Painted Chair provides job and life skills, and community inclusion, to people with developmental disabilities
My first visit to the Painted Chair, located at 5857 Sawmill Road in Oliver, was back in September.
Town of Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes was on site. And for good reason.
Ron and his wife Tara run Hovanes Community Services Ltd. They receive funds through Community Living BC to act as the local service provider at the Painted Chair. Their vision is to provide positive, strong, accountable support and services to adults and children with special needs.
Ron was at the Painted Chair on this particular day to hand out cheques. One by one, the people who spend time working at the Painted Chair came forward, accepting the envelope from Ron’s hand, receiving a congratulatory handshake, and walking away with a grin which stretched ear-to-ear.
Over the past two and a half years, the Painted Chair has re-purposed and sold almost 500 pieces of furniture – all donated.
And, here’s the best part. One hundred per cent of all sales go to the people working at the Painted Chair, whether it be, yes, painting a chair, or working the sales counter, or helping pick up donated furniture which will be refurbished and sold.
The fine work taking place at the Painted Chair, and the opportunities which exist, have not gone unnoticed.
Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility, and local MLA Linda Larson hosted a special event at the Painted Chair on October 18. The gathering was part of BC’s 16th annual Community Living Month, set aside to recognize the many contributions that people with developmental disabilities make to our community year round. That was Larson’s “official” reason for attending.
But there was more to it.
“I love these people. This is what we call a social enterprise which allows people with a developmental disability to actually create something they can sell and keep the money for,” said Larson. “The whole focus of the ministry is to get as many people as possible with disabilities being part of, and working members of the community, and having the ability to earn some extra money for themselves and their families.”
Many of the clients who work at the Painted Chair don’t normally have a place to fit into society, or into the community. The Painted Chair has provided them with the opportunity to be included. And that’s what people with disabilities have been striving to achieve for many years.
“This has been wonderful for them to come here and be able to socialize and be a part of something. It’s special for their families too, to know they are cared for and they are with a group of people who support them and love them. We find a job for everybody at all levels,” said Tara Hovanes. “A lot of the public that comes in here have never had access to people with disabilities, so for them it’s been a big learning curve for the community. I think one of the nice things is, we’ve got people out in the community working already.”
Kyle Sanderson, who was tending the front counter during Larson’s event, is now working at the Rustic Barn. Other clients have taken jobs at gas stations and as a janitor.
“Transferable job skills, money in their pocket and community inclusion. The community has bought into it,” said Ron Hovanes. “Everything you see in here has been donated. We haven’t had to buy a piece of furniture in over a year. The Painted Chair is giving those with developmental disabilities the opportunity to earn money and, more importantly, to feel good about themselves.”
Tara added: “It’s all because they came here, and people saw them as a valuable employee. “The self-esteem and the pride that we see in our clients is just awesome. They feel proud of what they do, and that’s really exciting.”
The Painted Chair is open to the public Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 250-485-2500 if you have furniture or clothing that can be picked up and upcycled.
You can also check out: https://www.facebook.com/thepaintedchairBC.
Dale Cory
Oliver Chronicle
