IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - In August 2011, Carrie and Dan Paschke, Bettendorf, and their three children moved to Beijing, China. While they were overseas, a chance encounter with two businessmen led to the birth of a new local business, Furnish Out, which exists to sell unique handmade home furnishings to raise funds on an ongoing basis for orphaned children in China.
While searching for locally made souvenirs in China, Carrie met two local businessmen, George and John, who specialize in handmade furniture and home furnishings. Each owns his own business and employs a team of artisans. "They create or remake armoires, tables of every kind, headboards, cabinets, chairs and much more, all by hand, using new or reclaimed wood," said Carrie. "They also acquire and, when necessary, refinish wooden baskets, decorative boxes, doors, buckets, basins, and other accessory pieces that have been collected from torn-down villages all over China." Carrie is delighted to continue working with George and John after her family's return to the United States in December 2013.
Carrie will now be selling these items through her newly formed business in the United States and donating 100 percent of the profits to China Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides support to orphaned children and is run by some of her close friends. Furnish Out is operating under a 'business to fund charity model' that will create a sustainable income stream in the future which will be used to help China Hope Foundation for years to come. Furnish Out will hold a sale of these unique items from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the weekends of August 21-22 and August 29-30 at Carrie's home at 6536 Blackberry Lane, Bettendorf, IA.
While in Beijing, Carrie volunteered at a foster home and met the orphaned children who lived there. To varying degrees, most had special needs or were awaiting surgeries for pre-existing health conditions. "They loved to sing songs, and they never let me leave without a hug goodbye," she said. "During my time in China I met around 50 orphans, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the millions believed by child welfare groups to exist throughout the country. My father always says that 'every little bit counts' and I believe in this case, that's true. I can't fix the problem, but I can help."
Carrie plans to make trips to China one to two times per year to purchase handmade furniture and home accessories from George and John. "I will then sell each piece in America and donate 100 percent of the profit to the China Hope Foundation," she said. "I know there is a market for George and John's work in America and the money will be going to a great cause at the same time."
For more information on Furnish Out, call 563-508-1498 or visit www.furnishout.com.
