You may remember an earlier post in which we explained that we love to help out with hardware donations when the cause is worthy……well we found one and “worthy” aint the word!
It turns out that ”Why Helser” has some readers in the North East and Southern New England chapters of the WCAA who just happened to be in the planning stages on a project of epic philanthropic proportions when that post was published. (I know that sounds like hyperbole but bear with me I just left the job site and am still on a high)
We got an email explaining what “The Family Inn” was all about and what these WCAA chapters were doing to help along with a drapery hardware wish list. 
We learned that the Boston Childrens Hospital Family Inn is (in a nutshell) a place where the families of children admitted to the hospital can stay to be close to their kids while they are treated.
The home is completely outfitted for the comfort of its guests all the way down to the teapot on the stove. There is even an organized network of nice folks who sign up to provide meals for the families every day and, oh yeah, it’s free! Come on, you have got to love that!
Jay hanging the curved Aritigiani rod in the nook
Sue and Paula making a window seat template
Needless to say we fell head over heels for this project. We hooked them up with all the hardware they needed and an installer (me) but that’s nothing! Wait till you get a load of what these WCAA members did for the Inn!
According to Sue Sifakis (still adjusting to her new name; congratulations Sue) 34 members of the two New England WCAA chapters donated over 350 hours of labor to manufacture top-notch window treatments for all 60 plus windows in the home and many seat bench cushions.
Jean dressing panels
Now I don’t know what the street value is on 350 hours of labor from New Englands finest, but we are wagering that it’s not cheap!
Here is what really blows our minds: these people, our industry colleagues, who are bogged down in the same economic outhouse that you and I are, took on this entirely selfless year-long project with no expectations of recognition or glory. They were motivated only by a desire to do something good.
______________________
Jean McDermott took some time to talk with us:
HB: How was this project initiated?
Jean: This project with the Children’s Hospital for the Kent Street Family Inn started over a year ago and came out of a conversation about looking for a community project that we could do as a group. Paula Bakies thought we could do something for sick kids and I used the Internet trolling for interesting possibilities.
HB:I am aware of the benefits of membership in trade associations like the WCAA but I haven’t typically considered philanthropy one of its objective, yet here you are with your industry colleagues treating all these windows on your own dime. can you explain?
Jean:This is not technically a WCAA effort but most of the participants are members. This is a case of local chapter members reaching out to the communities that they live in. Maybe a Habitat for Humanity home is being built locally and they drive by it and wonder…what are they going to put in those windows? Back in the later part of 2007 four of our members (Gabe Fitzgerald, Paula Savage, Liz Hawkes and Barbara Bucklin) volunteered their time and supplies to a local residential educational program for minority students and produced wonderful window treatments for several rooms.
HB: I’ve been in this industry for 22 years and was unaware that this kind of thing was going on. Is this a new thing?
Jean: No, I believe that our industry has been very generous in the past but I do think that the increased use of the Internet and the “right now’ media coverage has also increased our awareness. Shows like Extreme Home Makeover (in which several of the SNE and NE chapters participated in this year) definitely make you think – what could I do to make a difference? Or it could just be an experience that one of us has gone through – illness or tragedy – and the shared story with others that spurs a gut feeling into action. I have also seen many items, mostly mentioned on the CHF Forum, about other individuals or small groups going great charity work.
HB: Thanks Jean and keep up the good work!
We are so proud to be part of an industry filled with giving people like those in this WCAA group and hope that their example will inspire everyone who reads this as much as it inspired us.
Click on this image to see all photos of the Kent Street Family Inn Project
We are so glad that you had fun!
