Refinishing wood takes time, and you get dirty. That’s why most of the furniture that ends up at the MCII Sheltered Workshop’s furniture finishing division is half done.

For years, disabled employees at MCII in Farmington have been refinishing wood furniture for people who don’t have the time, patience or know-how to do it themselves. This summer, the workshop has begun selling some of the furniture they fix up at The Factory in Farmington.

In their small booth at The Factory, there’s a set that includes a table, chairs and a hutch for $1,530. There’s a wooden highchair that converts into a playtable for $135. There’s a buffet table for $200 and an office chair for $100. There’s no sales tax on these purchases.

The Factory is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

A diverse workforce

About 70 disabled employees work for MCII. Most work in the main area, packaging, labeling, inspecting, or assembling for companies like MOCAP and Siegel Robert Automotive.

Depending on the time of year, four to eight employees staff the rest area in Bloomsdale.

The remaining four employees — Mike Tilley, Owen Jones, Jimmy Pearce, and Jeff Glegg — work with Mike Marler refinishing furniture.

“It takes a lot of patience back here,” Marler said. “(The employees) really like it. They do a good job.”

On Tuesday, Tilley was darkening in the design on a sanded-down drawer while Jones was sanding down a drawer. Pearce was sanding down a church pew. Glegg, who has worked for MCII since 1981, had a rare day off for camp.

Marler said it takes about a week and a half for them to finish a chest like the one Tilley and Jones were working on that day.

“I love it here,” Jones said. “There’s never a dull moment.”  

Despite Jones picking on him every once in awhile, Pearce said it is the most therapeutic job he’s ever had.

First, they have to spray chemicals on the wood to remove the old paint, then they sand it down which takes awhile. After that, they apply the new finish and sand it again.

Most of the furniture comes from people who don’t have time or patience to do it themselves. They hear about MCII’s program through word of mouth and give them a call. MCII has been doing the work since 1994.

Marler offers pick-up and delivery for a fee, depending on where they live. He’s also the one who gives estimates on how much the work will cost.

Right now, they have a large collection of wood furniture from someone from St. Louis who recently inherited it and wants it for his new house. The employees work on that off and on between other projects. They’ve worked on furniture that comes from all over the United States, especially after Hurricane Katrina.

Much of the stuff they get is old — from the 1800s and early 1900s. They’ve redone a couple of Murphy beds. They’ve finished pie safes, baker’s hutches, hall trees, ice boxes, radio and record cabinets, and sewing machines, as well as tables, chairs, baseboards, chests, and fireplace mantels.

Marler said they try to complete individual pieces within two or three weeks unless someone is not in a hurry.

Every once in awhile someone donates a piece to them and those are the ones now being sold. As they get more pieces, some will be kept at MCII. The public may see those pieces from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s best to call ahead of time at 573-756-6406.

In 2005, MCII moved from the building on Burks Road to its new 40,000-square-foot location on South Westmount Drive off Perrine and across from the Post Office Annex.

It’s more than just a job

MCII, or Missouri Community Improvement Industries Inc., started in Farmington in 1975 and they still have three of the original 15 employees.

To work there, the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation must certify a person as disabled and eligible. The Department of Secondary Education approves the employee, as well. They accept employees with mental and physical disabilities. For more information, visit http://www.mciifarmington.com.

Employees work six-hour days. The St. Francois County Board for the Developmentally Disabled provides transportation to and from the workshop. Recently, Farmington Senior Center began supplying the lunch meals, but several still like to bring their own lunch.

Gail Atherton, sales and marketing representative for MCII, said the employees are dedicated and do excellent work. She said they want to work, care about their job, and it gives them a sense of worth. $$

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