Nonprofit gets spotlight at Home + Garden Show
Rebuilding Together OKC gets its own spotlight this weekend at the Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show.
The home improvement organization will shine as the show’s designated nonprofit among 500plus exhibitors and a stable of TV celebrities Friday-Sunday at State Fair Park.
Outfitted by West Elm, a home accessories and furniture store at 6150 NW Grand Blvd., Rebuilding Together OKC’s booth in Bennett Event Center will both show and tell the story of neighbors helping neighbors — and strangers helping strangers — by volunteering to repair their homes.
The Home + Garden Show will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 at the door; get a $3 discount by using the promo code RTOKC when buying online at www.OklahomaCityHomeShow.com.
Aging in place
Rebuilding Together OKC’s aim is to help the most vulnerable homeowners, the poor and elderly, by enabling them to age in place and live longer, better lives, said Ashley Combs, community
initiatives manager.
“Seniors live longer when they can retain a sense of autonomy, when they can be over their own domain. What we do is basically go in and make costly repairs for free,” she said.
The organization will have information on its approach to tackling homes needing repair, as wells as other community needs, a neighborhood at a time, working with schools, churches, employment professionals and other agencies to share resources.
Up next, on April 14, is the Acres Park neighborhood, northeast of Eastern Avenue and SE 15.
“Partnering with the home and garden show is a great way to spread our mission and gain volunteers,” said Mike Edmison, executive director of Rebuilding Together OKC. “We get to meet so many members of the community.
“More than 40,000 people come to the Home + Garden Show, and we can share about the critical needs in our community — people living without heat or with holes in their floor or ceiling. These are
important stories that many people haven’t heard.”
Edmison said Rebuilding Together OKC has an economic impact of $20 million each year. Since 1992, volunteers have repaired more than 3,100 homes, 35 nonprofit facilities and eight public school buildings.
Celebrity guests
• Joel Karsten, straw bale gardening expert, will talk about the technique of growing plants in bales of straw, which then return to the earth as compost.
• Clint Harp, host of DIY Network’s show “Wood Work” and owner of Harp Design Co. Harp’s designs have been featured on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.”
• Matt Fox, host of HGTV’s “Room by Room.” He will emcee the Lifestyle stage for the entire show, and demonstrate weekend projects using basic supplies from home improvement stores.
Other attractions
• Landscapers Lane. Four landscapers will turn more than 2,200 square feet of Bennett Event Center into a lush oasis for strolling and resting.
• Ultimate Backyard Oasis. Another 8,400 square feet of Bennett Event Center, turned over to landscaping and outdoor living.
• DIY Container Gardens To Go. Tony’s Tree Plantation will have 1,400 square feet of trees, flowers and bushes, plus DIY arrangements for purchase in the Pavilion.
• Make It Take It classes in the Centennial Building. Sign up at oklahomacityhomeshow.com/showfeatures.
• Shelfie Challenge. “Try your hand at interior decorating. Start with an ordinary shelf and accessorize with items from At Home to turn the blank slate into a custom style. Post a picture of your design to social media, and the amateur decorator receiving the most likes for his or her space by the end of the show wins the shelf and all accessories used.”
• Hero Day. Free admission Sunday for active and retired military, firefighters and police officers.
• Made in Oklahoma. Eight Oklahoma companies for home and garden products will be featured in the Bennett Event Center.
• Foodieville Truck Rally. Sunday, a variety of tasty treats from local food trucks.
• Wine Village. Bennett Event Center. Sample and learn about wineries and vineyards in the region.