Navy Veteran Gets A Much-Welcomed Gift
WEST PULLMAN (CBS) -- A needy South Side Navy veteran's family got a big thank you for her service today and was also giving thanks after receiving new furniture for every room in their house.
It was all free.
Angela Harris, her four children and others stood outside the Harris house on 125th and Princeton this morning as the rear truck door opened from Bob's Discount Furniture. They applauded when they saw the truck full of furniture.
Harris says the furniture that used to be in her house was mostly "hand-me-down stuff, people getting rid of their furniture. So this is the first time I'm having brand new furniture."
The 43-year-old Navy veteran is now a stay-at-home mom, raising four children along with her husband who is a school bus driver.
Harris says she was a radioman in the Navy between 1990 and 1994 and was mostly stationed on Guam and in the Philippines.
A few months ago, Fifth/Third Bank teamed up with Rebuilding Together to help make repairs to the Harris' house. Bank spokesman Andrew Hayes says a team of more than 20 Fifth 3rd Bank employees painted the inside of the house, tiled, and made repairs to the house.
Then, Hayes says he reached out to Bob's Discount Furniture, which is making an entry into the Chicago market. Bob's came through with furniture for every room in the house.
Hayes says, "We have an obligation to those who serve our country certainly. This is one way we felt we could pay it forward."
He says he couldn't be happier for the family. He says, "They were so appreciative when we were doing the painting and the cleaning, but then to see the furniture makes a difference. It's a home."
Angela Harris says she had one day hoped for new furniture for her home but that that wasn't in the cards until now. "We had other priorities. The kids, school, keeping them clothed and all that so this is a welcome blessing. This is stuff we were going to do way down the line," she says.
She goes on to say, "This is a blessing. Like somebody opened up the windows to heaven, really. We were not expecting this but it's very welcome."
Harris' children were glad to get the new furniture.
13-year old Joshua, says, "I feel like happy, excited and grateful". His twin brother, Josia says he was "excited to get a new bunk bed". Josia gets the top bunk.
7-year old Nilah says she was excited to "get a new dresser and to see a new couch in the living room."
The siblings' two-year old sister seemed happy and tried to imitate the words they were saying.
Angela Harris says she picked out her furniture online but was "so overwhelmed" because she had never really bought new furniture before. She says she chose furniture that is "kid friendly."
She says, "It's just so good to know that people want to give back to veterans."