Bloomington Nonprofit Installs New Roof; Other Capital Projects Remain
Executive director Frank Downes, right, talks with helper Matt Cianci in the warehouse at Recycling Furniture for Families, 515 N. Center St., Bloomington.
Reposted from The Pantagraph
Story by Drew Zimmerman; Photos by Clay Jackson
BLOOMINGTON — Recycling Furniture for Families in downtown Bloomington invested about $170,000 to replace the roof of its 70-year-old warehouse and anticipates another $25,000 in capital projects over the next year.
The nonprofit, which provides furniture and other necessities to eligible families living at or below the federal poverty line, was at risk of relocating from its Center Street location last year without a new roof.
Frank Downes, executive director of Recycling Furniture for Families, said a roof replacement had been performed on the building about 13 years ago, but it was more of a layover of the existing roof. Because the roof was not sloped, it continued to collect water and contribute to significant leaks and water damage to the ceilings underneath it.
As part of the most recent repairs, Downes said the original roof was torn off and all of the building’s drainage had to be redone. Water damage within the facility was also fixed.
An aerial shot taken Sept. 29, 2025, of the roof at Recycling Furniture for Families.
“We had the roof tapered now so all the water runs to the back so it’s not sitting on the roof,” Downes said. “We’ve had some pretty decent-sized rains and it worked great.”
Operations were only suspended for about a week and a half in June during the installation period.
Outside of stormwater damage, Downes said one of the biggest problems was birds tearing up the roof. In response, the new roof features deterrent spinners to keep birds away.
“I think we’ll be fine for the next 20 years,” Downes said.
Greg Meyer, who serves on Recycling Furniture for Families’ board, said he was grateful for the community support that kept the downtown warehouse as a viable resource for families in need.
“This is a very generous community once they know of a great need, and the roof at Recycling Furniture for Families is paramount,” Meyer said. “Because you can’t have a nonprofit if you don’t have a place where it can be safe and dry.”
Although the roof is complete, Downes said other capital projects remain.
The building requires about $7,000 in mortar work, and there are plans to replace the driveway on Center Street, he added.
An aerial shot of the roof at Recycling Furniture for Families.
Over the last 20 years, Recycling Furniture for Families has served more than 500 families and given thousands of pieces of furniture on average per year. Last year, Downes had said that about 45% of clients were overcoming homelessness, 20% were living with a disability and 17% were escaping abusive situations.
To qualify for help, families must not have used the organization’s services in the past and must meet certain financial guidelines. Except for large appliances, all items are donated to families and then delivered to their new homes free of charge.
For information about donating to Recycling Furniture for Families, visit rf4f.org/donate or through the nonprofit’s fund held at Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. Monetary donations can also be mailed to the warehouse at 515 N. Center St. in Bloomington.
Volunteers will schedule pickups for anyone looking to donate their home furnishings. Donors can also drop off their goods on the east side of the building during normal operating hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.