SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — The Furniture Mission in Sioux Falls is hoping the public will be as generous as ever this year when it comes to donating furniture for people in-need.
The faith-based non-profit is waiting to see what kind of impact, if any, a new round of tariffs could have on donations.
Lee Berens is dropping off a trailer full of office furniture at the Furniture Mission.
“If somebody’s got a need for it, it’s better to have them take it instead of throwing it in the dumpster, I guess,” Berens said.
3% value cap isn’t for individual homes in SD
Spring cleaning projects bring in more donations to the Furniture Mission at this time of year.
“Spring cleaning is the height of donation season for the organization. So, yes, we definitely see a lot more during that spring cleaning season,” Furniture Mission CEO Janean Michalov said.
Mattresses and box springs are always in high demand at the Furniture Mission. This area of their warehouse was full this morning. By mid-afternoon, it’s nearly empty.
“Sioux Falls continues to kind of be on that top places to live list throughout the country. And so as people are migrating here, sometimes they’re leaving everything behind just to get to Sioux Falls and set up a household. So we’re here to help give them that additional uplift by providing furniture to those families,” Michalov said.
President Trump’s tariffs could make items like new furniture more expensive to purchase. But the Furniture Mission says they haven’t seen any signs so far that people are reluctant to donate because they want to hang onto the furniture they have.
“I’m assuming just like everything else, it could be a potential for us. But God is faithful and the Furniture Mission is a Christian-based organization, so we know that His plans are greater than any tariff that could be put on any organization,” Michalov said.
The Furniture Mission set a record last year for the number of families it served at more than 2-thousand households. And with uncertain economic times ahead, people in the community want to do their part to help even more families this year.
“Because everything is so expensive, so I mean, the need to donate now is better than ever,” Berens said.
The Furniture Mission will be hosting its annual Chairity Gala on April 15th where people can bid on selected items that have been donated over the past year.
