Cedar Rapids nonprofit that helps homeless transition opens its ‘forever home’

Open house and ribbon cutting for Central Furniture Rescue is May 24

May. 18, 2022 6:00 am, Updated: May. 18, 2022 4:07 pm

CEDAR RAPIDS — The nonprofit that provides furniture and household items for people transitioning from homelessness into their own homes now has a new home of its own on the southwest side and are celebrating with a ribbon cutting and open house later this month.

Central Furniture Rescue's new location at 2275 16th Ave. SW. The organization is having an open house on May 24, 2022. (Central Furniture Rescue)

Susan Johnston, founder and executive director of Central Furniture Rescue, said the open house and ribbon cutting event of the new warehouse, formerly the former Old China Buffet at 2275 16th Ave. SW, will be from 4 to 6 p.m. May 24 in-person and virtually on Facebook Live. After the event, people can take a tour of the warehouse.

The event May 24 is to thank “all those who helped the organization along the way and to celebrate our forever home,” Johnston said.

The organization started out in a church as a clothing giveaway, then expanded and created Central Furniture Rescue to provide furniture and household items. It now has served 1,297 households and 3,051 individuals, and saved 449 tons of furniture from the landfill — which value at an estimated $657,688 as of this year, Johnston said.

A look at some of the household items available at Central Furniture Rescue in Cedar Rapids. (Central Furniture Rescue)

The organization has moved six times since it opened in 2019 but finally has some stability with this new warehouse, Johnston said. The warehouse is owned by Jeff and Connie Palmer, who have agreed to rent it to Central Furniture on a five-year lease. The new location has plenty of space and there now is a separate building behind the warehouse that also is connected and available to use.

The organization will pay rent, utilities and insurance, Johnston said. Central Furniture’s operational costs are about $10,000 to $15,000 a month. It is 100 percent volunteer-run and there are no labor costs.

The nonprofit takes referrals of people who need the furniture and other items from local service providers, such as Willis Dady Homeless Services, Family Promise of Eastern Iowa and HACAP, along with many other partner agencies.

Rachel Hecht (left) helps Maddy Zmoos, 11, fit a beanbag chair into the back of a van at Central Furniture Rescue in Cedar Rapids. The organization provides furniture to people in need. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Those who are interested in supporting the nonprofit can make a monetary donation for operational expenses or donate furniture and other items.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com