Furniture Restoration in Day Services Presented by Craig Meyers and Sean Mullen

The Vision Provide a safe and enjoyable environment for individuals to explore a unique opportunity to learn a skillset both beneficial in life and potential employment through the restoration of furniture.

Getting Started Form a team Find a location Research restoration processes Research products Create a budget Find resources for furniture donations and/or purchases

Forming a Team Having a small group of employees to work on the initial implementation is important. The right people will be enthusiastic and will have a genuine interest in following through with the goals of the project.

Finding a Location A well ventilated spacious location will be needed due to the various elements of the project. Working outdoors is ideal but weather will be a factor so an indoor option is also valuable to the project’s success.

Research Restoration Process Learn the process of what will be taught to the people we serve. Researching and comprehending the steps of the restoration process will be beneficial to understanding the obstacles that may arise.

Research Products Proper research into environmentally friendly products that are safe for the work environment will be important. Be sure to obey OSHA regulations. Chemical free products are available.

Materials Needed to Get Started Furniture Sanding Block Sandpaper Safety Glasses Protective Masks Paint Chemical Free Paint or Stain Remover ***Other materials may be needed based on project details***

Prepare a Budget Starting small is best. This does not have to be an expensive venture. With only a few hundred dollars the initial expense can be handled. Gauge future spending on the response from staff and individuals after the first trial run.

Find Resources for Furniture Donations and Purchases Furniture cannot be restored if no furniture is available. Flyers, ads in agency newsletters, and word of mouth are the best ways for finding people who will volunteer their furniture that is collecting dust in their attic or garage. If a specific piece is desired, find a thrift store, garage sale, or second hand shop that may have pieces for prices within proposed budget.

Opportunities for Individuals Community Inclusion Relationship Building Self-Confidence Building Professional Skills Time Management Goal Setting and Accomplishment Work Ethic

Community Inclusion The community can successfully be included in multiple ways including, but not limited to, furniture donations, “hiring” agency’s program to refinish pieces of furniture for them, and purchasing refinished pieces.

Furniture Donations A piece donated from a community member explores a bond being built between our individuals and the community. This type of relationship should be followed up with thank you cards that can be created by the individuals we serve and also pictures of the finished product.

“Hiring” the Agency In this scenario your program must establish a fair pricing guide considering the cost of needed materials to finish the work. The Agency is not a licensed furniture restoration company and the customer should know that their business is helping the Agency continue to fund the program. They will strictly be paying for supplies as there is no profit being made. This is a unique way to show individuals a business transaction.

Purchasing Finished Pieces Ideas for selling the finished pieces are: a fundraising auction, Craigslist ads, inner office promotion, and an agency “yard sale”. Again, when money is exchanged, a firm understanding must made to the customer that their money is being used to help fund further opportunities in furniture restoration and not for agency profit. This is another example of how the individuals we serve can be exposed to money management and gain a positive identity within the community.

Relationship Building One of the most important elements of this type of venture is the relationships that will form due to the need for team work. Individuals will have a great opportunity to work along side one another to accomplish common goals.

Self-Confidence Building Self-Confidence is defined as “confidence in oneself or ones own abilities”. This is an important attribute for all people to have to be able to reach their full potential in life. Helping our individuals set realistic goals they can achieve and be praised for will help develop this trait within them. This is the stepping stone to further professional skills.

Professional Skills Time Management Goal Setting and Accomplishment Work Ethic

Time Management By setting realistic timeframes for completing specific tasks the individuals will start to gain an understanding of time management and its importance. Writing out daily goals and using calendars will work to the advantage of staff and individuals to review what is to be accomplished and by when. ***Remember to eat that frog***

Goal Setting and Accomplishment Time management and goal setting and accomplishment go hand in hand but each element is an equally important aspect to the personal growth we hope to see in our individuals due to this project. Setting goals and having success will help produce self confidence and running into hurdles when trying to reach these goals will allow us to teach problem solving skills that are both necessary traits for anyone in a work environment.

Work Ethic The individuals we serve should all have an opportunity to learn to work. Just like unemployment can have a defeating effect on the human psyche, a stagnant atmosphere in day services can give our individuals a poor perspective of themselves. Introducing them to a need for a work ethic and a work like setting will have a positive impact on their feeling of importance.

Building Interest Among Individuals All individuals will not have an interest in a program like this. Find the ones that do and let them dive in to the initial projects. The energy and excitement that these individuals will put out will draw others to the opportunities being provided.

HAVE FUN!!!! More important than anything else this effort should be enjoyable! Staff and individuals must be approaching the projects with a positive energy and a sincere excitement. With this attitude success is inevitable!