Charity Work

1. Intro

a) Using your talents to help others is a rewarding experience. Helping those less fortunate to have a sense of home has been a goal and mission for Kandrac & Kole.

b) Starting with a “princess room” for Emma and onto Room Service Atlanta, Dwell with Dignity and Guatemala mission trips, our deeds have been varied and purposeful.

2. Making Generosity Part of our Growth Strategy

a) EMMA – child of a 25 -year old mother who was a victim of domestic violence and had to move in with Grandparents.  She was 2 and her brother was 11 months old. We were asked by family members if we could help with bedroom.  That was back in 2011. Read blog titled “My Good Deed”.

i. Reaching out to family members, vendors, clients and colleagues to help us with our mission.

ii. Jay Scott and Joan Looney – original art on walls

iii. The closet factory – bookshelves

iv. Family – Brother and Sister in law – Cinderella Carriage Bed

v. Others – books, beanbag, growth chart, and monetary donations

b) ROOM SERVICE ATLANTA – Launched in 2010

i. Design Community Outreach – Started by Erika Ward and Dayka Robinson

ii. Goal – To combine a love for design with a commitment to serve others.

iii. In 2012 and 2013 we redesigned an apartment and the Boy’s Lounge at The United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur and the following year, a Girl’s Cottage.

iv. The Independent Living Program for youth in the foster care system who are at least 17 years old and are ready for a decreased level of supervision as they prepare for independence.  Many of these boys have been in foster care their entire lives. The amazing staff at UMCH provides 24 support to these kids as well.

v. This support consists of giving them educational, vocational and employment opportunities.

vi. They also help them to get medical and mental health services as needed.

c) DWELL WITH DIGNITY –  http://www.dwellwithdignity.org

i. Started in Dallas – Founded in 2009 by interior designers Lisa Robison and Kim Turner

ii. Mission:  To help families escape poverty and homelessness through design, one household at a time.

iii. Goal:  Bring good design to those less fortunate, inspiring them to maintain a standard of living they can be proud of and thrive in.

iv. Method:  Create inspiring home interiors with the labor of dedicated volunteers and generosity of donors.

v. They partner with local social service agencies that have programs in place to take families from homelessness and poverty to self-sufficiency. They nominate families that have made a commitment to self-sufficiency and changing their life. Often times, after a family has received all of the counseling, training, and support from their partner agencies, they find themselves struggling to provide a home in which they can thrive. Dwell with Dignity addresses this critical economic need through their mission.

d) THE ATLANTA DWD PROJECT –  The entire 2 Bedroom apartment was done for a deserving, formerly homeless mother of 2 girls, ages 3 and 18 months.  The details of the room we designed. http://kandrac-kole.com/portfolio/charity/dwell-with-dignity/

i. Crib and Bunk Beds (for room to grow)
ii. Original art by Jay Scott Studios
iii. Bedding from Serena and Lily and Lacefield Designs
iv. Lamps  from Currey & Co.
v. Fabric by Steve McKenzie in Atlanta
vi. Blanket by Sugarboo Designs
vii. Our next DWD project will be in September 2018

3. GUATEMALA 

a) Kelly’s karma story of meeting CRI

b) Catalyst Resources International – https://www.catalystresources.net was founded in 2008 and is a registered non profit organization that seeks to partner with Guatemalan pastors and other Christian organizations in an effort to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people.

c) Projects – Building homes, churches and chicken coops, establishing feeding programs, supporting medical and dental clinics and helping with the orphanage House of Hope.

d) Our trip this year – June 9 through 16, 2018.  Please visit our Gofundme.com account. https://www.gofundme.com/kandrac-kole-goes-to-guatemala