What can 160,000 feet of heated showroom do when it is operated by a grateful man or woman?
For those Houston residents that are without power and are cold, tired and hungry, it has become….yet again….a shelter and a refuge.
With his large generators humming.
As he did when Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Katrina and other storms devastated the area, James F. McIngvale, who owns Gallery Furniture, opened up his doors to his three huge stores and warehouse, set-up buffets, emptied his blanket inventories, laid out his mattresses….hundreds of mattresses...and welcomed those that have no safe haven nor means to go to the Hilton...or Cancun.
Thousands have taken him up on his offer, and over 700 are sleeping there overnight.
“The logistics are a little hard, but we’re making it work.
The main thing is to get people out of the cold.”
From lenex...
Rosie May Williams, 48, who said she is homeless, tried to take shelter at a convention center earlier this week but was told it was over capacity. She was transported by bus to the furniture store, and has slept for the past two nights on a recliner, eating smothered chicken for dinner on one of those nights.
“They have been very good to me,” she said.
Many of those who chose to stay have organized themselves as volunteers, emptying trash and taking care of other people, who range in age from very young children to older adults in their 90s, Mr. McIngvale said.
There is a large area designated for the children, where there are face painters and group activities offered by local professionals.
160,000 square feet is large enough to maintain a healthy distance, and hand-sanitizing and mask-wearing is provided and mandatory.
“Obviously there’s a lot of angst among the community coming in here. They’re shell-shocked.
They’ve been home for days in the cold with no electricity, no heat, no water, no plumbing.
When my people are dying and freezing, I am going to take care of them.
That comes before profit every time.
It's a tough situation, and we try to make it a little easier for them by getting them on a good Tempur-Pedic mattress, just making sure they have lots of warm food and lots of comradery here."
And always offering the Texas National Guard food and shelter when necessary.
It costs a lot of money to run this operation, and to that James had this to say…
"We can afford that and what we can't afford is to cause these people to lose hope, we got to give them hope.
This is what my parents would have done.
We will stay open for as long as people need us.”
He is also known in the Richmond and Houston areas for his giving of furniture to those in need and to teacher school lounges.
Back in ‘17, when Harvey wrought its destruction, and twelve years before that with Katrina and Rita….there he was....again and again...
It goes without saying, that if you are in the area and are so inclined to donate food or time…..or if in better times are in need of a television, mattress or whathaveyou…..i can’t think of better place to do it.
Giving back to those that give back.
Sunday, Feb 21, 2021 · 5:13:22 AM +00:00 · Tevye
The comment thread is awash with the revelation that James has donated to Republicans.
Though supported in his humanitarian efforts by local Democrats including the Dem mayor, many believe that this story is inappropriate for DK.
I am of the opinion, as are others here that reside in Houston, that we can laud acts of beauty and service without lauding their politics.
Should we feel….guilty...lauding a man that helps the hungry, cold and tired, when we suddenly discover his politics are different from our own?
This is what Joe means about coming together and seeing the best of us...the commonalities that bind us.
We can see the good works and still remain tried and true Democrats.
Others say otherwise.
I have put this question to the Help Desk, and of course will abide by their decision. ( to leave up or take down the diary )
In the meantime, the comment thread is an interesting one, and with respect to others opinions.
Thank you.
Houstonian for some 60 years here.
There is a tendency for some on this site to demand diaries they disagree with be taken down. Teyve, your stories celebrate good people and it does no harm to recognize there are good people on the other side politically. Mattress Mac is one of the good guys.
I’m a Houstonian too, and like others of us here who are liberal Democrats, I’m a little baffled by Mack, who I believe to be a truly a decent, generous and compassionate man — and what I see as the stark dichotomy of his politics. I really don’t understand why he can’t see it. Regardless, blessings on him for coming through for those in desperate need of help, as he does every time.
pennymc128
He is a republican. That is well known in Houston. However, he does give generously. The furniture that people have been sleeping on during the freeze is now being sold at a 30% to 70% discount. I’ve seen the commercials.
That said, I did purchase my new furniture from him after Hurricane Harvey because he quite literally took care of thousands of people during a time I was down and my home was flooded. I think he is one of those people who buys into the “Christian” aspect of the republican spiel. Obviously, he’s a businessman too. That doesn’t mean I can’t see the good he does.