By LORI SZEPELAK
Contributor
WESTFIELD – As painting parties continue to grow in popularity, a group of women in the city hope their twist on the creative endeavor will help raise funds to purchase furnishings for a new project on Broad Street.
Janet Gravel, a site coordinator for Domus Incorporated’s Prospect Hill School, came up with the idea of a “Sip and Paint with a Chocolate Twist,” featuring local artist Melissa VanHeynigen. Gravel is being assisted with logistics by Ann Lentini, executive director, Domus, and Catherine Tansey, a social worker at Westfield High School.
“Our evening event on April 15 is painting the koi pond at Stanley Park using mixed media including watercolors,” said Gravel during an interview with the Westfield News on Tuesday afternoon at the Domus headquarters at 4 School St.
The cost for the 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. class is $25 and includes all materials, hot chocolate, coffee and teas, and a host of chocolate desserts.
“All chocolate goodies are made and donated by friends,” said Gravel, noting desserts will range from strawberries dipped in chocolate, chocolate raspberry cheesecake and pretzels drizzled in caramel and chocolate, to homemade fudge and double mint fudge brownies.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the gathering which is slated in the community room at the Sanford Apartments, 330 Elm St., across from Holy Trinity Church. Parking is available on both sides of Elm Street and handicapped parking needs to be secured when making a registration.
“We are very appreciative of Melissa donating her time and energy to present this fundraiser for us,” said Lentini. VanHeynigen, a third grade teacher at the Paper Mill School, also conducted the first “sip and paint party” for Domus which raised $896.
“We hope to exceed that goal with our second event,” said Tansey.
Gravel noted that a door prize raffle, general raffles, and a 50/50 drawing are also planned for the evening.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will help to purchase beds for Domus’ current project titled “Our House” at 48 Broad St., the former home of the American Red Cross. Domus is a provider of permanent housing for homeless individuals, as well as low-income persons and those with special needs.
“With winter almost over we hope to start work on construction and renovations in April,” said Lentini.
When completed in approximately five months at a cost of $1.7 million, “Our House” will feature 10 “modest” studio apartments that will be used for permanent housing for unaccompanied, homeless young people, ages 17 to 24. Lentini and her staff have partnered with local entities including Westfield High School, Westfield YMCA, the Carson Center, Westfield Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and The Forum House, a division of Human Resources Unlimited, to help care for this “growing need” in the community.
“The local churches have also embraced this project,” added Tansey.
Each unit will be approximately 225 to 285 square feet and feature a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen area with a sink, a small refrigerator and microwave.
“The young people at Our House will cook as a group in the common area since a large kitchen and dining room are part of the layout,” said Lentini, adding the importance of ensuring those residing at Our House do not isolate themselves.
In addition, Our House will have a community space for social gatherings, and two small offices for counseling services. “Housing is one factor but providing teens with the skills, guidance, direction and ability to master their own future is another,” said Lentini.
Our House will also have a live-in manager on the premises, as well as ongoing mentors and business professionals who will be interacting with the young people to help them learn to integrate into the community, according to Lentini.
Young people will participate in classes on subjects ranging from grocery shopping and cooking to dressing appropriately for job interviews.
“Kids will have supervision at all times at the site,” she added.
Lentini stressed that at Westfield High School, up to 30 teenage students annually are trying to stay in or finish school while homeless.
“Our House will be the only permanent, supportive housing development for homeless teens in Hampden County,” she said, adding that students from Westfield Vocational Technical High School, St. Mary’s and Southwick High School will also be eligible to participate in the program.
Tansey noted that Westfield State University has also created a club called Westfield Student to Student which will allow college students to mentor young people specifically at Our House and escort them on campus field trips.
Lentini said that Our House maximizes the use of the state Housing Preservation Stabilization Trust Fund as well as using existing services offered by agencies with their own grant funding. The City of Westfield has also authorized $80,000 in matching Community Housing CPA funds.
“Our House will be a permanent grounding place where young people will have a safe, secure and enduring learning environment,” said Lentini.
For more information on the fundraiser and to register, call (413) 568-4494. Checks should be made payable to Domus, Inc.-Our House, 4 School St., Westfield.
