Our goal is to provide furniture and goods to low income residents of Athens and surrounding counties.  We provide household amenities at affordable prices for those who have limited budgets.

Our inventory consists of secondhand furniture and appliances, all of which has been cleaned, sterilized and repaired as needed. These goods are available through the generous donations of residents and businesses that are keenly aware of the needs of many families throughout the southeast Ohio region. These donations are deeply appreciated by the dedicated employees of APAC and the families

 

Target women for employment, management and ownership.

The men and women at APAC know that everyone is treated equally. Everyone goes on the truck and is trained on the computer and cash register. We encourage women to be strong and stand up for themselves and their children.

 

Enables access to living wage, transportation and health care.

We are assisting the people in community by providing them with transportation to and from APAC to work off their assistance. We also provide driver’s training (for those who qualify) and pay for their permits and license.

 

Create alternative approaches (such as cooperatives or community owned ventures) for the production of goods and delivery of services.

When our wood shop is up and running this will provide the community the opportunity to learn how to build, use different types of industrial and power equipment and may also be used as a credit towards college. We are looking into using the wood shop as part of the tourism in our area and provide workshops for families. The wood shop will also provide us with the opportunity to build our bunk beds and other furniture in larger quantities.

 

Clients served by our programs: 

Employment-(13) were employed due to our assistance by providing them with clothes, shoes, gas and resumes

Job skills-(158) people were taught a new skill varying from cashier training, sales & marketing, wood shop, and inventory

Transportation-(67) people were transported to and from APAC who did not have transportation due to the grant we received through ACJFS

Permits/Driver’s license-(18) people were taught to drive and we paid for their permits and license

Mentor-(158) we are personally responsible for each individual who works at APAC, we are a family. We have an open door policy and we are available at any time to talk or to help.

Gas-(25) we have given clients gas cards to assist them with gas for their vehicles to go to and from work

 

Programs we are working on:

Community Wood Shop/One Room School House

The Community Wood Shop is in the renovating stage. We are working on installing insulation and putting up drywall. . The Community Wood shop will have workshops which will provide the clients with the basic knowledge of how to build a variety of wood products such as: bunk beds, coffee tables, end tables, picnic tables and other products, other workshops as they progress. It will also show individuals how to treat and prepare the wood which we will be purchased locally from saw mills in the area.

The Community Woodshop will provide the people in our area with a sense of pride by restoring a One Room School House approximately 110 years old, instead of tearing down a piece of history we will turn the building into a place where underprivileged people can come together create new ideas, learn new skills, and a trade.

New APAC Offices and classrooms:

APAC is need of more room in the Bargain Furniture Store, so we have decided to convert our 1880’s home into offices and classrooms. We would like to provide the low income community with the opportunity to promote a healthier lifestyle through the use of fitness equipment, and a kitchen which will be utilized for teaching clients the benefits of nutrition through cooking and canning their own food, and the disadvantage of the prepackaged and fast foods. The house’s laundry room will be used to teach the importance of cleanliness and hygiene and the computer room will be used for studying, school work or job search. .

• We have replaced 12 windows in the house that will become our offices.
• We have laid down carpets in the house.
• Tore all the plaster off of the upstairs rooms and laid down furring strips for drywall
• Process of laying down a new tile kitchen and bathroom floor
• Process of installing the furnace and air conditioning
• Process of putting in insulation and drywall