December 2003, from Executive Technology

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture proves that even a small retailer can take community service a long way.  The Norton, Mass. based retailer, which operates six stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, donates furniture to philanthropic organizations, homeless shelters and others through its “Friends in Need” program.  The family run company has long-term relatinshiops with Habitat for Humanity, Morgan Memorial Goodwill and Teen Challenge New England.

“We are honored to be receiving this prestigious award,” said Bernie Rubin, president dand co-founder, with his wife Phyllis, of Bernie & Phyl’s.  “We work hard every day to represent the best that our industry has to offer, and it is wonderful to have our dedication to community service recognized by our peers.”

Bernie & Phyl’s regularly assists groups in the same communities where as a boy Rubin once helped his hard-working father makemilk deliveries.  The company furnishes homes built by Habitat for Humanity free of charge.  Three Habitat job sites received furniture and volunteer labor from Bernie & Phyl’s in 2003.  Bernie & Phyl’s also makes monetary donations to the organization.

Morgan Memorial Goodwill and Teen Challenge fund a variety of their programs with money they earn selling furniture donated by Bernie & Phyl’s.  Goodwill offers assistance to people with disabilities, while Teen Challenge helps people recovering from addiction.  In the last three years, Bernie & Phyl’s has donated furniture worth more than $400,000 to Morgan Memorial and more than $800,000 to Teen Challenge.

Furniture donations are a widespread, and effective, charitable approach for Bernie & Phyl’s.  In addtion to Goodwill and Teen Challenge, the company in 2003 gave furniture to a home for mentally challenged adults, a counseling center for abused children, a homeless family shelter, a center for cancer patients, an affordable houseing building and an elementary school.