Where I’m Giving this Giving Tuesday

Did you know today is Giving Tuesday? After a rush of consumerism, I love that there is a day dedicated to giving back – a reminder that so many causes also need and deserve our dollars. Obviously, the needs are vast and highly varied. From combating climate change, protecting women’s health, human rights issues or helping the victims of California’s wildfires, the opportunities to help are plentiful.

But I have one I wanted to share with you today – I recently partnered with Trove (you might remember meeting Trove in this post) on a really exciting project. Trove recently opened their first self-service, drive-in storage facility and I designed their welcome center! But to celebrate the Drive-In’s grand opening Trove invited me to cohost a Winter Donation Drive. Happening now, the our donation drive is benefiting three incredibly important Bay Area based organizations including the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, One Warm Coat and La Casa de las Madres, with three custom Trove vaults created for each organization.

But first, let me take you on a tour of Trove’s Welcome Center!

Situated in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood, we set out to create a retro, vintage inspired respite for all the tired movers out there. You know how miserable putting stuff in storage can be. Is there anything more exhausting than sorting, packing and hauling your stuff around? It can be the worst. But Trove is taking the pain out the the typical storage experience.

At the Trove Drive-In, you simply drive right into the warehouse, check-in at the Welcome Desk and Trove staff will help you drop off your belongings in the heart of the city where storage advisors and moving kits make your storage experience easier. Once your vault is full, pros seal your unit then transport and store it in a storage facility that’s monitored 24/7. When you’re ready for a few or all of your belongings back, Trove will transport your unit back to the Drive-In in SF.

This project had me working outside my comfort zone yet again. Color, what?? Creating something welcoming in an industrial warehouse?? It was quite the design challenge. But we had so much fun playing in this crazy blank canvas.

We created custom planter boxes to create a little shield for the Welcome Center from the rest of the warehouse. They also added much needed life to a concrete and steel dominated environment. On one end of the Welcome Center you’ll find the custom Check In counter. I designed a fun curved piece painted in Trove’s signature green. On the opposite side, there is a fun and poppy seating area to kick your feet up, flip through a magazine or enjoy a sweet treat or cool beverage from the complimentary snack station.

I mixed a variety of vintage pieces – there was lot of flea market shopping involved – with some of my tried and true favorites from places like CB2 and Article to create vibe that felt both retro but also current. The final look is kitchy and collected but also fun and playful.

It was quite an awesome process to create something from literally nothing – and I love that a Trove customer can come in and enjoy the space!

But now back to Giving Tuesday! Our Welcome Center served as our direct inspiration for our Donation Drive. Rather than simply ask for donations, Trove decided to design and build three custom vaults inspired by each organization.

A retro cafe for the the SF-Marin Food Bank

A killer yellow living room for La Casa de las Madres.

And a cozy pink dressing room for One Warm Coat.

We recently held a kick-off party for the Goodness Drive with Lonny Magazine, but it’s not too late to give. You can bring canned food, gently used or new coats and even furniture and  toys to the Trove Drive-In now through December 4.

I know you have that chair you’ve been thinking you’re ready to move on. That box of kids clothes long outgrown by your littles. I’m sure you can fill a grocery bag with canned food. If you’re in the Bay Area, I hope you’ll consider dropping off those pieces off at Trove!

TROVE GOODNESS WINTER DONATION DRIVE
1200 17th Street San Francisco
Open 8AM-8PM Mon – Thurs, 8AM-6PM Fri – Sun

 

SF-MARIN FOOD BANK
Trove is accepting canned food and monetary donations. Every dollar provides two meals.
From their pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, the SF-Marin Food Bank works to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Since 1987, they have pioneered successful models aimed at ending hunger. With your support, they can continue to innovate and provide food to neighbors in need.
Learn more at sfmfoodbank.org

ONE WARM COAT
Warm someone’s day by giving either a gently used or brand new coat or dig a little deeper with some pocket change!
One Warm Coat started in 1992 with a Thanksgiving weekend coat drive at one location in SF. Since then, it’s grown to a national organization supporting over 4,000 coat drives each year. In its passionate 26 years, One Warm Coats has provided 5 million coats to adults, children and organizations in need.
Learn more at onewarmcoat.org

LA CASA DE LAS MADRES
Donate clothes, bedroom furniture, toys, or money to help women and children find refuge from domestic violence.
The mission of La Casa de las Madres is to respond to calls for help from domestic violence victims, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They give survivors of all ages tools to transform their lives. They also prevent future violence through community education and redefining public perceptions about domestic violence.
Learn more at lacasa.org

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