Deserving Decor

Ten Additional Shelter Apartments in Bucks County ~ Volunteers & Donations Needed

2010-02-09T14:08:00.004-05:00

Deserving Decor is partnering with the Bucks County Housing Group to furnish and decorate ten newly aquired two bedroom homeless shelter apartments in Bensalem starting March 3rd.

The addition of ten apartments will be extremely beneficial and much needed to house additional homeless families in Bucks County. As you can imagine, this is a big project and we will need additional volunteers. If you haven't volunteered with Deserving Decor in the past, but would like to help with this or other upcoming projects, please sign up using the Deserving Decor Volunteer Form. Also, visit our calendar of schelduled projects to see when volunteers are needed. Click on the project of the day you are available to volunteer for additional information, including hours and a map for directions.

The apartments are currently empty and will require furnishings, home decor, household items and everything else needed to furnish an apartment. If you have items for donation please fill out the Deserving Decor Donation Form. We will be gathering gently used furnishings, home decor (art and lamps) and house hold items (dishes, glasses, pots and pans, etc.) for this project from now until March 15th.

List of items needed:

10 sofas
20 living room chairs
20 end tables
20 dressers
20 nightstands
10 kitchen tables with 4 chairs
Cribs & crib mattresses
Linens (towels, wash cloths, shower curtains, shower curtain rings, sheets & comforters in crib, twin, double and queen size)
Lamps (floor & table with lampshades)
Wall Art (especially large horizontal art for over the sofa and beds)
Kitchen supplies (dishes, glasses, pots and pans, coffee makers, microwaves, etc.)
Cleaning Supplies (cleaning solutions, mops, buckets, brooms, dustpans, vacuum cleaners)

Community help is crucial to making this project a success! Please consider donating and volunteering to help homeless families (primarily women and children) in Bucks County. Sign up to help today!

Storage Solutions

2010-01-09T17:05:00.002-05:00

When Deserving Decor does a homeless shelter apartment makeover one many of the challenges is storage. The apartments are small and there is not a great deal of space for storage. I love these storage ideas from Country Home, I hope you will too.

I especially like the combination headbord/storage idea pictured below.

Please post your comments, suggests and questions. We value your feedback!

DIY - Project of the Week 1/8/2010

2010-01-08T10:13:00.006-05:00

Deserving Decor is always looking for creative and inexpensive ways to decorate transitional shelter apartments. This is part of a weekly series, DIY - Project of the Week. Each week we will feature budget friendly projects that will add uniqueness, color and character to decorating projects both for our blog readers and our volunteers.

This weeks DIY project is Livin’ Large
Old home. Young family. How to make the two work together? Team DIY designer Pamela S. Porter helped this young family create a kid-friendly living room that doesn’t scrimp on style.

Also, take a look at Quick Projects for easy “recipes” for stylish projects. Create charming accents, storage solutions, pretty walls, window treatments, furniture makeovers, outdoor accents, and more. Finish your project in a day or less!

Premiere of Life Simple Online Magazine

2010-01-02T17:09:00.001-05:00

Please read the premiere edition of Life Simple an online inspirational magazine. This edition features Terry Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers a woman after our own heart! Subscription is free, so please support the cause to inspire others by subscribing today. Please send an email to lsmagonline@yahoo.com and type Add Me in the Subject line.

DIY - Project of the Week 12/30/09

2009-12-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Deserving Decor is always looking for creative and inexpensive ways to decorate transitional shelter apartments. This is the first installment of a weekly series DIY - Project of the Week. Each week we will feature budget friendly projects that will add uniqueness, color and character to decorating projects.

Our first project is using wallpaper to transform furniture, make artwork, lampshades and more. I hope you find the projects inspiring! Ten Wallpaper Projects

Recommended Reading

Wallpaper Projects: 50 Craft and Design Ideas for Your Home, from Accents to Art
By Derek Fagerstrom, Lauren Smith

Martha Stewart's Dreamers Into Doers NYC Trip

2009-12-13T11:04:00.011-05:00

As a member of Martha Stewart's Dreamers into Doers , featuring women who have turned their passion into their profession, myself and 39 other members from all over the country are traveling to New York City on January 19th and 20th.

The idea was conceived by member Terry Grahl, the owner of Enchanted Makeovers. The trip is centered around helping a women's shelter, Safe Horizon, which houses 53 women and their children. We will also be attending a taping of the Martha Stewart Show.

Deserving Decor is looking for donations of white twin size sheet sets, as well as, twin mattress covers to contribute to the project. If you can help, please contact Deserving Decor at 215-230-3467 ASAP.

