Beyond Ruddymentary

DISCLAIMER

As part of my degree requirements for a Masters in Communications from Sacred Heart University, I will be posting weekly blogs on topics assigned by our professor.  The content will be solely based on my informed opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of the university or any past or present employer. Content will be vetted by Hank, pictured on the home page wearing his green sparkly bow-tie.

TOPICS

Assigned topics may be on current events or of a more general nature.  Depending on time constraints, I may also share posts and essays from my other courses.  I might even share my photo essays which are shot in my trademark dynasty-style soft focus.  Consider yourselves forewarned.

BEYOND RUDDYMENTARY

The blog is named Beyond Ruddymentary as I hope my posts serve to elevate the discussion past the basic fundamentals of each topic.  

Furniture Sharehouse - Westchester's only furniture bank

Furniture Sharehouse is a small homegrown not-for-profit based in Westchester County, NY.  The Sharehouse provides gently-used furniture free of charge directly to local families in need, enabling them to create a comfortable and stable home so they can rebuild their lives with dignity.  This organization was started by Kate Bialo, a Larchmont resident who saw families struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Irene.  Kate secured funding from the Junior League of Westchester and with a matching grant from HUD, leased warehouse space at the Westchester County Airport.  The Sharehouse has been open for donations and deliveries since 2007 and has distributed over 40,000 pieces of furniture to over 2,500 families.

I first heard about Furniture Sharehouse in 2012 when I was looking for a local not-for-profit which could utilize my marketing and web design skills.  I went online to the Volunteer NY website and narrowed my selection down to three local charities.  After reading their mission and talking to one of their volunteer organizers, I decided to visit the Sharehouse in person during client hours.  I stayed the entire morning, following different volunteers and assisting with clients.  I was hooked.  I came back the next day and then again and again over the next two months. 

As the Sharehouse is open for clients during the week, I cannot make it too often due to work responsibilities but I try to get there at least once per quarter.  What I can (and do) do for the Sharehouse is provide marketing expertise.  I devised a social media marketing strategy for the organization to complement their existing communications and have been running the day to day communities for the past eighteen months.

Facebook   Twitter  Google+   LinkedIn  YouTube

The biggest challenge the Sharehouse faces is awareness.  There is a great deal of furniture that is discarded every year and even a greater need in families needing furniture.  Once people learn about the Sharehouse, they love it and donate and/or volunteer regularly.  What sets the Sharehouse apart from other organizations that collect used furniture is that the Sharehouse gives the furniture directly to needy individuals and families free of charge; other organizations such as Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill etc., collect furniture to resell in their stores.  While name/brand recognition is slowly climbing, Furniture Sharehouse’s reputation continues to soar.

Furniture Sharehouse’s tag line is: Help Make A House A Home and their logo nicely plays off ‘house’ with a pitched roof. To learn more about the Sharehouse, please visit their website www.furnituresharehouse.org.   

Join the Sharehouse community:

Facebook          www.facebook.com/FurnitureSharehouse

Twitter             twitter.com/furnsharehouse

LinkedIn            www.linkedin.com/company/furniture-sharehouse

Google+            plus.google.com/u/0/108498793629984009621