IMC to Coordinate Product Donations for Hurricane Victims

October 18, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Community / Charitable Support, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The company, which owns about two-thirds of High Point’s showroom space and the World Market Center in Las Vegas, said it has established locations in both cities to accept product donations for hurricane victims.

Donations received at IMC will be transported to impacted areas and distributed through appropriate locally-based assistance organizations.  

In High Point, product donations can be delivered after Oct. 19 to IHFC M-905. In Las Vegas, product donations will be accepted Nov. 1 through Jan. 25 in showroom A-416.  

“International Market Centers prides itself on being a ‘global good citizen,’ and we are delighted to mobilize our resources to help communities in need,” said Robert Maricich, chief executive officer, IMC. “Whether the needs stem from natural disasters like the hurricanes in Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico, or from tragedies like the recent shootings in Las Vegas, IMC is proud to facilitate logistics for exhibitor product donations, heighten awareness for exhibitor-sponsored initiatives and demonstrate support for communities in crisis.”

Donations directed to Houston will be shared between Houston Furniture Bank and Dwell with Dignity.

Dwell with Dignity donations are part of an initiative by Codarus, a multi-line furniture, bedding, lighting, art and accessories national sales organization with showrooms in High Point and Las Vegas, to charter a Houston-based Dwell with Dignity chapter that will design and furnish 10 to 15 apartments in the Houston area.

IMC is identifying appropriate aid-providing partnership organizations for relief efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico, and specifics will be announced in the near future. 

Dwell with Dignity partners with the local design community to create complete home interiors for families who desperately need an environment that will support health and wellness. These turnkey homes include apartment-scaled furniture, art, bedding, linens, kitchen supplies, food in the pantry and their first night’s meal. 

The Houston Furniture Bank is helping 70 families a day as they rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The most immediate needs are mattresses (primarily queen and full mattress sets and metal bed frames), small sofas and loveseats, small kitchen tables and chairs, dressers. Companies wishing to donate directly to the Houston Furniture Bank may contact Oli Mohammed at 832-863-1996, or oli@houstonfurniturebank.org.

In addition to this emergency crisis response effort, IMC also has ongoing partnerships with both the American Cancer Society and A Simple Gesture food collection agency. 

For the last 13 years, volunteers from the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop at Smith Mountain Lake have used High Point Market samples to raise funds for cancer research and patient programs across the South Atlantic region. To arrange a pickup or for more information, contact Dee Kropf, market acquisition coordinator, (540) 814-8145 or dee@deearn.com.pi.

IMC also has an ongoing food collection partnership with A Simple Gesture, which supports food banks and pantries in Guilford County, including the Greensboro and High Point areas. Throughout the year, IMC and its employees donate food to A Simple Gesture, and during Market, donors can deliver non-perishable food items to a collection box located in IHFC M-905.