop on line for the furniture with their clients.

We’ve moved 200 pieces of furniture since we started in May. But this is more than just about

furniture. We are helping on average 2-3 families a week.


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How can the community help?

Donate for the furniture drive Saturday or any time after that.

Provide trucks. Provide muscle.

Donate money to help buy mattresses. Anderson Furniture Galleries is selling them to us at

cost, $64 for a twin.

Help spread the word. One of the groups that

have stepped up to help with that is a team of

students from a PR class at Purdue who have

helped put together this news conference and

publicity for the furniture drive.

A few other points:

Any contribution is tax deductible.

And I need to make an important distinction:

The Furniture Cooperative agencies and the First Methodist Furniture Bank are the

only ones that give furniture and household goods away at no charge.

There are other organizations in town that accept used furniture and then sell it to

raise money for very worthwhile organization such as Habitat, Boys and Girls

Club, BBBS and Trinity Missions.

Unfortunately, our clients cannot afford even these discounted prices.

Our Furniture Cooperative and the First Methodist Furniture Bank began earlier this year as

a leap of faith — with the premise that surely, in a community like Lafayette, we can solve

this problem. I’m please to tell you – we are succeeding.

Next you will hear from Adam Murphy, site coordinator of Weed and Seed.


69

Newspaper Articles:


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WLFI 1:

Church holds furniture-donation drive Updated: Friday, 26 Oct 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

Published : Friday, 26 Oct 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Groups in the Greater Lafayette

area responding to the need for gently used furniture for the

city's less fortunate.

The First United Methodist Church and the City of Lafayette's

"Weed and Seed" program announced their collaboration to

form the "Furniture Co-operative of Greater Lafayette" at the American Red Cross.

Organizers say when people donate used furniture, it's put in an online database.

Social service agencies can then work with their clients to pick out furniture..

"There are people in this community who have a desperate need for furniture, and agencies

who have told us it is their No. 1 need – good used furniture,” First United Methodist Church’s

Jeanne Norberg said. “We talked about (it) and we took a leap of faith. (We) said, 'Surely in a

community like this we can make this happen,' and today we showed we can do it.”

The furniture co-operative will hold a furniture drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the

corner of Third and Cincinnati streets in downtown Lafayette.


71

WLFI 2: The Furniture Co-operative of Greater

Lafayette responds to the need for furniture Updated: Monday, 29 Oct 2012, 10:00 AM EDT

Published : Sunday, 28 Oct 2012, 12:11 AM EDT

Kelly Roberts

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Truck after truck unloaded couch after chair Saturday at the

Furniture Co-operative of Greater Lafayette's first furniture drive.

"We had more than 24 locations we went for pickups," Jeanne Norberg with the First United

Methodist Furniture Bank said. "People have been dropping things off all morning long."

The co-operative combines the efforts of the furniture bank and the City of Lafayette's Weed and

Seed program.

"We've actually been open since May," Norberg said. "We have our system down and ready, and

that's why we had this."

All the furniture is put on an online data base. Then, case workers and their clients can search,

and pick out their furniture.

Jennifer Faurote is a client at Lafayette Transitional Housing, one of the social service agencies

involved with the furniture co-operative. Faurote was able to furnish her home thanks to the

co-operative.

"We were in desperate need because without the couches we have now, we were sitting on the

floor," Faurote said. "When we moved up here we didn't have anything. We didn't have our own

apartment, or money to get our own apartment. Lafayette Transitional Housing helped with that.

Then, we were in need of some furniture, and they helped with that through the furniture bank.

We got two couches, a lamp, and a couple of dressers."

Faurote saw the need for furniture first hand. Norberg said it's people like Faurote who can bring

light to this need.

"The co-operative came from a community-wide need," Norberg said. "We sat down and

thought, 'How can we solve that?'"

"I met a lot of people at Lafayette Transitional Housing, and they were in need of couches, and

dressers, and beds, and stuff too," Faurote said.

Norberg said the furniture drives will continue a couple times a month. If you want to donate

furniture you can call (765) 426-1403 or (765)-807-1087.


72

WBAA:

Furniture Cooperative tries to fill empty houses

BY MIKE LOIZZO

A new effort in the Lafayette area aims at meeting the basic needs of those who are starting

over.

The Furniture Bank offers free items to people who lost their possessions in a fire, those who

are leaving homelessness or making another transition.

It’s run by First United Methodist Church and involves the City of Lafayette’s Weed and Seed

Program and other service organizations. Those seeking furniture will be referred from the

partner agencies.

Jennifer Layton with Lafayette Transitional Housing says the Furniture Bank solves the problem

her staff had with finding acceptable, used items. She says the co-op's website offers pictures

and dimensions for clients to select the items they want.