Terry has been an asset and mentor for Deserving Decor and I have championed Terry's incredible work and look forward to meeting her in person and taking part in this amazing event.

Door turned desk - JUNKMARKET Style

2009-11-18T18:55:00.002-05:00

Door turned desk - JUNKMARKET Style

Inspiration for our volunteers and blog readers.

Posted using ShareThis

Book Selection: Flea Market Finds Before and After

2009-10-26T14:27:00.007-04:00

Inspirational book for frugal makeovers. Have any books you would like to recommend? Let us know by posting a comment.

Details
Author: Patti Sowers Uhiren
Publisher: Leisure Arts, Inc.
Content: 150 Makeover Projects

One reviewer from Kit Kat’s Corner writes:
Great under the cover ideas...

This little treasure will have you looking at cast off items with a more resourceful eye. Many of these items would not get a second glance but the author has found interesting ways to repurpose flea market or discarded items. The project on the front cover is an example of a creative way to use those small side boards once part of old dining room sets. I am a fan of stripes, so the small dressers done in wide stripes has great appeal as well as a playful side. The techniques suggested can be applied to a variety of objects not just the ones illustrated in the book. I can't wait to go out this week end and rescue some unloved objects and give them a new lease on life. Undoubtedly this book is a great find...one of the best for sparking new ideas for those low on cash but high on imagination.

Order from the Deserving Décor Book Store today!

Inspirational Poem by Volunteer Barb Zarrillo

2009-10-22T00:11:00.006-04:00

This poem is based on a chance encounter with a young girl during a makeover of a transitional apartment in a Morrisville, PA homeless shelter.

A Tribute: Deserving Decor of Bucks County
Slight and seven, she steps into the decorated room
certain she is undetected.
Shoulder length, thick brown tresses, caress her thin neck.
She has known its walls’ former chaos; caught between
a homeless shelter and permanent housing,
she lives her life in transition, without a whimper.

Her fascination falls to what is within her reach;
she spots the lamp where she helped us place the bulb.
Its ceramic base glistens in the uncluttered, sparkling space.
Her tiny hand barely touches it, but it is smooth and sleek.

In the light, my lenses adjust their tint;
clearly, for her, it is a “thing of beauty” –
a child’s sigh lingers in her eyes.

Her fingers rub its wide belly.
Spell-bound, I wish for her Aladdin’s Geni,
and life abundant – a “joy forever.”*

Barbara Zarrillo, 8/5/09
___________________________________
*John Keats, “Endymion” (“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness…”)

Amys Corner ~ Giving New Life to Used Furniture

2009-09-30T20:14:00.008-04:00

One of our talented volunteers, Amy Manning, has taken on the daunting task of refurbishing donated furniture that could use some TLC. Here are some pictures of Amy's first project. To see more of Amys furniture makeovers please visit Amy's Corner. We could use more volunteers like Amy, any takers?

Deserving Decor Volunteer Specialists

2009-09-30T20:04:00.011-04:00

I thought you might like to get to know a little bit about our Deserving Decor specialized and dedicated volunteers.

Cynthia Kopp, Inventory Control Specialist
Cynthia has been working for over 25 years within Corporate America in the field of Accounting, mostly in the Auto industry. Presently, she is employed in the Healthcare industry.
Cynthia started volunteering her time when she was quite young. Due to parental influences, she began by distributing fliers for political campaigns. She volunteered next as a junior aide in her local hospital, delivering reading material to patients. Eventually, she began reading to them and helping with letter writing.
She belonged to Junior Service League for years and continued in a volunteer capacity for various projects in the community raising needed funds. Lately, she has been working with children in need and with learning disabilities.
Cynthia considers herself both lucky and fortunate to have had help when needed and wants to help those down on their luck and perhaps less fortunate, by Paying it Forward.
She explains: “Deserving Décor opens the door for me to give of myself in a meaningful environment.”

Jesse Raphial, Donation Pickup Manager & Re-sale Store Manager
A US Navy Veteran from the first Gulf War, Jesse has spent over 20 years in management in Corporate America and the private sector. His last 5 years of work in the community have included: Briarleaf Hospital, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. As a Deserving Decor volunteer, he handles furniture donation pickups and deliveries, volunteers at the Deserving Decor flea market every weekend and schedules fundraising events. Additionaly, Jesse volunteers at the Ben Wilson Senior Center in Warminster.

Jesse has a wide range of knowledge in: retail, sales, promotions, inventory control, human resources, training/organization, community relations and general business functions. He enjoys helping others and “getting the job done” and remains an advocate for good causes or missions – throughout the community and the country.

