Update: 10:11 a.m. June 7: DSNWK Custom Creation will be participating in the downtown art walk on June 18. It will be doing a fundraiser on the bricks to help raise money for its new store start up costs and hopefully some of its wish list items. The Downtown Hays Development Corp. is letting Custom Creations use its space to showcase some art that will be for sale and up for auction.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Do you have some unwanted furniture in your basement? Have leftover furniture that didn't sell at this weekend's garage sale?
You could help Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas' Custom Creations program.
The program, which has been in operation since 2016, is stock piling merchandise to open a new downtown Hays store that will sell refurbished and upcycled furniture, as well as crafts and art created by DSNWK clients.
DSNWK is hoping to open the new store, 1107 Main, by Oct. 15.
Custom Creations is taking donations of used solid-wood furniture that they will transform and update for resale.
"We hope to get a lot of real wood that the guys can refurbish and turn into new things," LaVonne Giess, DSNWK program manager, said.
"We used to get tables, and they were all scratched up," she said. "If it was real wood, Dustin [Olsen, employment services assistant,] has taught the guys to sand things down, how to stain, how to paint and even how to turn things into new pieces."
A head board might be transformed into a bench, and an old piano might become a bar. Pallets might be made into Christmas trees or pumpkins.
"A lot of these guys enjoy doing this stuff," Olsen said. "We have a really good group back here. We're pretty tight-knit back there."
Six individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities work in the Custom Creations shop, but Giess said she hopes those numbers can grow.
With the opening of the store, the program will also be able to sell smaller arts and crafts made by DSNWK's day program clients.
DSNWK has six day services sites within its 18-county service area. That includes sites at Hays, Norton, Russell, Hill City, Atwood and Hoxie.
"We have some people who do amazing cross stitching, painters, so many unique artists," said Sara Biggs, director of programs and services. "They will also have the opportunity to have their pieces displayed and sold."
DSNWK officials hope to rotate feature artists throughout the year.
Biggs said she is excited the new store and DSNWK clients will be able to participate in downtown Hays activities, including art walks.
On the program's wish list is a Chromebox, so DSNWK can connect day sites, such as Atwood, to the store so visitors can watch clients making items at remote locations.
Officials also hope to offer classes for clients in the store, so members of the community can interact with clients as they work on their projects.
"Our individuals here get so excited when we come up with new project," Giess said.
The artists and craftspeople will receive a portion of the proceeds from the furniture, art and crafts they will make.
DSNWK will also be accepting donations of other craft materials. A women who was moving recently donated a large amount of fabric she no longer needed. Nothing goes to waste, Giess said.
If people have large donations to offer, such as furniture, they can call the Employment Connections Office in Hays at 785-625-2018 to have the furniture or materials picked up. Donations are tax dedcutible.
Monetary donations can also be made to DSNWK. Click here to donate online.