Jeanne Norberg with First Methodist says the groups are holding a furniture drive Saturday and

not many things will be turned away.

"We're not looking for antiques. We're looking for furniture to fill basic needs - couches, tables,

dressers, beds."

Adam Murphy with Lafayette’s Weed and Seed program says about a dozen agencies are

involved now.


http://wbaa.org/people/mike-loizzo

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WBAA continued:

"And there's more room at the table. If you run a service agency or work at one and think you

should be involved with this, contact us. We'd love to have you."

The cooperative is holding a furniture drive Saturday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Furni-

ture can be dropped off at the parking lot at the corner of Cincinnati and 3rd streets in Lafayette.

Donors who need items picked up can make arrangements by emailing [email protected]

by Friday evening or by calling 765-491-1460 on Saturday.

More information about the Furniture Bank is HERE.


74

Journal & Courier:

Journal & Courier

Furniture bank in Lafayette

collecting to help needy

Furnishings will be collected this weekend to help

build

inventory for a new furniture bank to help area residents in crisis.

Representatives from the Furniture Cooperative of Greater Lafayette, a group of social

service, faith-based and nonprofit agencies, announced Monday the creation of First Meth-

odist Furniture Bank. It will benefit low-income residents, the homeless or people in crisis.

Those in need of furniture can work with member agencies to obtain needed resources at

no charge. The furniture will be housed in two downtown locations.

The cooperative is hosting a furniture drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking

lot on the southeast corner of Third and Cincinnati streets. For more information vis-

it www.fumcwl.org/furniture




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Newspaper Clippings:


77

Future Moves:


78

Future Moves:


There were several opportunities that we weren’t able to accomplish that the

organization can focus on in the future.

▪ Raise monetary donations for mattresses.

▪ Ask locally owned mattress stores to keep and hand out brochures letting people

know of the need, and how to donate money for families in need of mattresses.

▪ Distribute brochures, flyers and business cards with information about the

furniture bank services at local furniture stores, i.e., Furniture Row, Furniture 1,

La-Z-Boy, Lehnen’s and Andersen Furniture.

▪ Contact Life Care and Matrix to request that they forward furniture donations

that they are unable to store at the Furniture Bank.

▪ Obtain reliable volunteers that can do future furniture pick-ups.

▪ Work with several local organizations to help move furniture and organize the

warehouse.

▪ Refine community outreaches by improving and maintaining membership with

its current Furniture Cooperative it is a part of and the local area churches

involvement.

79

DVD 1: 12:20

Jordan Hartig

Jeanne Norberg

Adam Murphy

DVD 2: 12:38

Adam Murphy

Bob Wollenburg

Jennifer Layton

Deliverables:

80

DVD 4: Photos

Church Event

Press Conference

Furniture Drive

DVD 3: 9:01

Media Questions

Deliverables:

81

Meet our Team:

Ethan Walter is a senior at Purdue double majoring in political science and

public relations and advertisement. He is a native of Lafayette, Ind. and

enjoys traveling across the United States taking in the character of the

small towns that make up the country. As an avid hiker and nature lover,

he has hiked parks such as Yellowstone, Glacier and several Canadian

National Parks. He is currently an employee of United Parcel Service Inc.,

where he hopes to continue his career in public relations after graduation. Ethan Walter—Writer

Erin Mullen is a senior at Purdue University majoring in communication,

with a specialization in public relations and rhetorical advocacy. She has

worked as a public relations and marketing consultant for Kelly's Hair

Studio and Serenity Hair Design in Lafayette, Ind. Erin is the director of

opportunities for Purdue's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society

of America (PRSSA). Erin Mullen—Project Manager

Jasmine Windham is a senior at Purdue majoring in public relations and

advertising. She is currently in her second year as an intern in the Purdue

Athletic Promotions Department. Through this internship, she has learned

how to develop marketing plans and coordinate promotional events for

various sports. After graduation, she hopes to begin a career in sports and

entertainment marketing.

Jasmine Windham—Editor

Jordan Hartig is a senior at Purdue majoring in public relations and rhetori-

cal advocacy. She has been employed at Vectren Corp. for a year and a half

working as a project assistant in their technical training department. With

this employment, she has developed a technical training catalog, utilizing

design skills along with written and interpersonal communication skills to

gather and organize information.

Jordan Hartig—Designer


82

Contact:

Erin Mullen

765.418.3924

[email protected]

Ethan Walter

765.427.3829

[email protected]

Jordan Hartig

812.664.7662

[email protected]

Jasmine Windham

248.895.5243

[email protected]


furniture bank final report

Documents