Fridayland teens help families in need

For Fridaylander Joli Sanders, helping families in need has become a mission that has changed the lives of hundreds of families.

Sanders first became aware of the need for furniture for families through her personal experience of having a baby and facing the challenge of having no furniture or the means to buy. The experience enlightened her of the importance of having a comfortable and supporting environment, inspiring her to found Focus on Home.

Focus on Home is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which for 10 years has provided furniture and other household essentials to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness or other challenging situations. Sanders is both founder and CEO of the organization.

Since its inception, Focus on Home has helped over 900 families by creating comfortable, functional and dignified living spaces, transforming houses into homes and offering stability and a sense of belonging to families in need.  Sanders worked with her first family 10 years ago this month. She estimates that Focus on Home has shared nearly $1.3 million in donated goods and services to families in need.

Nearly 90 teenagers have joined Sanders on her mission to help others. They serve as volunteers on a teen board for Focus on Home. 

Teen board supervisor Debbie Margo first learned about Focus on Home a year and a half ago after seeing a post on social media, “As an interior designer I thought it would be an interesting place to volunteer,” she said.

“The Focus on Home Teen Board is made up of students in ninth through 12th grade who are interested in serving our community,” said Margo, who also serves as a volunteer family coordinator. “The students participate in installing homes, organizing the warehouse, painting art for homes and fundraising.

“Our teen board has grown from 10  members last fall to 86 members this year,” said Margo. “Many members have become interested after hearing about our mission and service experience from their peers.”

The teens range in age between 14-18 and represent high schools from throughout Fridayland, including Bishop McGuinness, Casady, Crossings, Deer Creek, Edmond and Heritage Hall. 

“They really enjoy going into homes and decorating or installing a house and sharing with the family,” she said. “They often lead the family through their newly furnished space and celebrate the end result together.”

The Focus on Home Teen Board has its own executive board that includes Ashlyn Dolan, Sam Margo, Lily Cunningham, Parker Rice, Evey Atchison and Isabelle Letcher.

“Our teen volunteers do one home installation a month,” said Margo. “They meet the family-in-need to assess their space, select home furnishings from our warehouse and install curtains, beds and furnishings.

“It takes about four hours to do a home, and we usually take four to six teens per installation,” she said. “The kids often talk after an installation about the perspective they gain. I hear a lot of them repeat over and over how grateful they are for their own beds and homes.”

It costs nearly $1,500, from start to finish, to work with a family. A typical home package includes essential furniture and household items to create a comfortable and functional living environment. 

“We provide new beds for each family member including bed frames, mattresses, pillows and bedding,” said Sanders. “Home packages include living room and dining furniture, kitchen essentials and storage solutions like shelving units and other furniture to organize their belongings.

“Every home gets wall art, rugs and decorative items to create a welcoming and personalized space,” she said. “Towels, washcloths and other linens ensure families have what they need for everyday use.

“Prior to founding Focus on Home I spent nearly 30 years in the interior design industry,” said Sanders. “We believe a well-furnished home is a crucial foundation for families to thrive, and we work to ensure that every family we serve has a supportive environment where they can rebuild and grow.

“A vast majority of our families are led by single mothers,” she said. “We have three typical paths to our program — unhoused families transitioning out of homelessness or facing financial hardship; individuals and families escaping domestic violence; and individuals and families participating in recovery programs who need a stable, supportive home environment as they work toward recovery and independence.”

Focus on Home works with five main partner agencies including ReMerge, Palomar, YWCA, Hope House and Positive Tomorrows. The organization also works with and accepts families from other agencies like the Homeless Alliance, City Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Sanders remembers Eric, a single dad who found himself living in a shed with his boys, Brayton and Landon.

“The friend who let them live in their shed was an electrician and trained Eric until he was able to get his license,” she said. “Since working as an electrician, he has been able to work toward providing a more dignified home environment.

“Eric and his family were referred to us by one of the kids’ teachers who knew there was hope for them,” she continued. “She was right! They just needed a space that they could call home, filled with a few comforting items, and they would find stability.”

Caroline Regier, left, and Olesya Rodgers turn a house into a home for a deserving family.

Parker Rice is a member of the Focus on Home Teen Board.