CONNOQUENESSING TWP - After dealing with lost or soggy sofas and chairs, some flood victims in Butler County got help Tuesday when a Pittsburgh furniture company donated $25,000 worth of new furniture at the National Guard Armory.

Roomful Express dropped off about 150 items - mostly sectionals and sofas, but also lamps and tables - in a truck donated by MTL in Johnstown. All the furniture was new, covered in shrink wrap.

The United Way of Butler County secured the furniture donation, and the Salvation Army helped organize the event for victims of flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 17 and 18.

"This was just a gift from God," said Christine Bok, assistant director of finance for the United Way.

Roomful Express also is donating furniture to flood victims in Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties, all valued at more than $200,000.About 154 families had signed up originally for the furniture, but only about 70 families picked up items Tuesday at the armory on Route 68.There was some confusion in the crowd as many people also had come Friday and Monday, having been told that's when the furniture would be delivered.Bok said there was some miscommunication, and the furniture company never said it would deliver the items on Friday or Monday.Cecelia Reilly of Penn Township and her husband, Patrick, were waiting for the furniture around 12:30 p.m. She said Patrick had waited for four hours on Friday and Monday. They did not think the event was well-organized."I know it's a tough thing .… but it's really, really confused," she said. "I think the agencies should really get a plan in place when something like this happens."Nevertheless, she said the Red Cross has generally been "outstanding" and the Salvation Army also "made a good effort."The truck of furniture arrived about 1:30 p.m., and people who had signed up originally lined up to get tickets. Everyone who was not on the list was entered in a raffle system.Bonnie Wenskovitch of Saxonburg, one of the first in line, picked out a couch with help from her mother, Kathy Stettmir. Wenskovitch lives in a mobile home, and said she lost everything except her washer, dryer and refrigerator in the flood.She recently bought a bed for her daughter and was hoping to get a dresser at the armory, but said the couch will still be useful."I'm very happy it's here," she said about the furniture's arrival. "I'm sure there are a lot of other people who were happy, too."Levin Furniture donated items twice last week that were taken to the armory.Bok said she is trying to get more furniture from companies, and so far, Furniture Galleries on Route 8 in Penn Township has agreed to donate items, although the time has not been determined.Bok said the main need now is for mattresses. She is also trying to get linens and clothing.A number of businesses - including Target, Wal-Mart, the Bon Ton and BigLots - have already donated these and other items.Individuals also can drop off furniture and cleaning supplies at the armory, according to Amy Grossman of the Salvation Army.Donations will be accepted only until Friday.