Volunteers needed for Schuller Residence Charity Project

WE WANT YOU!
Here’s your chance to make a difference and get involved!

IIDA Northland Chapter is putting a CALL TO ACTION for volunteers for our 2010 Charity Project. We are looking for designers to help on a committee to find donations for the re-build of the Schuller home residence. The Schuller’s lost their home and all their belonging this past Sept 12th in a massive explosion in South Minneapolis. Amazingly all 5 family members survived with minor injuries. IIDA is looking to help the Schuller’s rebuild their home in finding home products and looking for industry partners to donate supplies. Digging has just started and the home should be finished this April.

We are in need of:

• Designers that are willing to take a small amount of time to help search for donations.
• Industry partners that are willing to donate products: tile, artwork, furniture, etc.
• PR Committee – volunteers to help with the local and national media coverage

If you are interested in helping on the committee or looking to donate products please contact the committee chair AJ Paron-Wildes from Allsteel at paronwildesa@allsteeloffice.com or 612-384-7388.

List of item we are looking to be donated (new):

Tile, Artwork, Plumbing Fixtures, Decorative Hardware, Towel Bars and Bathroom Accessories, Bathroom Vanity tops, Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Furniture, Bar Stools, Children’s Furniture, Plants, Window Treatments, and Area Rugs.

As donations come in, we'll add company or individuals names or logos to this page recognizing those who donate.

Background of the Schuller story:

On September 12th of 2009 approximately at 2:00 pm, the Schuller residence in South Minneapolis suddenly exploded violently from a gas leak while all 5 family members were in the home. Remarkably all of the family members (including an 18 month old infant) survived. Two of the family members sustained critical injuries and where hospitalized but have fully recovered.

The home was a total loss. The city had to bulldoze the site immediately after the explosions and fire. The two neighbors homes on each side has caught fire from the Schuller’s home and survived the fire but both homes needed to be gutted completely.

Although the Schuller’s felt very fortunate that they and their three daughters’ survived, their entire life was just erased. All identification, paperwork and every single item they owned were gone in a flash. They survived left with the clothes on their back.

It has been a challenging year for the Schullers both working in the graphics industry and having to deal with pay cuts and reduced schedules. They are a delightful family with such warmth and dedication to their children, and they deserve much better than what they have been dealt.

This is where IIDA can help. We have designed a new home that replaces their old one that fits in with the South Minneapolis character. We have been able to design a better floorplan to be more accommodating to modern home living.

We would like to build them the nicest home possible. Make them feel comfortable and safe in the new home. As you can imagine the insurance payment doesn’t come close to covering all that they lost. It would be nice to give them a mini “extreme makeover”.

The young girls are still having a hard time feeling at ease in the rental home and are dealing with nightmares and anxiety from the accident. As interior designers, we can help provide a nurturing space and give this family a sense of warmth and comfort to help them re-build their lives.