Veterans Receive 177 Free Dinette Sets in Time for the Holidays

For many homes, a kitchen table represents a place where families gather and where memories are made. Thanks to a gift from Bob Mills Furniture, 177 active duty military members, reservists, retirees and veterans across Oklahoma can celebrate the holiday season around brand-new dinette sets.

Since late October, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency has collaborated with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the VA Medical Centers in Muskogee and Oklahoma City to distribute the furniture.

“When we were approached by Bob Mills Furniture with this generous gift, we immediately knew we wanted military personnel and veterans to have them,” said Dennis Shockley, OHFA executive director. “It is a token of appreciation to those families and individuals who sacrifice so much.”

The final sets of furniture were distributed December 18 at a warehouse in Oklahoma City. Stephan Christmas and his wife drove from Lawton to pick up their table and chairs.“

"We got our first dining table when I got out of boot camp in the Navy, and it was a cheap set,” Christmas said. “It’s six years later and we’re getting our first real dining table and it’s neat because it’s free.

Christmas loads a dinette set into his car.

Korea and Vietnam veteran Norman Fritz drove from Stillwater in his pick-up truck to load up his new furniture.

“I have a bunch of grandkids, and it will come in handy,” Fritz said.

It took teamwork by many individuals and organizations to ensure that veterans received the donated furniture before the holidays.

“The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission was honored to partner with OHFA and Bob Mills Furniture for such a worthy cause," said OESC Executive Director Richard McPherson. "Knowing that so many families this holiday season will be able to gather around a brand new dining table has been a very gratifying experience for all of us involved with the project.”  

Fritz prepares to drive back home to Stillwater with his boxes of table and chairs.

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