DALLAS MARKET CENTER ENTERS PHASE TWO OF DMC CARES HURRICANE RELIEF PROGRAM

Dallas Market Center has announced a partnership with the Houston Furniture Bank for phase two of its DMC Cares Hurricane Relief Program. The company’s goal is to create $1 million in support for several organizations, including the Houston Furniture Bank, via financial and product donations for hurricane survivors and is encouraging its exhibitors and attendees to join them in these efforts.

The Houston Furniture Bank, an independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, has been designated as a key beneficiary of Dallas Market Center’s fundraising and product donations. The Houston Furniture Bank is currently providing families with basic furniture including mattresses, beds, tables, chairs, sofas, and dressers.

“As the gulf coast moves from recovery to rebuilding, we are proudly adding support for the Houston Furniture Bank,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Their mission is to help as many families as possible with basic home furnishings, and they foresee a desperate need continuing for many months. We call upon the industry to unite and to support their efforts.”

Oli Mohammed, executive director of Houston Furniture Bank, added: “We are pleased to partner with Dallas Market Center and to work together to serve the families who need basic home furnishings. Many of these families lost everything and now have no bed to sleep on, no chair to sit on, and no table to eat on. We need your help to be able to answer the critical, ongoing demand. Government assistance for housing does not include furniture so we depend upon community and industry support.”

In addition, Dallas Market Center is immediately initiating Operation ReStore, a sweeping support program to help affected retailers and sales representatives in the region. These customers are immediately eligible for a special travel package to help them attend trade events at Dallas Market Center.

The market center continues to collect donations of personal care items and bulk clothing. A shipment of 16 pallets of donated products was recently delivered to the gulf coast region from donations collected at Dallas Market Center. New and unused toiletries, baby items, and men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing are being accepted and will be distributed directly into the affected region via the Dallas Jewish Family Services network.

Also on-site, a DMC Cares Sample Sale will take place October 2-3 and November 6-7. This 10,000 square-foot Hurricane Relief Sample Sale of donated gifts, home decor, fixtures, and more will take place in World Trade Center 476. Proceeds from this mega-sale, open to registered buyers attending First Monday/Tuesday events, will benefit DMC Cares and the Houston Furniture Bank. Exhibitors are invited to donate products.

Finally, many exhibitors are creating their own efforts to help affected retailers including offering specials including free shipping, discounts, donations, and date extensions.

For more information about DMC Cares, visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com/dmccares.