Redesign in Cayce

Project Redesign furnished 3 empty bedrooms for a single mother of three in the Cayce homes. Thanks to Craig at Mattress Firm (on Nolensville Rd.) for the deep discounts on the four mattress sets used today. The bedding in the master bedroom was donated by Lulu (Main Street in downtown Franklin)---GORGEOUS!

Thank you Kirsten Whitsett, and David Green & Aaron for lending a hand.

YWCA's DVC gets Redesigned Playroom

After days of collaborative effort, the new family playroom at the Domestic Violence Center was unveiled and it is beautiful! Credit to Interior Design Associates, Inc., Steve Ward & Associates, Hoar Construction, Kay Kimbro, and Tony Catnagni for helping with this very large project. And thanks to KP Frazier of MBA for collecting toys for the new room. It really does take a village!

Mothers and Daughters' Serving Circle at the Salvation Army

The Mothers and Daughters' Serving Circle (girls ages 11-17) met today at the Salvation Army Command Post to makeover the bedrooms of women (one with a child) living in transitional housing. All week, they worked hard to collect the items necessary to transform these dorm-like rooms with fun, colorful bedding, rugs, lamps, wall decor, side tables, and towels/toiletries. The residents loved the results!! Project Redesign thanks this wonderful group for their efforts---you are all awesome!

Mending Hearts Letter....

Suzanne - Several of the staff just went down to the HWH apartments. To say we were blown away is an understatement. I cannot believe how beautiful and homey the rooms look. Heck, the staff said they would move in.

Please know and tell your folks that helped with the apartment how much we all thank them and appreciate everything they do for us. They are going to make many women very happy, proud, and grateful. Most have never had a place to live this nice. It will do more for their self-esteem and road to recovery than you all can ever imagine.

Again, thank you so very much.

Vicki H. Neal, MA, LSPE, LPC(MHSP)
Clinical Director
Mending Hearts, Inc.
P.O. 280236
Nashville TN. 37228
vicki@mendingheartsinc.org
www.mendingheartsinc.org

Project Redesign and Mending Hearts

Project Redesign furnished and decorated the second apartment for Mending Hearts today. This included a living room, office, and 3 bedrooms. These apartments will serve as temporary housing for the women who have completed the drug/alcohol rehabilitation part of the Mending Hearts program. The women can live in them for up to two years.

Thank you to Lisa Mackey for lending a hand today!!

Mending Hearts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Mending Hearts opened the first of many apartments (furnished by Project Redesign) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Congressman Jim Cooper as guest of honor. The apartments will serve as temporary living quarters for the women who have completed the drug/alcohol rehabilitation program at Mending Hearts. Project Redesign will furnish the second apartment later this month. Interior pictures are posted below.

Project Redesign, Ensworth High School, and Mending Hearts

Friday, February 3rd, Ensworth High School students helped Project Redesign furnish a 3 bedroom apartment for Mending Hearts, a drug rehabilitation program for women who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless due to addiction. Led by Kyara Byner, Maya White, ReJean Rouse, and Nikki Gittens (all seniors), the students worked all day to furnish and decorate what will be used as temporary living quarters for women who have completed the rehabilitation part of the program. To learn more about Mending Hearts, visit www.mendingheartsinc.org.

Ms. Cheap's Contest Brings Reader and Project Redesign Together

Today Project Redesign did a room makeover for a wonderful 16 year old young man who attends MLK. His mother wrote a heartfelt letter to Ms. Cheap in November (see January 5th blog entry) saying she would redo his bedroom if someone gave her $500.00. Her letter says it all.

Thanks to all who helped bring this redesign together:

Vester Bradshaw and Yank James for painting, Kaye Kimbro for donating the lamps and framing the poster and artwork, Consumer Depot for donating a flat screen TV, IPod, & X-Box, Mattress Unlimited for a brand new full size mattress, Amy Grant, Jerry Regan, & Phyllis Mayfield who helped with the installation, Avenue Bank for their donation, and Mary Hance (Ms. Cheap) who brought us all together.

Ms. Cheap Contest

Last November, Ms. Cheap asked readers to tell her what they would do if someone gave them $500.00. She received over 800 compelling essays and passed the following one to Project Redesign...

Dear Ms. Cheap,
I’d like to win the $500 to redo my 16 yr. old son’s room. I know that
doesn’t sound like much, but Kendall shared a room with his brother
Blake for 7 yrs until Blake’s passing in 2009. Blake was on a
ventilator at home and he needed around the clock care, so someone was
in the room all the time.

Honestly, Kendall never complained about the lack of privacy. Sometimes
in the middle of the night there’d be alarms going off, and we’d be
working on Blake and Kendall would just roll over to make sure
everything was O.K. before going back to sleep.

Since Blake has been gone, Kendall has been having a hard time
sleeping, and I wonder if it’s because of the remnants of Blake’s stuff
everywhere. Snoopy and Pooh are not really appropriate for a boy of
16. I’ve given a lot of stuff away, and packed away other stuff, but
some of it is still there because I don’t want to see the room half
empty.

I’d like to give Kendall a big boy’s room with a nice desk for
schoolwork, a small flatscreen TV, a bookcase, and a cool chair or
something for when he has friends over.

We have had to go on without Blake, but I want to encourage and
strengthen my remaining son by blessing him with a new room. It’s long
overdue.

Thanks for your consideration,

Leslie


Project Redesign and some very generous donors are doing a complete makeover on Kendall's bedroom. Thanks to Vester Bradshaw and Yank for taking time out of their busy schedules to paint the room. This involved removing a wallpaper border and covering a very dark color, out of our realm of expertise. Tomorrow we will furnish and accessorize so stay tuned!!

Disco Dance 2011 gives to Project Redesign

Disco Dance 2011 donated $7300 to Project Redesign from the proceeds raised at their annual event held on November 25th. We would like to thank event organizers Jeff Snyder, Tyler Augusty, and Walker Mathews, and all of the young adults who attended. You are all so awesome and we are so grateful!