Domestic Violence Center Service Project ~ 2008

Intake Office - Before

 

In September 2008 the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) Seattle Chapter, Snohomish County Neighborhood Group was looking for a service project, so that we could give back to the community in a meaningful way.  Several opportunities were brought to the attention of those in the group. One was ultimately chosen for the group to donate their professional services to.  But several of us also felt that another of the potential projects needed help so badly that several of us decided to take on this project also.

Intake Office - After

 

It was brought to our attention that there is a domestic violence shelter in our area with a new director managing the facility.  The new director was making it her personal mission to improve the facility and create a peaceful, welcoming environment for the survivors to come to.  She wanted to organize and update the offices, client spaces and storage facilities by removing the clutter and feeling of chaos from the environment.  This would allow the office staff to handle the client’s needs as they arrived at the facility in a private and calm environment.  

 

Because the facility is a non-profit organization, the project was too much for her to handle on her own and she couldn’t afford to hire help.  The office was in desperate need of organizing, clutter removal and spatial re-design.  There was no place for supplies to be stored as everything was in complete disarray; they did not even know what supplies they had available to hand out to those in need.  

Many rooms not only needed organization, but also needed closet shelving systems to maximize storage potential and establish a sense of organization.  

Intake Office - After

Intake Office - After

As women who have children of our own, this project pulled at our heart strings and we wanted to do anything in our power to help the director in her mission.  Nine local organizers came together, donating 68 hours of hands-on organizing.  Private citizens also donated items for the center to use.  The Lynnwood Storables employees also donated their personal money to help purchase the closet systems for the children’s activity rooms, enabling us to ensure the safety of the space for those children who use it.  Thank you to all those who donated time, hours, and funds to be able to complete this project. 

I helped lead the project with Maulitta Brown of Clear Intentions.  We worked on procuring donations and finding organizers who would donate their time to this project.  It was going to be a big undertaking, but we all knew it was needed that and we could do it.  Ultimately, I worked on the client in-take office and the food pantry in the facility. 

Supplies Closet - Before

 

The intake office was in need of spatial redesign, clutter removal and re-organization of the contents of the office into an efficient and effective working environment.    

 

Supplies Closet - After

After removing the excess items and redesigning the space, I was able to have all three desks in the room along with a seating area for the new clients to fill out paperwork in the privacy of the intake office.  

 

Maulitta and I also worked on the food pantry together to make this area more efficient for the clients when they came in to pick up essential food. We placed new shelving units in the closet to be able to take advantage of all the space available for storage and then reorganized all the food into the space.  The new space was much more efficient and organized, which allowed employees and clients to find what they were looking for quickly.  

This project was such a gift to those involved, not only to the organizers who volunteered their time, but also those who work in the facility, who have dedicated themselves to help desperate people in crisis.

Office Suplies Area - Before	Office Suplies Area - After

 

I placed all the office supplies in the closet and made this area in to a much needed seating area for clients to fill out paperwork.

 

Food Pantery - Before	Food Pantery - After