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Facebook group, furniture store help out local family Debbie Saxbury, left, from Ashley Homestore in Medford brought gifts Tuesday for Mark Rodriguez, Alyssa Rynne and their children. [Mail Tribune / Andy Atkinson] Monday Jan 29, 2018 at 12:01 AM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MEDFORD — Even with sparse furnishings, few toys and air mattresses for beds, Mark Rodriguez and Alyssa Rynne and their three children were excited to move into a new home last week, an apartment on Stevens Street. Having lived in a hotel for more than a year — Rodriguez works full-time but had an old eviction that made it hard to find a long-term rental — the family was looking forward to having a kitchen to cook in and bedrooms for the kids to enjoy. Last Tuesday, employees from Ashley Homestore in Medford arrived to deliver beds for 7-year-old Alexis Rodriguez and 9-year-old Joseph Rodriguez under the Hope to Dream program (ashleyfurniturehomestore.com/a-hope-to-dream). An added bonus came when members of the Central Point “What’s Happening” Facebook group arrived to transform a once-empty apartment into one that more closely resembled a messy living room after a busy Christmas morning. The family received items that ranged from toys, clothes and furniture to dishes, mirrors, appliances and other household items. Both children immediately began to decorate their new rooms and beds with pillows, toys and other items gifted from the group. Debbie Saxbury, coordinator of the Facebook group and an employee of Ashley Homestore, said the collaboration between the furniture store and her social media group were a perfect match for helping a deserving family. “They had applied online to Ashley for beds for the kids. They came in to the store to be interviewed, and we knew right away that we wanted to really help them get set up in their new home,” Saxbury said. “The store asked if my Facebook page could get involved. We have a really wonderful group. In seven years together, whenever someone in the community is in need, it doesn’t matter who they are, where they live or what they need — the group just all comes together a lot like its own little family.” In addition to Ashley employees, including COO Julie Gillis, hauling bags of items into the apartment, members of the Facebook group dropped items off, as well. New toys, fluffy blankets and, courtesy of Central Point residents David and Johnnie Kyzer, a gently used Wii game system. “Oooooh! I have always wanted a game system,” yelled Joseph. “That’s something I’ve always, always wanted. The one thing I always really wanted! I’m so happy right now!” Johnnie Kyzer applauded the generosity of the group and pointed out how easy it could be to make a difference for a family in need. “I think it’s great for everyone. Debbie put a call out, and we all just did what we could,” she said. “So often, we tend to take for granted everything we have. It feels good to give back. So many people have storage garages full of stuff they haven’t seen for 20 years. It’s nice to use it to help someone else instead of letting it just sit there.” Rynne was emotional at the sight of so many smiling faces showering gifts on her family. She said they had lived in the hotel in downtown Medford for more than a year while dealing with family issues — a grandmother passed away, and then a stepfather battled cancer. With her fiance, Rodriguez, working full time, the family had managed to get into the apartment, thanks in part to a “second chance” housing program, but with few belongings. “This is our first official place in our whole relationship, so that’s pretty exciting,” said the mother, holding 17-month-old Noah Rodriguez. Rynne said she was beyond grateful for the beds for her children, while the stream of donations from Facebook members caught the family off guard. “A box showed up on my step yesterday full of things like cups and bowls. Debbie told me some people were going to help, but I wasn’t expecting all that they’ve done. “This was all just totally unexpected. These guys have been such a blessing to us. The few things we have for our house have been borrowed from family. Our kids were sleeping on blowup beds. We have no couches. Our dining room table we barely got yesterday because we borrowed it from her mom,” said the father, who works as a roofer. “It’s just so insane to work so hard for an entire year, living in a hotel, and now to finally get into our own place," he said.  Gillis smiled as 17-month-old Noah followed his siblings into their newly decked-out rooms, his dad helping him navigate the stairs. Gillis credited the Hope to Dream program, which is nationwide through Ashley Homestore. “Our stores alone have done this 14 times in 2017 and 2018, so we’ll continue to do that. None of us need all the stuff we have, so it’s nice to find a family that needs it and be able to give it to them," said Gillis. “To see the kids' faces makes it all worth it. This was a really deserving family.” — Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].