November 9th, 2011
In spring of 2007 when I saw an article in the local paper, the story of a furniture bank that just opened in Westchester. Wasn’t quite sure what a furniture bank was, but it sounded interesting.
Turns out there were several stories: what a furniture bank was, how it’s long-planned grand opening coincided with the income-tax day nor’easter which flooded a lot of the Sound Shore area. Then, how 65 families in need were furnished , for free, in the 10 days after the storm. The article ended with what was still needed, and going forward, how people could donate to Furniture Sharehouse.
Still in retail at the time, it was a great referral. Clients buying new furniture were always asking me if I knew who could use what they no longer needed, or wanted. Up to that point, best suggestions I had were the usual charities, but this was such a find! Kept that article, because I thought “one day” I would also like to be a part of this.
That one day came a little over a year later. Had left retail and started my business end of 2007, but June of 2008 found me sofa-bound, nursing a muscle tear in my calf…started catching up on my phone calls, and finding out more about this place was at the top of the list.
Hard to believe that was almost 3 1/2 years-and 1400 families-ago.
You don’t need to be a Decorator or Stager to know how much unwanted stuff people hold on to simply because they think it’s that or the curb. 
People decorate around it. They park their car in the driveway because the garage is full, or pay hefty storage bills.
If you are beholden to unwanted, unneeded furniture (or some* furnishings), please consider donating it to Furniture Sharehouse. While serving clients and offering pickups year-round, spring and fall are drive seasons, where people have the opportunity to see how things work, drop things off, even volunteer.
This Sunday, November 13th is the last drive of the season, at the Woman’s Club of White Plains, at 305 Ridgeway, from 9am to 1pm. Co-sponsored by the WCWP and the Outreach Committee of nearby Our Lady of Sorrows parish, the hope is it’s a repeat of last year…where 2 moving vans were filled in 4 hours. STUNNINGLY< whatever comes in, seems to go out just as quickly…this fall in particular has been quite a challenge, with resources stretched even further due to families flooded out from Hurricane Irene.
Donated furniture is neither sold, or available to the general public. By appointment, it is re-distributed, FREE, to clients of approximately 40 different member agencies, all here in Westchester.
Basic, average-sized, clean furniture is always in demand. Mattresses, sofas, kitchen/dining table and chairs, and dressers, as much as the supporting players: lamps, microwaves and toaster ovens, rugs, mirrors and art to help complete the clients home. Donors get a receipt for their taxes, as well as the knowledge that they have helped make an immediate and meaningful difference to a neighbor.
Furniture provides the emotional and physical infrastructure of a home. In his 1943 paper, in a theory he called the Hirearchy of Needs, Abraham Maslowe articulated how greater and greater capabilities come when the more basic needs are first met. You can read the paper, or see it come to life in this video, filmed as a pitch to PBS almost 3 years ago.
As you might have gathered, I am passionate about this organization, and absolutely shameless when it comes to asking for help in furthering it. Thank you for reading this far. 
If you are in the area Sunday, just come on by and say hi. For any questions about donating, volunteering, scheduling a pickup,or how to become a member agency- best to go directly to the site. But if nothing else, just remember Furniture Sharehouse exists, because guaranteed someone you know will benefit from your being able to share this info.
Tags: donate furniture, Furniture Sharehouse, giving back, Hurricane Irene relief, local events, tax benefits, White Plains
Posted in Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Enviornment | No Comments »
October 29th, 2011
Dateline: White Plains, New York 10601
Speechless Saturday, White Plains New York
Saturday October 29, 2011 12:35 pm, EST
Tags: local events, White Plains
Posted in A Day In The Life | No Comments »
October 20th, 2011
Medical Equipment Drive At Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains NY 10605
October is Physical Therapy Month, and to mark the occasion, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains is holding a medical equipment drive.
Now, through October 31st your unneeded crutches, walkers, manual wheelchairs, canes and braces can be dropped off at any one of their five area collection points.
Things many of us have accumulated in our garage and attics can now be put back to use, and genuinely make a difference in someone elses’ life.
Once all good, working equipment is collected and checked, it will be redistributed free among their patients in need, and to AmeriCares, to aid and assist people in need both domestically and internationally.
