Last week was a busy one. I missed a couple posts, but I’ll share what I was up to! After months of preparation and organizing, the women in our church headed to Gateway 180, a homeless shelter, to redecorate a room and put on some Easter activities. Gateway 180 is an incredible organization whose mission is to reverse homelessness. They provide a safe, comfortable place for women, children, and families to stay – short-term – while they give them tools and resources to find a more permanent solutions for their housing and job needs.
The leadership in our women’s organization, got word that some of the rooms were not so pretty and didn’t much feel like a home to these families in need. Because of our limited resources and budget, we volunteered to redecorate one of the rooms (that needed the most help) and also to provide an Easter activity for the children and serve them lunch.
Here is the ugly starting point of the room, which had all personal items already removed:
From this point we divided and conquered. We had groups prepping the room and painting…
(Erin, one of the youth in our church, has pro-painting form ;))
And others helping the kids with an Easter craft…
And the rest either preparing lunch for the families or hiding eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt in their back yard play area. Below, you can see some donated Bissinger Chocolate Easter treats, donated towels and toiletries, as well as these fun super hero capes that the youth in our church made for all the children.
I was part of the group responsible for decorating the room, so we were in the hallway putting together racks and pulling bed sets out of packaging (I’m in a yellow shirt).
My friend, Camille, was the brains behind all the decorating. She put together the plan and I just helped execute it. Below, I’m getting ready to install the curtain rod!
This project wasn’t without some hiccups! When we were shown the room originally, it only had 3 beds, so the room layout was planned accordingly and 3 bed sets were purchased. Then when we got there, I noticed there were 4 beds! That changed out layout a bit and one of the racks to hold clothes wouldn’t fit anymore, but even more stressful: the bed sets we got were from Sears and purchased in January and Camille and I were worried we wouldn’t be able to find the exact bed set in a twin size at a local store! I quickly called around and found a Sears that wasn’t too far that had the EXACT one in the size we needed!
Talk about God answering prayers! I know it may seem simple and perhaps even trivial, but I think God wanted that room to look pretty and matching, just as much as we did! Heidi, our women’s group leader, had her husband run get the bed set, so it was in our hands within an hour!
So here is the final reveal! Some of the pictures aren’t the best because I was using a friend’s camera which I didn’t know how to use, compared to mine, but you get the idea! 🙂
When you first walk in, the first thing that catches your eye is this sign that says, “BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD IN THE WORLD” with “BE THE GOOD” in yellow. There is plenty of bad things that happen and people who make poor choices, which consequences can land a family in this very room. But don’t we all need reminders of hope? Of the good that exists? That we can gain control over our circumstances and be that influence for good? 
The other side of the room! The walls were painted light gray which was essential to making this small room look larger. The bright pops of yellow are cheerful and paired with varying tones of gray make this room look more modern. 
This was my favorite little nook, right as you walk in against this wall… below this was some painted gray apple crates that serve for a spot to put shoes.
Then as you walk in a little further, look back toward the right you see the chalkboard (with my chalkboard art), a rack to put clothes, towels, personal items, and a new, sturdier dresser that has drawers that actually work (the old dresser they were using had broken metal drawer glides)!
The room had some great quotes that I need to incorporate into my own home! “Do Something Extraordinary!” Everyone, regardless of circumstance, is capable of doing extraordinary things… of BEING extraordinary.
They all got a new set of coordinating towels too! These towels were personalized by sewing a strip of matching fabric about 3 inches from the edge on one side. Super easy and cute! Extra blankets and toiletries sit just below.
The white-balance was off on this pic, but I loved the sign above the bed, that says, “You Make Me Happy, When Skies Are Gray”! I can just imagine the little children that will be sleeping in these beds, and them reading that sign before they go to sleep or when they wake up. Regardless of how gray the day is, or how gray their life may seem, just the simple fact that they exist, is making someone happy. I hope every child remembers that.
This is standing at the far end, looking back to the door, on the left side. We put this little gallery wall together, with those boards that have wire running between two eye-screws and mini clothes-pins to pin up pictures.
And just so you can see some good before/afters…
The other side:
It was such a gratifying experience knowing that we completely transformed this room on a small budget and lots of love. Nearly everything we upcycled or painted or created and it looks much more like a home than an extra room in a shelter.
I hope that the families that live in this transformed room know that people care.
We care.
I care.
God cares.
And there IS good in this world.
It is not hard to find, but we have to choose to focus on the good, in order to overcome the bad.
If you are local and want to help this shelter, let me know… there is a big need still! Message me for more info!
I hope that the families that live in this transformed room know that people care.
We care.
I care.
God cares.
And there IS good in this world.
It is not hard to find, but we have to choose to focus on the good, in order to overcome the bad.
If you are local and want to help this shelter, let me know… there is a big need still! Message me for more info!
Just left you a FB comment, too.
What a wonderful gift you gave to this shelter. It made me smile to see the work you did for them. And, everything looks so light, airy and cheerful. Congratulations!!!
LOVE this SOOOO much!!! you guys did such an amazing job!!
Good post Rachel. And even more importantly, good work! I’ll be sending the link to this post to my mom (a Relief Society President in CA) and few local women who expressed interest to know more about the project. It was a joy to be part of such a powerful project.
Wow, you guys really transformed this space from being rather depressing to being super uplifting, and I love all of the quotes you spread throughout. Thanks so much for sharing at The Makers!
Beautiful and this “new” space will mean to so much. x
This is fabulous! That room looks amazing and I know it will be such a blessing to all those who pass through it! I love that this hobby we have can help us give back in such extraordinary ways!