Butte Furniture Bank

Curt Quist (2020)

 

“Service is important! That’s why we are put on this earth, to serve. This life is not just about the individual, it is about the collective, and it doesn’t cost anything to serve, be kind, and be loving,” says Quist

 

Curt Quist, creator of The Butte Furniture Bank, is hoping for another successful year of service and giving. Quist is 72 years old and has lived in Butte for the past 47 years with his wife, Jeanette, also of 47 years. Quist retired in 2004 after working 30 years at the Montana Power, now known as Northwestern Energy. Quist has grown to love Butte and says, “Butte has been good my family.”

 

So, naturally, Quist wants to give back to his community. When Kim Mickelson, a member of Quist’s church community, and activist for community service in Butte, asked Quist to help her with a family moving into their church who needed furniture, Quist was inspired with an idea. Because Quist has found Butte to be very caring and supportive, pertaining to service, he had a good inclination that Butte would help in his endeavor to start The Furniture Bank.

 

Quist decided to investigate other organizations in Montana which gave furniture away for free but couldn’t find any in the Montana area, so he decided to form his own group. Quist didn’t have expectations in the beginning, nor much help, so the success of the furniture bank for him has been pleasantly successful. He now has nine elected board members.

 

In the beginning of 2018, Quist introduced his idea to Action Inc., and they immediately took a hold of it. Quist wanted the nonprofit organization to be completely free of charge, and it is, although; they do accept donations, which help with gas, building charges, and other small expenses. Quist and his helpers come pick up the furniture and then deliver it.

 

When thinking about the idea of a furniture bank, Quist thought it would be fun. He didn’t realize how much work would go into this endeavor, and says that it is a lot of work, but the rewards outweigh any inconveniences caused by time or money. Quist loves the comradery, the gained friendships, and the building up of community involvement the most about this project.

 

Because of the formation of the Furniture Bank, many pieces of furniture have avoided landfills. A huge contributor to the furniture bank is Steele’s warehouse, owned by Dan Steele, located on 800 South Wyoming Street. They donate mattresses and other used returned furniture to the furniture bank. Steele’s has supported Butte for 89 years, donating to many local events/organizations over the years. Steeles motto is “Take Care of the Community that takes care of you.” Quist is constantly expressing his gratitude towards Steele’s Warehouse and is very humbled and grateful for their contributions.

 

Quist first gained a testimony of service when he served in the Vietnam war from 1969-1970. He spent his time in orphanages and helped build up 5 villages by donating his interpretation skills, labor skills, and communication skills. He looks back at this time in his life with much love for the Vietnam community and children. His second memorable encounter with service was when he was in Seattle, Washington with the youth. He and the youth served weekly at the homeless shelters for 10 years. 10-12 kids and Quist would work with the Catholic churches, Lutheran churches, and The Union Gospel Missions cleaning the buildings of homeless shelters and walking the streets visiting with the homeless until 11:00 pm. They would often sleep and eat at the homeless shelters after they served. Quist then worked with Margie Seccomb, at Homeward Bound, in Butte. Quist and his three children would serve on the weekends, working on the Homeward Bound building during their remodel. Quist has teamed up again with Margie Seccomb at Action Inc. (formally known as Homeward Bound). Margie Seccomb and the Southwest Montana Continuum of Care Coalition are huge fans and supporters of The Furniture Bank.

 

One of Quist’s favorite memories of delivering furniture was when the Exchange Club group was helping him on a delivery, and after the delivery, the woman being helped asked if she needed to do anything for their service. Quist replied, “Yes, you need to give me a hug.” With tears in her eyes she gladly did so.

 

Quist is inspired by Mother Theresa because she was determined to serve the people in the world, calling her a huge servant in the service community. His Hero is his father, because his father loved people. Quist says that he never heard his father say negative comments about others, and even though he has not been perfect in that area, he tries to be because of his father’s example.

 

Thanks, Curt Quist, for serving your Butte Community and making a difference in people’s lives.

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