April 28, 2006

Organized Garage is Gift to Deserving Orange County Mother for Her Work With American Soldiers in Iraq

Written by

John Trosko Los Angeles Professional Organizer

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Last Thursday, one very lucky Orange County mother was treated to a day of organization. Through the volunteer efforts from the Los Angeles Chapter of NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers, one winner was chosen to participate in an extreme makeover contest sponsored by KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV Los Angeles.

The two-car gingerbread-style garage, filled wall-to-wall (and floor-to-ceiling) prompted a simple 100-word application into the contest, which clearly won over 1,000 entries. But this is a story less about clearing the clutter, and more about helping our American soldiers in Iraq.

Can this squadron pull together the impossible with just two days notice?

Professional Organizers take a quick break in the backyard

The lucky mother was chosen by news producers because of her commitment to providing care packages to American soldiers in Iraq.

Once a month, dozens of church members ascend on the family garage to sort, write care messages and baggie razors, toys, books, candy and hope for the overseas soldiers. The whole she-bang gets pulled out of the garage, processed and remnants get pushed back in for next time. Not any more!

John Trosko (left) installs wire shelving used to hold supplies for care packages, and (right) Halli Jane Colpepper labels paint cans.

OrganizingLA and John Trosko were proud to participate in the event, overseen and hosted by NAPO Los Angeles President, Chris McKenry. McKenry, who also heads his own organizing company, Get It Together LA! based in Los Angeles, recruited local professional organizers including:

Tiffany Schwartz and Halli Jane Colpepper of Clearly Efficient, Inc., Orange County
Rosalind Lakomy of Clearing Space, Marina del Rey
Lori Gersh of Leave It 2 Lori, Westlake Village
Justine Miceli of Organizing by MiceliCo, Santa Monica

The Container Store of Costa Mesa donated over $1200 worth of InterMetro Shelving, containers, labels, and supplies.

1-800-Got-Junk (pictured here, boxing over 1,000 candy bars) provided staffing as well as three company trucks. Donations, trash and recycling were separated and trucked for proper disposal.

"We're very thankful for everyone's participation on short notice– two days. We are especially pleased that we could empower this extraordinary Orange County family and the work they contribute to the community." McKenry adds: "Organization increases productivity, and this family will most certainly benefit from this time and space makeover."

McKenry spent 2 days preparing for the event, which began 8am Thursday. Two camera men filmed the entire 8-hour process alongside a Producer, who snuck in moments of self-discovery, coaching, and conversations of helping others– in a world thousands of miles away. Thursday's footage will be re-used for two KCAL/KCBS new's segments, and possibly one, hour-long special which will be part of a series of makeovers for some very special mothers.