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Annual event allows design students to showcase their talent and builds awareness of family stores.
By Kathy Lovin
The second annual Noah’s ARC Design Challenge began on May 7, when student members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) displayed their design talent at Salvation Army stores in Orange County, Calif.
The design challenge raises awareness that people can purchase home furnishings and accessories at Salvation Army family stores and integrate them into their own living spaces.
“This is a wonderful partnership between The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) and ASID. Together, we are educating a new generation about what this ARC does in the rehabilitation ministry. The students get to interact with some individuals in our program and realize the positive impact we have. Just as the students are professionally restoring items donated to the Army for their displays, we are restoring lives back to what God had intended,” said Major William Heiselman, Anaheim ARC administrator.
Four interior design colleges fielded teams of students who selected furniture and accessories from local Salvation Army stores to create a room design based on a theme. This year’s themes were Rustic Tuscan, Hollywood Regency, Eclectic Modern and Antique.
Stores in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Orange and San Clemente displayed the rooms until the winner was named on May 21. ASID professionals acted as judges.
Each piece of furniture and item of decor was part of a silent auction to raise funds to support The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center in Anaheim, Calif., which can accommodate 147 men and 28 women.
The Rustic Tuscan room team won the overall contest by snagging the “Best Representation of Genre” award. The Eclectic Modern raised the most money, $1,080, from the auction of furniture and accessories used in the design.