Note equipment must be serviceable and in usable condition; anything requiring batteries or electricity will not be accepted. For questions, or more information, please contact Sandra Alexandrou, PT at salexand@burke.org
Tags: Burke Rehab, giving back, local events, Marie Graham Westchester County Decorator, White Plains
Posted in Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Enviornment | No Comments »
June 4th, 2011
GRAND RE-OPENING: Manna Foods, 171 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains NY 10601
Like success stories? The kind where hard work, solid core values, sustained focus and commitment to a goal are how it happens? Well, me too- and you will LOVE this one!!
Running a small business has never been ‘easy’, but the last few years have presented even greater challenges. Some have been squeezed out, others hang on.
Last week, Manna Foods became twice the store it had been.
Operating in the same 1000 sf storefront since 1977, this health food store took down a wall, and expanded into the adjacent vacant store, doubling their space.
Niels Svendsen, Manna’s founder and owner, gives a lot of credit to the building’s owner, Paul Dillani, for his vision, sense of community and support.
Paul also owns the adjacent restaurants, The Porter House and Hudson Grill; sharing the outside dining space is one example of his wiser, big-picture philosophy.
As our economy is starting to regenerate, it’s a great story on its own, but it’s got an even better back story.
Their customers travel from all over Westchester, but to anyone who lives in lower Westchester, has ever shopped on Mamaroneck Avenue, or worked in White Plains-Manna Foods hardly needs any introduction.
For nearly 34 years, Manna Foods has been an anchor in the continually shifting face of retail in downtown White Plains . Simply: providing area residents good choices about healthy food is pretty much Niels’ mission in life.
The list of what to like about Manna Foods is substantial:
They carry a well-chosen assortment of certified organic, natural and minimally processed foods, beverages and produce, AND a full line of vitamins and supplements their own private label, plus several brand name lines all nicely discounted.
The Food Bar, where every weekday fresh vegetarian loaves and soups, stews, chilis, salads, wraps and burritos, along with fresh-squeezed juices are made for the lunchtime crowd.
(Doug gave the Macho Stew 2 thumbs up-tasty and satisfying; and after reading their NYT review- am now watching the daily menu for the next appearance of the curried brown rice.)
You can shop online, and healthier choices are both easier and more convenient with their website: there are recipes, resources and health news, as well as an exhaustive reference library, where all you might ever need to know about conditions, wellness, drugs, herbs and supplements is literally A-Z, under Treatment Options.
The interior is bright and airy, and ohyes, lunch in the back courtyard is a lovely, relaxing mid-day repast.
But IMO, what makes Manna Foods such a great find are the people, their passions and principles.
They have not just been a presence in downtown White Plains all these years, they have been a personality.
I have been an occasional customer for at least 15 years, and without exception, every person I’ve ever spoken to there knew what they were talking about, and genuinely wanted to help me-not ‘sell’ me.
Besides Niels, there are 7 other employees at Manna. In retail where turnover is HUGE, Mannas’ staff STAYS. Gregory (r), pictured here with Niels- goes back 32 years with Manna-first few years as a customer, but an employee all the rest.
Bottom line, Manna Foods is a gem. Stop in, see their ‘new’ space, have a California Burger in the back courtyard, and get to know these great neighbors.
Tags: good neighbors, supporting local business, the right attitude, White Plains
Posted in Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Small Business Spotlight | No Comments »
May 31st, 2010
Staying local is a great choice, not a default.
It’s summertime, and the local fair/festival season is off to a great start. Here is my husband doing his ‘Kilroy was here’ interpretation in honor of Memorial Day for the annual White Plains gala, next weekend.
www.whiteplainsoutdoorartsfestival.com
Also next weekend is the Tarrytown Street Fair, which will occupy much of Main Street. www.sleepyhollowchamber.com
Have your Wheaties and slather on the sunscreen, you will need it for the next weekend, where Ossining, Katonah Fire Department and the Armonk Lions are all having soirees.
ww.ossiningchamber.org www.katohanfd.org
The Armonk event is called a Fol de Rol. Various web definitions confirm it is a day of family fun, and apparently successful, this being it’s 36th year. www.armonklions.org.
Local artists and craftspeople, good food, and cool vendors will be in good supply at each. Bring your friends, meet new ones and support your community, it doesn’t get better than this.
Tags: concerts, Hudson Valley good life, Katonah, local events, parades, Summer festivals, Tarrytown, White Plains
Posted in A Day In The Life, Community/Greater Good, Smiles | No Comments »
