USO Helps Gallery Furniture
By Carl Willis
POSTED: Sunday, May 24, 2009
UPDATED: 7:23 pm CDT May 24,
2009
HOUSTON -- It is going to take some sweat and heavy lifting to get Gallery Furniture back on track after a four-alarm fire destroyed its north Houston warehouse.
Warehouse workers like Chris Johnson will be on the frontline.
"It's going to take 110 percent," Johnson said. "If we all come together and be as one we can get the job done."
Those with the United Service Organizations know the frontline very well, whether they're helping our troops, or in this case, helping those whose work can help our troops.
"A soldier is a soldier, whether he wears our nation's colors or his Gallery Furniture T-shirt, taking care of the citizens of Houston," said Robin Crouse with USO of Fort Hood. "We just want to make sure they're fueled, lots of water, lots of good food, healthy snacks."
Crouse and fellow USO workers from Fort Hood will be feeding Gallery Furniture employees so they continue the work that will keep the business thriving.
On Saturday, warehouse employees worked in a much smaller hub after their main warehouse was destroyed by fire.
After years of Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngvale and his family donating furniture and electronics to the USO, the organization is returning some of that goodwill.
"This is the least we can do to support him and his family and his workers when they need it most," USO employee Deanna Sump said.
Employees on site said product shipments and deliveries were moving at a fevered pace. Still, they did have a little relief thanks to the USO.
"I thank God for these guys and also Mattress Mack for having these guys to come out for us," Johnson said.
Thanks to a Channel 2 viewer who responded to the USO's request for a barbecue pit, warehouse employees will get hot cooked meals as they work on Memorial Day.
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