Can you help?

An email arrived in my inbox. “He is in seminary in Charlotte and lives in Rock Hill. His

wife arrives tonight – from China! He has been sleeping on an air mattress and no

furniture for them or their six-year-old daughter. Can you help?”

The father became a follower of Christ in his home country of China. A scholarship was

awarded for him to attend seminary in the U.S. He worked for over a year to bring his

family here to join him. The visa came and it was necessary for them to travel as quickly

as possible. He was not prepared. We met him a couple of hours before he was to

leave for the airport to greet them. Setting him up with the basics, we made

arrangements for them to return in a few days to collect items they still needed.

A kind, loving joyful couple met me at the furniture bank. Their gratitude was

overflowing. I saw only a small vehicle. It was after dark. I asked them how they planned

on getting the selected items to their home. “I will leave my wife here with the items, go

rent a U-Haul and return.” I explained why that was not safe. We brought our small truck

and had them set up at home within an hour.

They shared how God has carried them and provided for them on their faith journey.

“What are your plans after seminary?” I asked. “We will return to China and the

believers who are waiting for us.”

The Furniture Bank has been in operation now for about four years. Calls come from

every direction. A mother with a teenage daughter has been couch surfing with friends

and family and finally has a place of her own. Can we help? A teacher from Jamaica

has arrived in Rock Hill to teach middle school science. They start next week and have

no funds to set up an apartment. Can we help? A father has been a part of Family

Promise for months. He worked until he could afford a small apartment for himself and

his two girls. When asked what he needed, a table and chairs to sit together as a family

was all he requested. Can we help? It is the beginning of the semester and four new

international students have arrived at the local university. School starts in a couple of

days. They need furniture for the rooms they are renting. Can we help? A refugee family

of four from Afghanistan arrives in two days. They need an apartment furnished. Can

we help?

In 2025 The Off Ramp served 19 households. Nineteen households have beds to sleep

on, lamps to see by, dishes and cooking utensils to share meals, dining tables to gather

around, and chairs and sofas to relax at the end of a long day. Thank you for making

this possible.