Community Furniture Store put grant to good use (From York Press)

Community Furniture Store put grant to good use

7:58am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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A CHARITY in York has put a £15,000 grant to good use to help double its output and create a new job.

The Community Furniture Store, in James Street, York, received the cash from the Gannett Foundation – the charitable arm of The Press’s parent company – and used it to help buy a van.

The new £25,000 Iveco furniture van was used for the first time last week, with the company, which collects and restores unwanted furniture for local people in need, now able to double its operations.

The new acquisition has also had the benefit of allowing the store, based at the Raylor Centre, to employ another member of staff as a driver.

Keith Hicks, manager of the Community Furniture Store, said: “We are so grateful for the £15,000. It not only does us a favour, it gives a family man a job.

“It also means we can double the amount of deliveries and collections we can do.”

Mr Hicks also emphasised the impact the new van would have on the charity’s operations in the wider York area, which would now include the likes of Malton and Pickering.

He said: “Having a second van means we can go further afield and start taking some of the furniture from the Ryedale area that currently ends up in landfill.”

However, despite now having three drivers operating their two vans, the charity is still looking for volunteer drivers to help keep the vans on the road. The Community Furniture Store accepts donations of furniture which are suitable for reuse and makes them available at low cost to people who need furniture.

This year, the group expects to recycle about 185 tonnes of furniture.

Anyone wishing to donate furniture can phone the store on 01904 426444 or visit communityfurniturestore.co.uk