by BANNER ELK, N.C. — Accent furniture specialist Furniture Classics recently partnered with Tatum Galleries Fine Furniture & Interior Design in Banner Elk, North Carolina, and Sunbelt Furniture Xpress to help provide home furnishings to local families whose homes and lives were devastated by Hurricane Helene in late September.
Sunbelt delivered a truckload of furniture on Nov. 26 that the team at Tatum Galleries arranged to hand out to those in need. Tatum Galleries, which had previously donated food and other supplies to those impacted by the hurricane, shared the news with their community and had families lined up once the trailer arrived.
Ed Fleming, national sales director at Sunbelt, said, “We were more than happy to help Furniture Classics and Tatum Galleries with the logistics in delivering these goods to our community in Western North Carolina.”
Gregg Gibhardt, the territory representative for Furniture Classics, along with his family, was on site as well, assisting with the unloading and distribution of furniture.
“Relief efforts in North Carolina are ongoing, and every bit of help anyone can provide is greatly appreciated,” he said.
Michael Ricks, president of Furniture Classics, said the company reached out to its sales team at the October High Point Market to find ways to help those most in need after the hurricane. He said that Gibhardt suggested Tatum Galleries as it had been working to feed and help those most in need.
Ricks estimated the wholesale value of the donated furniture at $40,000.
Holly Allred, vice president of merchandising at Furniture Classics, who suffered property damage at her North Carolina home, said, “Having seen firsthand the destruction in West Jefferson, I was happy to help Furniture Classics with their relief efforts in our community.”
Doug Ricks, founder of Furniture Classics, added, “We’ve been working in North Carolina for over three decades and are blessed to be able to work with our partners and provide direct assistance to families who have lost everything.”
