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May 8, 2008 4:52 pm US/Eastern
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50 Years, 50 Families: Marie Wharton
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
The latest recipients of Roomful Express's gift of furniture to 50 local families in celebration of their 50th year in business are a woman and her daughter who are living in a virtually empty apartment and sleeping on a single bed air mattress.
"I get on my knees and pray every night to help me and my daughter and son," says Marie Wharton, from the Hill District.
Wharton says she feels God already helped her survive breast cancer when she was in her 20s.
She has worked at the University of Pittsburgh for seven years, but a year ago she lost her furniture to slum landlord.
Now, Wharton and her daughter, Dana Blunt, have their own place, but the only furniture is a kitchen table, chairs and a few small decorative tables.
They have to sleep together on an air mattress.
"Sometimes I end up on the floor or she ends up on floor because I do sleep kind of wild," says 13-year-old Dana.
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Coordinator Deborah Holt says she is impressed by Wharton's positive outlook on life even in adverse situations.
And Wharton and her daughter were very happy to get the news that they are receiving up to $3,000 worth of furniture from Roomful Express.
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