The San Jose City Council presented a commendation Tuesday to the Bay Area Furniture Bank, a six-year-old nonprofit that provides families in need with slightly used furniture donated by hotels, college campuses, tech companies and other sources. The nonprofit, founded in 2016 by retired tech sales guy Ray Piontek, has diverted about 23,000 pieces of furniture from going to the landfill — roughly 1,400 tons that would fill up 56 garbage trucks.

Bay Area Furniture Bank board member Joe Noonan was at the meeting for that item, and when it finished, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told him to stick around. Noonan was presented with an unexpected commendation for his work as an advocate and champion for San Jose. (It was unexpected for Noonan, but I’m guessing not for the dozen fans, including his father, Joe Noonan Sr., who showed up at the council chambers.)