by Sonia Ahmed The New Haven independent
Mims in her son Messiah’s new room, donated bed and all.
Theresa Mims cried into her hands Monday morning as friend and educator Debby Hull comforted her while IKEA employees helped move donated mattresses, dishware, and dressers into her new apartment.
Mims, a 55-year-old mother of seven, moved into her apartment near Norton and Chapel streets in May.
She made that move seven months after a fatal fire destroyed her home on Elm Street and took the life of her son Kenneth Mims last October. She lives in her new Norton Street rental with her youngest son, Messiah.
On Monday, Bryan Sliech and several other IKEA workers moved furniture and other home goods — including mattresses, bed frames, pillows, sheets, a dresser, and a table — into Mims’s apartment. All of that was donated by the furniture retail giant to help Mims and her family rebuild their life after last fall’s tragedy.
Mims said on Monday that she was hesitant to move into her new home after living in her eldest daughter Quinika’s home since the fire.
Quinika added that the fatal fire left her feeling angry. “After my brother’s funeral, people’s lives just went back to normal, not realizing what she [her mother, Theresa] had to deal with,” Quinika said. “She had been in that house for 14 years.”
Upon taking her mother and siblings in, Quinika said she had to mentally and financially prepare herself, as she also had her two daughters living at home with her. “I haven’t slept in a bed for ages,” Theresa Mims said on Monday.
Now, thanks to the IKEA donation, she has new mattresses of her own — and so much more.
Sliech, who works as a local marketing specialist for the IKEA on Long Wharf, said he learned about Mims’ situation after Hull, a part-time counselor at Hillhouse High School, reached out to him a couple of weeks ago. Hull in turn said she learned about what Mims has been going through after Mims spilled her heart out to her during a meeting regarding her son Messiah, who attends the school.
Hull, wanting to help as soon as possible, started reaching out to various businesses before getting a response from IKEA. “He responded within 30 minutes,” Hull said about Sliech.
Sliech said his favorite part of his job is helping out the community, and since IKEA has the resources available, he was eager to help.
“I’m so drained,” Mims said on Monday about all that she and her family have been through over the past year. “Sometimes I feel like giving up.”
“You are one of the strongest people I’ve ever known,” Hull told her.
Mims added that since all her kids are older and work now, she is looking for a job for her son Messiah. Sliech said that he would look for career opportunities at IKEA for her son.
The IKEA crew spent two hours moving in and assembling the new furniture on Monday. Mims said that she is happy and excited to start this new period in her life. Messiah’s room now has a new bed frame, mattress, pillows, and sheets. Mims’s room has the same, plus a dresser and a small table.
Mims mentioned that the only thing missing was a TV.
Francisco Rubio, an IKEA worker, said that he could stop by next week to drop off a spare TV he has.
“I’m happy,” Mims said. “I appreciate this,”
Theresa Mims (right) with her daughter Quinika.
Bryan Sliech putting a comforter on Mims’s new bed.
Quinika Mims holding a pin honoring her brother, Kenneth Mims, who died in the Oct. 6, 2024 fire at 516 Elm St.
Bryan Sliech, Quinika Mims, Theresa Mims, Debby Hull, and Francisco Rubio.