We may not have it all together, but together we have it all
by Livy Conner, Communications Specialist
Just after Michelle and Scott moved to Oregon with their two kids to pursue a job opportunity, their housing fell through. Michelle, who was pregnant with their third child at the time, recounts, “We were literally in a hotel living paycheck to paycheck.”
Michelle decided to call 2-1-1 and was connected with The Good Neighbor Center, a family shelter in Tigard that helped the family secure long-term housing and arranged a furniture bank appointment with Community Warehouse. “We had no couch, we had no dining room table, we had no mattresses for the kids.”
“It really helped us so much. It was also a big relief for our children to receive things like mattresses. It’s just been so amazingly helpful.”
“Sometimes you need that little bit of support to help out,” Scott says.
Over 5 years later, the family still shares meals and plays games at the same kitchen table they picked out at the Warehouse. “That’s where our family congregates every night, that’s where we have our conversations,” Scott says.
“Every piece of furniture comes with a memory,” Michelle says. That kitchen table, we’ll never forget where it came from. I think you guys do such great work.”
In the living room is a couch that anchors many of the family’s cherished moments together at home. “Even if we’re each doing something completely different, we’re all squashed together on this one couch,” Michelle says, laughing.
“We’re used to moving and having to find places. This is the longest we’ve ever been anywhere. That’s home to us – just where we feel safe together, that we’re not going to be uprooted.” – Scott
One of Michelle’s favorite sayings hangs on the wall of their dining room:
“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”
At Community Warehouse, we couldn’t agree more. Together, we form a community that supports our neighbors.