Meet Andy Bertocci,
Furniture Friends Volunteer
Andy Bertocci, lovingly referred to as “Andy Lamps” by the Furniture Friends team is a lifelong Mainer who grew up in Bath. Retired, he now lives in Yarmouth and since 2020 has been collecting discarded and damaged lamps to repair, and often rebuild completely into something new and beautiful for our neighbors.
“We should all look for ways we can pitch in and help out,” said Andy when asked why he began his passion project for Furniture Friends. Andy’s pragmatic response seemingly highlights his philosophy and approach to life.
Andy works out of his home workshop, a dedicated space off of his garage that is filled with lamps, tools and even a few antique motors (another passion of his). He said that he takes discarded lamps from local transfer stations, friends, and even his church community; where he has hung flyers letting folks know how they can help out. “This is just something that I’m interested in and happy to do.” Andy said he doesn’t like going to events, he likes being at home and working on things. So this is the best way he knows to give back; quietly collecting these essentials and making sure they are available to those that need them.
“We should all look for ways we can pitch in and help out.”
Andy estimates that since 2020 he has donated at least 100 lamps annually to Furniture Friends, probably more.
“Not every lamp is meant to light a room or cook a meal by,” Andy observed as he showed us a small lamp he is working on, clearly intended for a child’s room. But Andy makes sure regardless of the size or style of lamp, that it is fully functioning by the time it leaves his workshop, often purchasing the necessary parts or lightbulbs for them himself.
If you’d like to support Furniture Friends and Andy’s lamp initiative, feel free to drop off broken lamps to our Westbrook warehouse and we will get them to Andy for repairs. We are also always in need of lampshades and lightbulbs.
Please consider making a one-time or recurring gift this holiday season in support of our work.
Your generous donation helps ensure that our neighbors will receive the comfort and dignity that lamps and other furniture essentials provides.