Disaster relief group still finding a need

CEDAR RAPIDS - In the dimly lit basement of a long-ago automobile dealership, a pickup truck makes its way down a concrete ramp toward used sofas, chairs and beds. Tom Hill of Fairfax and his wife, Marie, both 62, climb out. What, they wonder, will it be today?

Because, two years after they began delivering free used furniture to victims of the Flood of 2008, they are still doing it. And even today, after all the Christmas packages have been opened and wrapping paper discarded, people are in need.

“We never had any idea it would grow into this,” says Tom.

But Temple Judah Disaster Services - started when Tom (left) and his son, Rob (right), 34, met Jeff Schneider by chance while picking up used furniture on a loading dock at Smulekoff's Furniture - is still hauling a dozen or more pickup truck loads of furniture each week to flood victims and others in need, But, sometimes, it hasn't been easy.

Now, for instance, funding has dried up. The $22,000 from the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation and $1,500 from Rockwell-Collins donated this year have been used up. Jeff hopes more can be found. In the meantime, they've added a $25 service fee and remain as busy as ever.

“There are still so many people falling through the cracks,” Jeff (right) says. “They haven't had their buyout.”

“We've found flood victims who didn't want to do anything, but now they find they have to do something,” says Jeff's wife, Sharon, 53 (left).

“Sometimes,” Marie (right) says, “they come down here and they don't even say they went through the flood.”

In most cases, though, people don't see the furniture. A referral comes by way of various agencies, from Catholic Charities to the Red Cross, churches and missions. Jeff or Tom see what they can find in inventory that will help.

“People say ‘I want, I want, I want,'” Tom says, “But you have to work through that to see what they need.”

“We can't give them everything they want,” Jeff adds, “because we wouldn't have enough for everybody.”

At one time they'd hope to set up in a downtown storefront to increase visibility and accessibility, but financially that didn't work out. So, they continue to work out of donated space in the basement of the Ecumenical Community Center at Sixth Street SE.

Donations of furniture still come in, whether it's been from Smulekoffs or St. Luke's Hospital when it remodeled birthing suites or after the remodeling of motels in Minnesota and Kansas. One Cedar Rapids homeowner, before leaving town, donated enough furniture to fill 16 pickup trucks.

In all, Jeff figures, they've delivered 10 semi-trailer loads of furniture, much of which could have ended up in the landfill.

To keep delivering, Tom traded in his old pickup for a new one in June. He's already rolled up 10,000 miles on it. But Tom, a retired ironworker who grew up in the Time Check area that was flooded, says it's worth it.

“Some of the things people have given us, as a thank you,” he says, “are a tear. A hearty handshake. A hug.”

Playing Santa Claus at a recent gathering at Harrison Elementary School in the flooded area, Tom gave away a recliner to the author of the most touching letter to Santa. When he saw extra need, he dropped off another chair.

“These are people who have fallen on hard times,” Tom says.

“It makes you feel good to help people,” Jeff says. “You have to give to receive.”