La Crosse service agency, ‘the Exchange’ makes donated cleaning products available to furniture buyers

Some customers who shop at one furniture bank in La Crosse may take home furniture polish or cleaner when they buy a chair or table.

Staffers at the Exchange on 4th Street took in a donated delivery of cleaning products on Wednesday, supplied by employees of Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

Exchange program director Sarah Gebo said large companies or service groups often bring useful items and used furniture to their building.

“In order to maintain the furniture that goes out in these homes, it’s important to have cleaning supplies in the households,” Gebo said. “Our mission is to help individuals and families who are struggling to furnish their homes, and part of that is definitely maintaining and cleaning it.”

The usual donations to the Exchange tend to be large pieces of furniture, which are available to people in the area who may have been homeless or on low incomes.