Store will give furniture to a single mother
ZELIENOPLE — A furniture store is reaching out to find single mothers in need this holiday season.
Roach & Ziegler Interior is giving away a new six-piece living room furniture set to a single mother from the Zelienople area. It is accepting applications through Thursday.
Donna Zeigler of Roach & Ziegler Interior said the giveaway is part of Miracle on Main Street, an event scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday to help those less fortunate during the holiday season.
“It was on God's heart, so I did this,” Zeigler said.
Working with the Zelienople Area Business Association, Zeigler put together the free event this year to collect donations of food, shoes and children's winter coats, bring business to the shops on Main Street, entertain the community and spread goodwill. A full list of events and donation drop-off locations can be found at the Miracle on Main Street Facebook event.
Zeigler said Roach & Ziegler donated furniture to a needy family about four years ago, but only received one applicant.
As she thought about doing it again this year and began organizing the Miracle on Main Street event, Zeigler had a conversation with Sharon Klaiber, president of the Southwest Butler Food Cupboard, that gave her a focus for the giveaway.
Klaiber mentioned how single mothers are one of the growing populations served by the food cupboard.
“Our two largest populations we serve are single moms and the elderly,” Klaiber said. “Single moms have a hard time. It is not an easy thing.”
Klaiber said she had been thinking about how she could help single mothers outside her work at the cupboard.
“It must've pulled on (Zeigler's) heart strings too,” Klaiber said. “I'm blown away that Roach & Ziegler is going to be giving away a furniture set.”
The winner will be able to choose the furniture set, including the color of the sofa. The set includes an Ashley Furniture sofa, two end tables, a cocktail table and two lamps.
To apply for the giveaway, a mother can nominate herself or someone can nominate her by writing a short story about why she would be the perfect person to receive the furniture. Applications can be found at Roach & Ziegler, 209 S. Main St, or they can be emailed with the story, nominee's name and phone number to brad@roach-zieglerinterior.com with the subject line “Mom.”
“They just need to tell their story, that's all,” Zeigler said.
The Harmony/Zelienople Ministerium, a group of church leaders, will choose the winner based on the women's stories sometime before Christmas. It was already received seven applications, Zeigler said, and it has been emotional as she and her husband, Brad, have been reading through them.
The furniture is going to do more than just give the family a comfortable place to sit and relax; it will lift their spirits, Klaiber said. For someone who is barely making ends meet and possibly getting food from the food pantry, to have new furniture can make a world of difference, she said.
“They're going to start to feel good. They'll know that there are good people out there, that there is hope,” Klaiber said. “We all need hope. Hope can get us through some really dark days.”