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August 2026 Newsletter

Dear friends,

Wow, I can’t believe how fast the summer went!

There has been so much change here that the months have all run together. Kellie has been hard at work with our volunteers, completely reimagining the space, and we can’t wait to share it with you all.

You can request a tour of our space anytime by emailing support@centralfurniturerescue.org. We are always excited to welcome folks inside so they can visualize what it takes to keep this place running.

Our main focus is providing services to our clients, and we are uniquely positioned to do just that. Recently, we began to send out Client Surveys to gain feedback and to learn more about how the client sees their experience. We got a response from “Amy” that I wanted to share.

“Kay was super sweet. Really happy and relieved that I actually had a bed and some stuff for my place. This place is amazing and I am so grateful for the help I received from them. Thank You!”
That is what keeps us coming back every day.

There are plenty of ways to keep CFR sustainable. You can invest in us via our current campaign, you can attend our event featured below (we want to see you there), or you can become a monthly sustaining investor.

Remember that to accept your stuff, keep it clean, safe, and ready for our clients, we need a place to put it. Help sustain our services but also fuel the change that will only make us stronger for our community.
Becoming a monthly investor in our mission is the best way to keep serving our clients:

  • $5 per month: needed household items we may have to buy
  • $15 per month: insurance for our drivers so that we can deliver to our clients free of charge
  • $50 per month: water so that we can ensure clients get clean linens and blankets
  • $100 per month: fuel costs so that we can deliver and also still pick up donations
  • $150 per month: warehouse supplies so we can make sure every piece is working and looking great for our clients and the warehouse gets maintenance and needed repairs

Yours,

Rachel

Registration is now open for the 2026 Furnishing the Future!

Enjoy great food, drinks, community, and connection — all while helping us provide essential furniture and household items to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. This annual event brings together passionate people committed to turning empty spaces into homes.

We’ll share inspiring stories, highlight the impact of our work, and offer opportunities to get involved or give back at Knapp Creek Event Center (195 1st St, Walford, IA 52351). Doors open at 5:30PM.

We’re looking forward to hosting live music, plenty of space to browse our upcycled shopping corner, a dessert pull, the supporter-favorite Pick-a-Plate game, and a few other surprises for our guests! Tickets are $50 per person and include two drink tickets and a taco bar for guests to enjoy.

Volunteer Spotlight: Julie

This month we will be highlighting one of our Julies. It just so happens we have two (and two Susans, five Bobs, two Rachels, plus two Pams)! Our first Julie came to us two and a half years ago. She moved to Cedar Rapids from Buffalo Center and says she came to us through her passion for serving the unhoused.

“All of the volunteers and staff are a delight. Time flies as we work on sorting donated items or helping in other ways. This fills my cup!!” says Julie.

In her spare time, she enjoys her family and friends, and she travels as much as she can. Thanks for your time and talent, Julie!
CFR continues to have unique ways to volunteer. We are looking for volunteers with various administrative skills, such as customer service, phone duties, scheduling, and greeting the public. As we begin this next chapter, our opportunities may grow and evolve too. Follow us on social media for all of the latest. If you have a group, reach out via our website as projects vary. We ask that all groups either hold a small household-item drive or a fundraiser before volunteering.

Fill the Purse September Collection Drive

Ladies, we know you have one… that purse sitting in your closet that you thought you would use again—but haven’t! This September, Central Furniture Rescue is asking you to bring us that purse and help us fill it.
Did you know that 1 in 5 women struggle to afford both groceries and feminine hygiene products? No woman should have to choose between feeding herself or her family and purchasing the basic personal-care products she needs.
Throughout the month of September, CFR will be collecting:
  • New or gently used purses
  • Feminine hygiene products — pads, tampons & liners
  • Shampoo & conditioner
  • Body wash & soap
  • Toothbrushes & toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Other new personal hygiene and self-care products
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every female client age 10 and up will receive a filled purse! Our goal is to fill 300 purses! A purse sitting in your closet could become a beautiful gift of dignity and care for a woman or young girl we serve.

 

Announcements!

$50 Donation Pick Up Fee

Central Furniture Rescue relies on donations, and sometimes we have donors that can’t get their furniture to us. We have prided ourselves on our dedicated volunteers that are willing to pick up those items. Currently those volunteers use a CFR vehicle and have to be added to our insurance. This means pick ups are actually costing us money. Beginning August 31st, we will require a minimum $50 donation for every pick up. This is still less expensive than a moving company or a truck rental. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we must act in our best interest. Thank you for understanding.

Data Migration

As you may have noticed (with double emails), we are in the middle of a huge data migration and data clean up of over 3,000 constituent records. We ask for your patience as we move data records all into a brand new system. The end result is very exciting for us, but the migration doesn’t come without a little bit of pain. If you haven’t already, you can fill out our new contact form on the website. For the time being, some of you will receive duplicate emails. This is just to ensure that everyone who wants our information, gets it. Please be patient as we navigate this new universe!

Central Furniture Rescue relies on the generosity of our community to bring hope, stability, and comfort to families in need. If this story touched your heart, please consider supporting our mission. Your financial contribution helps us continue providing essential furniture, household items, and basic necessities to families rebuilding their lives.

You can make an even greater impact by becoming a monthly donor, helping us plan ahead and serve more families consistently throughout the year. Don’t forget to check with your employer—many companies offer corporate matching programs that can double or even triple your gift.

Together, we furnish more than homes—we furnish futures.

Donate today to make a difference. Every dollar makes a difference. Thank you for helping us turn places to live into homes.

Central Furniture Rescue

2275 16th AVE SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

info@CentralFurnitureRescue.org

(319) 382-2882

Central Furniture Rescue - Member of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

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