Nicole Smith, Volunteer Coordinator
Nicole handles requests from prospective volunteers, including contacting new volunteers to explain about Deserving Decor, how the process works, and documenting the availabilty and skill sets of volunteers. Nicole also volunteers at the Deserving Decor flea market on weekends.

Barbara Zarrillo, Communications Specialist
In 2000, Barbara was “thrilled” to assume the responsibilities of a correspondence specialist for a major transportation’s executive office. After 24 years of work unrelated to her graduate degree in English, she had the privilege of writing letters intended to uplift and commend fellow employees, celebrities and government officials.

Two years later, she was devastated to learn the entire office was being disbanded and that she no longer had a position within the company.

It was then she began to seriously consider her life’s passions. Ever intrigued with design and color in landscape and construction, she completed certification as an interior decorator. Though thoroughly absorbed in it, Barbara felt no direction in applying what she had learned.

In January of 2009, she read an article detailing the impressive efforts of Beth Baker in organizing the BCSA and Deserving Décor. Based on gratifying experiences as a volunteer for AWANA (an international youth organization) and for PA’s Vita Educational Services literacy program, she contacted Beth.

From her initial involvement in decorating a shelter in Doylestown, it was evident to her that Beth is devoted passionately to her mission, and relates to others with a compelling and contagious spirit. Barbara has “thoroughly enjoyed working with a team of caring and compassionate volunteers.”

It is her heartfelt desire to “convey in correspondence, the resonating joy of serving others.”

The Deserving Decor Story

2009-08-23T03:11:00.010-04:00

How it all began…

After the events of September 11, 2001, I decided I wanted to do something different with my life. I had been working as a Computer Technician and then as a Network Operating Systems Trainer and Consultant for many years. I knew I wanted a drastic change in my life and began researching and reading books about following your bliss. I decided I wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming an interior decorator. I started an online store selling vintage home furnishings I found at auctions, flea markets and thrift stores while I began a certification course to become an interior decorator.

In 2003, I began working in the interior decorating field at a large family owned home decorating business. When the store closed a few years later I decided to start my own interior decorating business. In March of 2008, I realized a number of my clients had furniture and home decor items they wanted to dispose of after a decorating project even though the items were in good condition. I started recommending a handful of local thrift stores that were nonprofits.

I realized that there must be people in need of these items directly who may not be able to afford to purchase the items from the local thrift stores. I did some research and found a local nonprofit, the Bucks County Housing Group that had a number of shelters located in the county where I live, Bucks County, PA. They provide transitional housing, which bridges the gap between a traditional homeless shelter and permanent housing, primarily to homeless women and children.

I called and offered my services to furnish and decorate the transitional apartments. The woman I spoke with was very excited about the idea and we met the next day to discuss how the arrangement would work. After seeing the apartments I knew it was my calling. I discussed it with a few of my colleagues who I discovered were very anxious to help with the project and Deserving Decor was born in May of 2008.

In June of 2008, we did our first makeover of a recently vacated one bedroom shelter apartment and I was hooked! By December of 2008, the four of us had completed four units. On February 16th, 2009 an article was published about Deserving Decor that appeared on the front page of the home section of three local newspapers. The flood gates opened and we started receiving unbelievable amounts of donated furnishings and volunteers. My house quickly became full of donated items including furniture in our screened in porch. With the help of my colleagues we found our first storage unit.

A major challenge was picking up the donations as the volunteers were all women. I was driving my husband’s Ford F250 exclusively and picking up furniture all over the county with the help of my 25 year old son and a few of his friends. My colleagues were also picking up donations in their SUV's and minivans. Then in July of 2009 came our first full time male volunteer, who had a truck with a trailer and the stamina to pick up all of the furniture donations and deliver the items to storage or to the shelter apartments. He also had a great deal of nonprofit experience which has been extremely helpful.

The pace at which the nonprofit has grown amazes me, as well as the generosity of so many people volunteering their time, donating items, or sometimes both. We now service 52 shelter apartments, have 20 plus volunteers and 6 storage units housing furniture and decor donations. We do several apartment makeovers per month.

I love what I do; it is very humbling and rewarding. It is hectic and challenging at times but the rewards far outweigh the hardships. The reaction of the families that move into the made over apartments is a heartwarming and gratifying experience.

In addition to the actual makeovers, there is a great deal of administrative tasks, as there is with any business. I closed my Interior Decorating business and now work full time running Deserving Decor. We have come a long way but still have a long way to go to fill the demand of people in need.

Beth Baker
Deserving Décor Founder and Executive Director
PO Box 1055
Doylestown, PA 18901