"As much as Addy has these really amazing ideas and these things she wants to do, I think as parents, we just listen. We listen to the ideas she has and we try to do whatever we can do to make those ideas come true"
- Erika Sepega (Addy's Mom)
Painting A Brighter Day with Addy’s Homefull Project
Florida Paints is proud to partner with Addy’s Homefull Project as they transform their local community with kindness and compassion, one project at a time. At Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, Florida, Addy recognized the need for improvements to the playroom in the Women & Children’s Center, adding a fresh coat of paint and joyful colors to create an uplifting new environment for the residents.
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
Addy’s connection to the Trinity Rescue Mission, began three years ago when she and her family wanted to make sure that all of shelter’s residents had gifts to open for the holiday season. By galvanizing community support, Addy has helped to make the holiday season special through the spirit of giving year after year. In addition to seasonal giving, Addy wanted to create something special for Trinity Rescue Mission that would spark hope all year long. But what would that be?
A SIMPLE QUESTION
An active member of her school’s robotics team, Addy thought it would be wonderful to host a STEM Day for the children at Trinity to learn about something she found herself fascinated with. Preparation for the STEM day began in the spring and as the idea grew, it began to change shape after Addy asked the mission a simple yet profound question.
“We’re planning this fun day for the kids, but what do you guys actually need?”
To start, the mission shared with Addy their need for computers, giving the residents much needed access to the world. If the residents can access working computers, they are able to stay in touch with family, apply for jobs, look for apartments, and truly take crucial steps to transforming their lives. Upon touring the Women and Children’s Center, what began as an idea for an interactive day morphed into a transformation of one of the missions’ most beloved spaces.
In the playroom itself, a few things stood out as obvious places to start — the playroom needed to be repainted, shelves needed to be repaired, and the storage room needed to be organized.
Florida Paints believes in the power of paint to transform communities. We are deeply committed to supporting local nonprofits and organizations through paint donations that help restore buildings and homes, bring people together, uplift environments, and offer hope to those in need. Together, we can Paint a Brighter Day.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Once supplies for the STEM day and computers for the mission were accounted for, the playroom renovation was well underway, but Addy was still in need of a paint partner. Addy’s mom Erika reached out to paint companies in the area, hoping to secure a paint donation for the space. Once she spoke to Florida Paints, she knew they shared in her vision and heart for the community.
“When I spoke to Florida Paints, it wasn’t even a question. Mr. Grasty (Florida Paints’ President Jeff Grasty) called and said, ‘Absolutely. 100%. Give me a list. Have Addy come and pick out colors.’ There was no question and it was just such an easy process,” Erika shared of the experience.
As a regional paint manufacturer, Florida Paints is committed to supporting local communities. Addy knew she had a story of hope and joy to share on the walls of the playroom and remembers how excited she was to walk into the Florida Paints’ Jacksonville store and pick out every color she needed to paint a shining sun, blue skies, and a beautiful rainbow for the shelter’s residents to see everyday.
PAINT & COLOR EXPERTS
Our paint and color experts took into account the needs of the space when selecting products for Addy and her incredible team of volunteers. In a high traffic space, durable, protective, and easy to clean paint allows the products to hold on and cast vibrant, lively colors no matter how many children are showing that space love everyday. To ensure Addy’s rainbow would not fade, Glades Exterior 100% Acrylic Satin Paint, AllGrip Interior/Exterior Acrylic Wall & Trim Paint, and Scott-Thane W/B Interior/Exterior Acrylic Urethane Water-Based Enamel were used to give the playroom a second life.
ADDY’S PALETTE
0608 Modern Blue, 0607 Brush Blue, 1178 Rose Souvenir, 0773 Glass Bottle, 0858 Look at The Bright Side, and 1116 Movie Star
0608
Modern Blue
0607
Brush Blue
1178
Rose Souvenir
0773
Glass Bottle
0858
Look at The Bright Side
1116
Movie Star
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
While its Addy’s heart to help anyone she can that brings these projects to the table, it is the dedication and generosity of so many around her that bring them to life. It took 16 adults and 20 children volunteering over 300 hours to transform this space. Addy and her incredible team painted murals in the main playroom as well as the bathroom, installed new shelving, and brought the room to life with colorful toys, books, and even an art station for the children to enjoy. It would be impossible for Addy to accomplish all that she has without the support of her family and the generosity of countless people in her community.
“As much as Addy has these really amazing ideas and these things she wants to do, I think as parents, we just listen. We listen to the ideas she has and we try to do whatever we can do to make those ideas come true,” said Erika when speaking to the role Addy’s family plays in putting these events into motion.
PAINT A BRIGHTER DAY
As Addy and her family have reflected on the labor of love the Women and Children’s Center project was, they each have seen the way changing the way a space looks completely transforms the people who bring that space to life. Addy acknowledges that this is about more than just a drop of paint, this is about purpose.
“It’s (sun) a bright yellow so it just makes those kids have a better day by playing in a bright yellow playroom,” Addy said when asked how her mural will impact the children who will enjoy it for years to come.
THE HEART OF COMMUNITY
Each of us are a reflection of the community we call home. The schools we send our children to, the homes we raise our families in, the community centers we rally around. While the people inside of these buildings are the ones that ignite a fire of hope in our community, the structures themselves house memories and become beacons in our neighborhoods. By continuing to care for buildings that shape our cities, we can care for the people that bring them to life.
Florida Paints believes in the power of paint to transform communities. We are deeply committed to supporting local nonprofits and organizations through paint donations that help restore buildings and homes, bring people together, uplift environments, and offer hope to those in need. Together, we can Paint a Brighter Day.
ABOUT ADDY’S HOMEFULL PROJECT
Addy and her family began transforming the lives of those around them five years ago when Addy was only seven. While Addy has participated in many projects throughout her community, the name stemmed from the project that truly started it all. Over the last five years, Addy and volunteers coming alongside her have packed and handed out around 750 lunches to people in the streets of Jacksonville. Addy and her friends love to decorate the lunch bags as art is an incredible way to reach people and bring a smile to their faces. On a particular bag, she drew a home stating she did not want to see people “homeless” but rather, “homefull.” While not an established organization yet, Addy dreams for the day it will be. She hopes to name the organization “Homefull Project,” encouraging children to submit community projects and providing them the resources and volunteers to make those projects happen. One day Addy hopes countless children in her community with have created their own “homefull project.” Today it is Addy, but tomorrow it could be anyone willing to identify a need and take the steps necessary to change the world by changing theirs first.
PARTNER WITH ADDY
To find out more information about what is next for Addy’s Homefull Project, follow along on their Facebook group Addy’s Homefull Project or reach out to Erika directly to see how you can get involved today at erika.sepega@yahoo.com.
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Sam Moore
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