Dalton— Since 1981, the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) has been assisting flooring members who are faced with catastrophic illnesses, life-altering injuries and severe disabilities. Last year, FCIF helped dozens of families across the U.S. by providing a FCIF grant for medical expenses and basic needs such as housing, transportation and food.
Since its founding, the FCIF has distributed more than $7 million in grants. Beneficiaries include flooring retailers, installers, retail salespeople, distributor personnel, mill employees and industry executives.
Behind every FCIF grant, is a story of a real person who is fighting one of the hardest battles of their life. Kay Bearfield is one of them.
“Happy go lucky” is how recent FCIF grant recipient, Bearfield, described her life. Bearfield is a veteran of the floor covering industry, having worked as a lead at a manufacturing facility for 23 years. It was not until diagnosed with cancer for the third time that things started to change.
Kay said she became worried about how she was going to pay for her doctor, hospital and pharmacy bills. Thanks to a social worker at her local cancer treatment center, she was informed about FCIF. “It was like God opened another door for me during a difficult time,” she shared. With the grant from FCIF, Kay was able to have a weight lifted and get the financial help she needed. Thanks to FCIF, Kay is starting to make a turn back to the happy-go-lucky life she once knew.
Kay said she wants everyone to know how thankful she is and that FCIF can help individuals like her in a time of need.
Know someone in need of assistance?
- Visit here for an application.
- Grant applications have a rolling deadline
- Criteria for assistance: financial need, severity of medical condition, and 5-plus years of service to the floor covering industry by a household family member.
Want to help?
The FCIF is funded by manufacturers, retailers, distributers, industry associations, trade media and suppliers from across the floor covering industry. To make a tax-deductible donation or apply for a financial assistance grant, visit the FCIF website.