Paint Your Heart Out to refurbish a record seven homes in Safety Harbor this year
By 
As a member of a nonprofit organization, you know things are going well when you have enough volunteers to cover your biggest annual event months before the date approaches.
Another positive sign that people are contributing to your cause comes when you have so many donations coming in that you’re able to help a record number of families in the community in one day.
That’s the situation representatives of Paint Your Heart Out Safety Harbor find themselves in this year, as the nonprofit home-beautifying organization will refurbish a record seven homes in town on Saturday, March 10, 2018.
“This year, we are tackling the most ambitious number of houses ever for our organization, seven,” PYHOSH President Rick Shampaine told Safety Harbor Connect via email, adding, “never before have we done more than five homes on Paint Day.
“Thanks to the generosity of local corporations supplying us with extra volunteers and money, we are able to help a record number of homeowners.”
According to the organization’s Facebook page, PYOSH started in 1991, and in that time, the many volunteers over the years have spruced up more than 140 homes at no cost to the owner.
They typically try to tackle five homes per year, and candidates must meet certain requirements to be eligible for consideration, including own and reside in a home in the city and be physically disabled or have a family income equal to or less than the HUD poverty level, according to the site.
Money for the supplies and services, including work with professional painters, comes from donations and contributions from local individuals and organizations; this year Point and Pay, an Oldsmar payment processing company, stepped up with a sizable contribution to the cause.
“Point and Pay has been a longtime contributor to local communities and we are pleased to work with Paint Your Heart Out, nearby in Safety Harbor,” Kevin Connell, President & CEO, Point & Pay, LLC, said via email.
“Paint Your Heart Out helped us select a home and worked with our employees to plan a great event. We look forward to our first project this March and many more years of a successful partnership.”
While the basic premise of PYHO has not changed over the years, one aspect is different in 2018.
“One cool thing we’re doing this year is working with the homeowners ahead of time,” PYHOSH board member Laura Long said.
“We’ve been going out and talking to them so they can pick out their paint colors and we talk about what light landscaping we can do that they’ll be able to upkeep, etc.”
Long, a longtime marketing and communications specialist who is married to Safety Harbor City Commissioner Scott Long, said volunteering for PYHOSH has been one of the most rewarding experiences she’s ever had.
“March of 2017 was the first time I painted with PYHOSH,” she said. “I was amazed that they could send 20 people out to a house in the morning and have it done — and done well — by afternoon.
“I knew I had to let more people know about this great group. I instantly volunteered my publicity skills to the board and am glad I did.”
Long noted that while they will not turn away anyone who wants to help on March 10, they are not actively seeking more volunteers this year.
“We certainly will not turn away volunteers,” she said, “but as of today, we appear to have nearly enough.”
“And, of course, we never turn down donations!”
To learn more, volunteer or donate to Paint Day 2018, visit Paint Your Heart Out Safety Harbor’s Facebook page or email PYHOSH@gmail.com.
Related content:
This is wonderful to help fellow neighbors! And great to hear of all the volunteers and sponsors!!