Potential contest win could mean good things for Community Warehouse

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2010-08-15T00:00:00

Community Warehouse, which provides free furniture and household items to those in need, stands to benefit if a local woman gets the most clicks on an online web vote for Dwell Magazine/Room and Board Furniture "Room for Improvement" Living Room Make-over Contest.

Jennifer Greenberg, special event coordinator at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, said she entered the make-over contest on a whim.

"We were both surprised and excited be to chosen as one of 20 finalists, and realized that while for us a new living room would really be a dream come true, this would also allow us to help families who are in a difficult situation", explained Greenberg.

The family decided that if they win they would donate a favorite, but slightly dated sofa and the $1,000 they were saving for new furniture to the Community Warehouse, and make it a truly win-win scenario. The Portland based non-profit Community Warehouse recycles donated furniture and household items by giving them to individuals and families recovering from crisis.

Founded as a project of Jewish Family and Child Service, the warehouse originally provided furnishings and household items for Jewish refugees arriving from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s. When the flow of refugees slowed, volunteer coordinator Roz Babener spun the warehouse off into a separate entity that now aids clients of more than 90 social service agencies in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

"We appreciate all that our friends from all over the Jewish community have been doing to get the word out," said Greenberg.

The contest is decided by popular vote, and the deadline is Aug. 25. Vote at: http://new.dwell.com/contests/room-for-improvement/submissions/mid-centu....