2009 O.A.S.I.S. Project
This year the Chapter decided to donate money to the O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry Center located at 1814 Boonslick Rd., St. Charles, Mo 63301. The center provides food & hygiene items to families that are referred by other social service agencies, churches, or other qualified sources to families needing assistance.
Over the past three years the number of families needs has doubled. The mission was founded to provide food, but has since expanded its services to hygience products and clothing as the needs have continued to increase.
In 2008, OASIS provided $424,000 of food to 4214 families in St. Charles County. The center is totally ran by volunteers. It`s supported by gifts of food and hygiene by over 40 churches, 50 businesses, 50 fraternal & social groups, and over 40 schools, grants, and many individuals.
On April 30, 2009, the Nursery Beautification Award was presented to our IAHSP Chapter for the work we all did at the St. Charles location last Fall.
The Crisis Nursery Awards Dinner was quite rewarding. Not so much that we received an award, but hearing of all the unselfish acts of kindness for the children in the St. Louis area by volunteers. Every day we hear so many things from the media that`s depressing. Tonight it gave me renewed faith in mankind. There are so many volunteers that are reaching out to help and change their little corner of the world. It`s very encouraging! I wish all the ASP Stagers that helped with this project could`ve been at the award`s dinner and shared in their victories.
I do thank all of you who were able to help transform the office area at the Crisis Nursery last September. Mary Pat said, "we gave their office a spa-like feel, complete with rocks and motivational plaques and candles". It`s nice that we can use our God-given talents to make their work space a nicer place to work. And another `THANKS` to Gerri for being the WWSSD Ambassador and finding the Crisis Nursery! Hats off to ASP Stagers!
Anna Schmidt, Joyce Kluge, Mary Pat Smith (Crisis Nursery), Gerri Downen, Cathy Brosius
WWSSD 2008 Project
The St. Louis IAHSP® Chapter selected The St. Louis Crisis Nursery located in St. Charles, Missouri, as their project for the Worldwide Staging Service Week.
On September 20, the Chapter members were welcomed by the staff at the St. Charles Crisis Nursery. Our project involved the Staging® of an office shared by two employees. The goal was to maximize the workspace, organize and add additional storage. The members also Staged the main entry room for staff and parents, by making it more spacious, and creating an inviting point of entry for the nursery. Anna Schmidt, the Chapter President says “It’s important for us to give back to an organization that provides such a great service to families in our community.”
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery provides 24-hour care for children of families facing a crisis. Families may voluntarily bring their children to the Crisis Nursery because of parental illness or hospital stay, domestic violence, lack of utilities, overwhelming parental stress or any other emergency that requires a temporary parent-child separation. The center works to prevent child neglect and abuse by providing a safe environment for children while their parents work out problems. Members that helped complete the project came in two shifts. We painted, put in shelving and hung plantation blinds, sheers and valances on the windows. Then for the finishing touches.
One of our members, Chris Balch-ASP® is also an accomplished seamstress and provided color coordinated cushions for the two chairs that were purchased and donated. Amal Eche-ASP, Kay Dixon-ASP, Anna Schmidt-ASP, Cathy Brosius-ASP and Joyce Kluge-ASP all helped with painting and numerous related tasks. Leigh Cullian-ASP and Gerri Downen-ASPM rounded out the group with running errands and hanging wall art. The Director, Bonnie Define, came between shifts to personally thank each of us for the great work we were doing for the Nursery. We were all filled with a great sense of accomplishment and walked away knowing that Staging does truly make a difference. (written by: Ambassador Gerri Downen, ASPM)
These photos show theStaging Before & Afters of the office.
To view more pictures of WWSSD
