furniture bank final report
DESCRIPTION
Class group project/PR campaign to launch and grow a local non-profit.TRANSCRIPT
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Moving furniture and lives one
donation at a time.
First Methodist
Furniture Bank
November 29, 2012
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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
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
Executive Summary:
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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.
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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.
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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.
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Overview:
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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...
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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.
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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.
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
Proposal:
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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
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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
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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
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
Costs:
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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.
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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
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Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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
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Website:
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http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture
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http://www.fumcwl.org/whatweaccept
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http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture4
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http://www.fumcwl.org/getinvolved
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http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture2
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http://www.fumcwl.org/furniture3
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Logo:
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Logo:
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Deliverables:
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Brochure:
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Banner:
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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:
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Flyer:
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Flyer:
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Business Card:
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Want to donate? Email us
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:
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Church Event:
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Norberg, Jeanne V
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 3:22 PM
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.
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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
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
First United Methodist Church
765-491-1460
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News Conference:
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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
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JC:
Dorothy Schneider, Local Editor:
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.
463-1800:
Best times to call: 10-11 and 2-4 Monday-Friday
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WBAA
Mike Loizzo, news director
765-494-3969
Best times to call: 9-11 and 2-4 Monday-Friday
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Media Advisory
Templates:
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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.
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Template:
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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.
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Template:
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Media Advisory:
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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.
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News Release:
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Furniture Cooperative Of Greater Lafayette
Making Empty Houses Homes
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.
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“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
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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.
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“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-
Bob Wollenburg, executive director, American Red Cross Tippecanoe County Chapter, 765-742
-6975 x2210, [email protected]
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Invitations:
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Furniture Cooperative Of Greater Lafayette
Making Empty Houses Homes
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
First United Methodist Church
Adam Murphy
Weed and Seed
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Invitation:
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Furniture Cooperative Of Greater Lafayette
Making Empty Houses Homes
Rev. Dan Berger
First United Methodist Church
1700 State Road 26 W
West Lafayette, IN 47906
October 8, 2012
Dear Rev. Berger,
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
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.
This information is confidential until the news conference.
Please let us know if you can attend by emailing [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jeanne Norberg
First United Methodist Church
Adam Murphy
Weed and Seed
Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
Invitation:
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Furniture Cooperative Of Greater Lafayette
Making Empty Houses Homes
Mayor Tony Roswarski
City of Lafayette
20 N. 6th St.
Lafayette, Ind. 47901
October 8, 2012
Dear Mayor Roswarski,
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
First United Methodist Church
Adam Murphy
Weed and Seed
Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
Invitation:
61
News Conference
Script:
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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.
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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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64
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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66
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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67
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.
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Newspaper Articles:
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70
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.
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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.
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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.
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73
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.
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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:
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77
Future Moves:
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78
Future Moves:
Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.
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
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82
Contact:
Erin Mullen
765.418.3924
Ethan Walter
765.427.3829
Jordan Hartig
812.664.7662
Jasmine Windham
248.895.5243
Moving furniture and lives one donation at a time.