Day 2 + Day 3

Updates: Here are more photos of the transformation; the painting of the backyard, as well as the inside lobby.

Tuesday Pix: LOTUS

The backyard is transforming, thanks Katherine:) and everyone else who contributed.

Why lotus?

Lotus flowers have been influential in cultures across the world from ancient times until today, from ancient Egypt and India to all across Asia. They have been associated with the human soul, gods and goddesses and featured in stories and legends. The meaning of a lotus flower ranges from divine purity and enlightenment, as in Buddhism, wealth, as in Hinduism, to rebirth, as in the ancient Egyptian religion. Many of the ancient meanings are still in use today.(1)

(1) Meaning of Lotus Flowers | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4762657_meaning-lotus-flowers.html#ixzz0uz8sVM00

Love and compassion; the driving forces

Our ways of being are the driving force behind the project; loving, compassionate, caring, inspiring, committed to create a space where women, men and children can feel more comfortable.

Here are some pix of our work in progress.

Fund Raiser @ Iguana

On Friday and Saturday Night, we held a fundraiser event at Iguana Lounge. It was a success. Thank you to all those who donated . Here are some of the pictures.

Chip-In

If you would like to donate, here is the link:
To donate to the Lotus Project CLICK HERE

The Start: The Proposal

LP77 Team Vision:

We LP77 envision a world of unity, empowerment, and abundance by being giving, loving, inspiring, and open. Through the Lotus Project we get to share and connect with our community, our friends, and each other in a way that inspires and empowers us all to create a world connected by abundant love and generosity and leaves lasting proof of that fact.

Project Goal:

The Lotus Project will transform the backyard of Lotus House and revitalize the interior to create a cheerful, bright, restful, welcoming, safe, fun haven for the families living there.

Lotus House is an Emergency shelter operated by Safe Horizon. The people in Emergency shelters have been immediately removed in emergency from their prior residence/living situation (some from their homes, others from other shelters). So the women, children and men there are generally in crisis. The duration of their stay in Lotus house can be up to 90 days. As a result of the term and the emergency context, there is a large degree of turnover. We therefore intend to create as much a feeling as home during the stay of their residents as possible.

We will do this by creating:

Outdoors:

1. a social area including barbecue grill, tables, chairs, umbrellas
2. a play area for kids with a slide, swing set, sandbox, and toys
3. clean and safe space with a new floor cover over the concrete, stair guard, a garbage containment unit
4. beauty through flower boxes, a cheerful mural painting, decorative lights, and a visual barrier to the adjacent backyard

Indoors:

1. Bright, clean space: remove wall paper on inside hallways and stairwell and paint the walls. Replace curtains and blinds on three windows
2. Resources for residents: donate one computer. Donate a bookshelf with 100 books and DVDs including books for adults: work readiness, fiction, etc and children's books
3. 150 Welcome Toiletry Kits with full-size toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss etc
4. A laundry room with washer & dryer and a partition in basement to create an area for laundry separated from storage area

Fund raising Goal: $15,000