Kids In Distress gets make over from National show Designing Spaces

June 15, 2012|Melissa Montoya, Sun Sentinel

Children at the nonprofit Kids In Distress have an expertly designed activity center, courtesy of the Lifetime TV show "Designing Spaces: Spaces of Home — A Labor of Love."

At the unveiling on Friday, a stampede of excited kids poured through a single front door. It was the first time they were allowed to see the changes.

About 60 children ran from room to room, yelling in astonishment at the computer room, lounge, reading room and other enhancements.

One of the children's favorite space was the art room, a brightly lit room with a desk, supplies and clotheslines where they can hang their pieces of artwork.

"I feel I can come in here and create," said Destiny, 10.

Eleven-year-old Ian shared Destiny's excitement.

"This room used to be full of art supplies, but now it's beautiful," Ian said, "We don't like, we love."

Kids In Distress declined to provide children's last name to protect their privacy.

The show, produced by Pompano-based O2 Media, Inc., travels through the country remodeling houses. Once a year the show chooses local organizations and designs much needed spaces. Along with sponsors, the show donates time, expertise, furniture and materials.

Last year, "Designing Spaces" remodeled a wing at Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in Hollywood, adding an area for families, a music room and a kids' area, said Lysa Liemer, vice president of programming and creator of the show.

This year, they chose to give a face-lift to one of the buildings on Kids In Distress' five-acre campus in Wilton Manors.

"This is one of the most phenomenal group of people I've ever encountered down here in Florida and they do so much by giving back to the community," Liemer said.

The nonprofit serves approximately 7,500 children and their families annually. It is also an emergency shelter that on an average houses 20 children, according to Mark Dhooge, chief executive officer of Kids In Distress.

The 2,800 square foot structure was previously used as a residence hall for kids. But, five years ago the nonprofit decided to scale back and the structure has been used for offices and arts and crafts ever since, said Dhooge.

"We came to be a realization that children were much better served in family settings," Dhooge said.

The activity center will give older kids a place to be when the younger kids have gone to sleep, said Dhooge.

"They really didn't have a nice place to express themselves in and to do the kind of things that preteens and teens do," Dhooge said.

For the past two weeks, almost 50 volunteers along with design and construction crews, worked hard painting and making other improvements inside the center, said Brittany Soule, marketing manager at the nonprofit.

Even though these kind of episodes are more challenging, for Carl Smith, producer of the show, it's worth it.

"Home makeovers are fun and interesting, but you're changing a space," Smith said, "Here, you're changing lives."

This two-episode special of "Designing Spaces" will air on Lifetime Television on Aug. 2 and 9 at 7:30 a.m.

article by:  mmontoya@Tribune.com, 954-356-4188

photo credit Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel

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