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Portland Chapter
We Stagers are very lucky that we have found a calling that allows us the opportunity to make such a difference in people’s lives. That was reinforced for us when the Portland IHASP Chapter arrived to volunteer our labor for a women’ shelter as our project for Worldwide Staging Service Day. We arrived in a caravan with trucks and cars full of donations and a slew of eager ASP’s ready to give our all to these people living in very difficult conditions.
As we toured the facility, we were surrounded by excited children and bewildered adults who had no idea what this group of ambitious women had in store for their temporary home. It was obvious that no one expected a group of strangers to come into their midst and provide such a difference in the feel of the home, but that is exactly what we accomplished.
The addition of curtains to most of the windows in the home were essential for both cosmetic and security reasons , and our curtain hanging teams worked long and hard to be sure that everyone was given the gift of privacy. We were able to provide new beds and frames for several occupants who had been sleeping on mattresses on the floor. By the time we added lighting and artwork, the rooms had become warmer and more comforting. We absolutely made the day for one resident, awaiting the birth of her first baby, when she received the dresser she had been longing for only the day before. She felt prayers had been answered.
The children in the home were thrilled to have desks on which to do their homework, and watched closely as we transformed their dreary entry living space into an inviting and cozy area full of comfy pillows and throws, artwork, elegant lamps, a rug and a new dining table, complete with a bright red runner and fresh flowers. Throughout the many rooms, we fined tuned and tried to brighten the surroundings with new artwork and rugs. The residents had to be reassured that, as lovely as the new spaces might be, they were intended to make them all feel "at home" as opposed to just being looked at, but they could not believe that such special spaces were meant for them.
By the end of our work day, we had residents eager to assist in the clean-up that is such a big part of the job. While their gratitude was gratifying, every one of us realized that we were the ones who should be grateful for the chance to honor these fellow human beings and the home that is their sanctuary for the time being. We were given the gift of being allowed to serve these deserving people by doing something we loved. That is the reason we all love this business!
Visit the Denver Chapter Website.
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