The Greater Chicago IAHSP Regional Chapter World Wide Staging Service Day 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LBgpLYCgFk&feature=email Click on the link above The Greater Chicago IRC began planning for World Wide Staging Service Week (WWSSW) in the spring of 2009. We chose The Lake County Haven, a shelter for ten women and children, as our beneficiary for this year’s charity project. We took a field trip to The Haven and formed teams for each room/area in the four-bedroom home that included an on-site office for the case workers. We asked The Haven for a “wish list” and started soliciting donations. In this tough economic year, we were hard-pressed to find people to donate; however, as the project gained “shape”, our Team Leaders took it upon themselves to gather funds for their particular areas. It seemed that each week we were blessed with “surprise” donations that mounted as Staging day drew near. Several ASPs made preliminary trips to The Haven to coordinate renovations of the office/paint/move furniture before the actual Staging Day. We had the privilege of working alongside Rane Anderson, the volunteer coordinator for The Haven. Rane worked diligently to gather funding, and two major corporations stepped in—Home Depot and Discover Card—donating directly to The Haven with Corporate “work days”. Due to their generosity the kitchen and bathrooms were going to receive major face lifts! ...and the project just seemed to G R O W. We received permission from IAHSP headquarters to hold our WWSSW at the end of October, because the kitchen and bathrooms would not be finished until that time. Staging week arrived, and the bathrooms were finished, but the kitchen was yet to be completed. We were disappointed but proceeded with our plans to Stage on October 29th. Fourteen ASPs, one very “handy” husband, two Affiliates, and two friends of ASPs worked diligently all day lto transform this property into a home. Cort Furniture sponsored a fabulous Panera Bread lunch which revived us half way through! The results were amazing. One resident sat in the living room, looked around and said, “This is beautiful!” One of the caseworkers cried when she saw the completed office, saying she now would look forward to coming to work in the new space. She said, “people have done things for us over the years, but no one has ever done this (transformed the entire property!)” NOTE: Several of us returned on November 9th to finish the project. The kitchen and the basement playroom (which was temporarily used as a make-shift kitchen) were Staged and the project completed in its entirety...although I think there is “talk” about tweaking a few more things before a community Open House hosted by The Haven on Dec. 9th! World Wide Staging Service Week Greater Chicago IRC 2009 A few highlights and miracles for this year’s project...- Wesley, from W&W Painting & Remodeling, was stopped by the police because he had a 14’ countertop piece sticking out of his truck. When he explained what he was doing, the policeman let him go without a citation!- Ann found under the bed storage at half price the day she went to purchase them!- Teresa and Fran purchased and spray painted the mis-matched office file cabinets & they turned out fabulous...new countertops (CCR Top, Inc.), carpeting & installation (M&L Flooring/Belmonti Carpet) and, at the last minute new lighting (Home Depot)...great work, Office Team!- Custom Sewing Innovations donated a valance in the family room which miraculously coordinated with five mis-matched pieces of furniture!- Someone (unnamed) went “dumpster diving” to salvage paint cans!- Major Corporations and other volunteers donated goods and labor toward this project when it appeared we would have next to nothing in funding- Lynne and Cindy outfitted two complete bathrooms and the laundry room...I think they had just as much fun shopping as they did on Staging Day!- When it appeared we wouldn’t have funding for much in the way of “new” items for several areas, donors stepped up and provided just before Staging Day!- Nora and Kim are truly a “team”—they brought “fantasy” to the playroom!- Jose & John from Two Men and a Truck worked almost an entire day picking up/delivering and moving furniture before Staging Day—the big, green sofa just wasn’t meant to make it upstairs—but not for lack of trying!- Dennis Aubin saved the day again (literally) when he put together 10 dressers from Ikea, painted the upper kitchenette, and installed the track lighting in the office...not to mention giving us pointers and loaning us tools!- While trying to find some sort of accessory for the living room curio cabinet (next to nothing existed), a sketch of a guardian angel and a ceramic angel were both found and placed under the “lights”...we felt it was a sign that God is watching over these women and children!- Just as we were leaving on Staging Day, two of the case workers found a portable frig in the garage—they took it upstairs and “claimed” the kitchenette as their “staff kitchen” because they loved the area so much!- Oh, and there was so much more...that’s what “teamwork” is all about! Due to the scope of the project, all donors are not listed, but will be featured on our Chapter Websiite! At the end of the day (actually at the end of several months!)...we were able to bless the residents of The Haven with a home-like atmosphere and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. The camaraderie amongst those who helped was amazing to witness and be a part of—truly a rewarding experience...thanks Barb Schwarz, for your vision for WWSSW! Linda Lanci, ASP, Order in the House Staging Services, Inc. Greater Chicago IAHSP Ambassador, 2009 The Greater Chicago IAHSP Regional Chapter World Wide Staging Service Day 2008
Community Worldwide Staging Service Day The Great Chicago Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals will participate in the 2008 World Wide Staging Service Week September 9-11th. We will be donating our time and talents to two local charities: LYDIA HOME: The Lydia Home Association is a place of comfort and rest to children who are broken from years of abuse. As staging professionals, it is our desire for Lydida to be a place of comfort and joy for the children, to be able to enjoy their rooms as a safe haven and to experience a bit of their authenticity. Just as we stage homes to provide a calming, organized and pleasant atmosphere for our clients, we hope we can create this same environment for these deserving children. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: |
