LEADING THE WAY. CHRISTMAS IS COMING EARLY FOR A MOM AND HER DAUGHTER IN AVONDALE. BUT IT’S NOT SANTA. BEHIND THE SURPRISE FURNITURE FAIR, TEAMING UP WITH NEW LIFE FURNITURE BANK FOR A PROJECT CALLED DESIGN WITH THE HEART. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S DANIELLE DINDAK TAKES US INSIDE. THANKS TO AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS, THIS APARTMENT IS REMINDING US WHAT THE SEASON IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO BE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. OH MY GOODNESS. SIX YEAR OLD SOPHIA CAN’T BELIEVE HER EYES. THE ROOM, THAT BED. ALL OF THIS IS HERS. I LOVE MY BED. MOM. KATHLEEN MCNULTY PINCHING HERSELF, SAYING THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE. WOW, LOOK AT YOUR ROOM, SOPHIA. I AM VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. OH, THAT’S OUR THING RIGHT THERE IS LEGOS AND OVERWHELMED. EXCITED. IT IS DEFINITELY A BLESSING. I’VE BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE MY MOM’S BEEN GONE IN 2022. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF FURNITURE FAIR, NEW LIFE, FURNITURE BANK, AND A VILLAGE OF VOLUNTEERS. THEY SPENT THE DAY DESIGNING, MOVING FURNITURE AND TRANSFORMING THIS SPACE. YEAH, WE’RE GOING INTO A HOME, YOU KNOW, FILLING IN THE GAPS WHERE THEY CAN’T PROVIDE THE FURNITURE. SO THAT LITTLE SOPHIA CAN HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY THIS CHRISTMAS. MUSIC. OH, THIS IS DOUBLE SIDED. JUST TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEM WITH SOME EXTRA FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES TO MAKE THEIR HOUSE A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE OVER THE HOLIDAYS IS JUST SUCH A BLESSING TO US, MAKING EVEN THE SMALLEST OF ITEMS FEEL LIKE LUXURIES. I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER HAD A HOME THAT LOOKS THIS, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL. THE GIFT THEY’RE RECEIVING DOESN’T FIT UNDER A TREE. IT’S A GIFT OF KINDNESS, RIGHT IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. YES. THIS IS A TRUE, TRUE BLESSING. THIS YEAR, KATHLEEN AND SOPHIA ARE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. EVERYBODY GET MY MOMMY A HUG. OH, AND THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW NEW LIFE PARTNERED WITH FURNITURE FAIR. ALL OF THIS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR EFFORTS. DANIELLE DINDAK WLWT NEWS FIVE. BESIDES THE NEED, IT REALLY DOES BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU GET IN THERE AND HELP LIKE THAT. SO I HELPED THE FURNITURE BANK ABOUT A MONTH AGO. YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW MANY FAMILIES THEY FINALLY ARE NOT HOMELESS. BUT THEN THEY DON’T HAVE ANY FURNITURE TO COME HOME TO. KIDS CAN’T HAVE SLEEPOVERS BECAUSE THEY’RE EMBARRASSED THAT THEY DON’T HAVE A COUCH FOR THEIR FRIENDS TO, YOU KNOW, SIT ON OR A BED TO SLEEP ON. SO THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR TRULY THOUSANDS
Project helps Christmas come early for Ohio mom and daughter
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Updated: 7:23 AM PST Dec 10, 2024
Christmas came early for a mom and her daughter in Avondale, Ohio, but Santa was not behind the surprise. For the third year, New Life Furniture Bank teamed up with Furniture Fair on a project called "Design with a Heart."Thanks to the army of volunteers, the apartment was transformed, reminding everyone how lucky it is to be home for the holidays. Sophia, 6, could not believe her eyes when she walked into her apartment. She ran from room to room, soaking in all the new items around her.Sophia's mother, Kathleen McNulty, kept pinching herself, saying it was a dream come true. "I am very grateful and overwhelmed," McNulty said. "It is definitely a blessing. I've been struggling since my mom passed away in 2022."On Friday, New Life Furniture Bank, Furniture Fair and a village of volunteers transformed the apartment.They spent the day designing, moving furniture and turning the space into a home. "Filling in the gaps where they can't and providing the furniture so that little Sophia can have a good holiday this Christmas," Craig Daniels with Furniture Fair said.The New Life Furniture Bank in Cincinnati works to provide people in need with furniture, and so far this year, it has helped almost 2,400 families. "To be able to serve this with some extra furnishings and accessories to make their house a little more comfortable over the holidays is just such a blessing to us," Heather Voit with New Life Furniture Bank said.Even the smallest new items added to the home felt like luxuries for the family. "I don't think I've ever had a home that looks this beautiful," McNulty said.This year, McNulty and Sophia are home for the holidays. "Yes, this was right in time for Christmas," McNulty said.The New Life Furniture Bank is a nonprofit that collects gently used furniture and household items for those in need throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio. If you would like to help with the cause, click here.Avondale, Ohio, is located outside of Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI — Christmas came early for a mom and her daughter in Avondale, Ohio, but Santa was not behind the surprise. For the third year, New Life Furniture Bank teamed up with Furniture Fair on a project called "Design with a Heart."
Thanks to the army of volunteers, the apartment was transformed, reminding everyone how lucky it is to be home for the holidays. Sophia, 6, could not believe her eyes when she walked into her apartment. She ran from room to room, soaking in all the new items around her.
Sophia's mother, Kathleen McNulty, kept pinching herself, saying it was a dream come true.
"I am very grateful and overwhelmed," McNulty said. "It is definitely a blessing. I've been struggling since my mom passed away in 2022."
On Friday, New Life Furniture Bank, Furniture Fair and a village of volunteers transformed the apartment.
They spent the day designing, moving furniture and turning the space into a home.
"Filling in the gaps where they can't and providing the furniture so that little Sophia can have a good holiday this Christmas," Craig Daniels with Furniture Fair said.
The New Life Furniture Bank in Cincinnati works to provide people in need with furniture, and so far this year, it has helped almost 2,400 families.
"To be able to serve this with some extra furnishings and accessories to make their house a little more comfortable over the holidays is just such a blessing to us," Heather Voit with New Life Furniture Bank said.
Even the smallest new items added to the home felt like luxuries for the family. "I don't think I've ever had a home that looks this beautiful," McNulty said.
This year, McNulty and Sophia are home for the holidays. "Yes, this was right in time for Christmas," McNulty said.
The New Life Furniture Bank is a nonprofit that collects gently used furniture and household items for those in need throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio. If you would like to help with the cause, click here.
Avondale, Ohio, is located outside of Cincinnati.
![Home Alone house](https://kubrick.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gettyimages-2154585288-6755e8d0c2d54.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.847xh;0,0&resize=136:* "WINNETKA, IL - NOVEMBER 27: Security cameras are installed at the house featured in the movie "Home Alone" in Winnetka, Illinois on Nov. 27, 2021. (Photo by Youngrae Kim for The Washington Post via Getty Images)")
