Even a pandemic can’t prevent Coconis Furniture from its annual mission to help local women.
During October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Coconis Furniture-Mattress 1st, Genesis HealthCare System, and a local NBC affiliate WHIZ TV teamed up to offer Southeastern Ohio area, women free mammogram screenings. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a slight drop and gave only 80 vouchers for mammograms. Whereas last year, 88 women, who otherwise could not afford a screening, took advantage of the program.
Randy Coconis, President of Coconis Furniture, said, “It’s great that we’re able to partner up with so many awesome organizations and offer this important service to area women. Early detection is so critical. Last year we had a lady stop by the store to thank us for offering the vouchers. She explained that she had taken one for her daughter, who later learned that she had an early breast cancer stage. We were so thankful that a program like this can make such a difference.”
[Community matters in retail, Chris Cooley says]
Local businesses and individuals contributed to the program, plus several furniture manufacturers, including Serta Simmons Bedding, Ashley, and Homestretch. Additional support came from other local organizations such as the Southeastern Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project and Radiology Associates of Southeastern Ohio. Genesis HealthCare System assisted by reducing the average cost of each mammogram for this program.
Coconis plans to continue the free mammogram program in 2021 with the goal of screening over 100 women in Southeast Ohio.
Coconis’s generosity is one key example of the many HFA members who are supporting their local communities through events and speaks to the power of real community.
