Transforming a home for a family exiting homelessness is a powerful and deeply moving experience. Humble Design San Diego organizes “Days of Joy” up to four times a week in which volunteers turn an empty home or apartment into a welcoming space where a family can start to rebuild their lives. Recently, San Diego Magazine team members participated in a Day of Joy. Here, Joanna Salazar Harris, San Diego Magazine chief operating officer and the event’s organizer, shares her experience.
How did you first get involved with Humble Design San Diego?
I first met Laura (Lavoie), who’s the executive director, and was introduced to the organization during World Design Capital. They were one of the many organizations that engaged in that effort to bring awareness to the larger design environment here in San Diego and Tijuana. Humble Design participated both as a partner organization in World Design Capital as well as an activation partner. During that time, I organized a volunteer event for my staff at World Design Capital to do a Humble Design Day of Joy. I unfortunately could not attend that one, so I was really happy to be able to make the time this time and share what Humble Design is doing with the team at San Diego Magazine.
Courtesy of SDM Staff
What did your volunteer duties entail?
Volunteers arrive and get the experience of being in the warehouse, which is overwhelming and brings home the massive impact that this organization can have. Because so many people have donated items, Humble Design has so much to give, but obviously they can’t do it themselves. So, they utilize volunteers on the Day of Joy. At the warehouse, they have a meeting to talk about why you’re there and what you’re hoping to get out of the day, provide a better understanding of what the organization does, and talk a little bit about the family who will receive the services that day. The Humble team does a really good job of grounding the volunteers; as much as the work is for the family who’s receiving it, it’s also for the volunteers. The takeaway is that by simply spending a few hours of your time, you’re actually creating a major impact for a family.
Then from the warehouse, you go to the home. Designers have already met with their clients and have a plan for what they want to do, and the volunteers are basically the labor to make that plan come to life. But volunteers have a lot that they’re empowered to decide—the designers have developed a color palette and things they think are going to go, then the volunteers decide how to set up the house, which is cool.
You work for four or five hours, moving furniture around, hanging pictures, folding towels, putting away kitchen utensils, and all the other things that you would do to organize a home. And somehow magically at the end, it has transformed from a blank slate into a beautiful, warm, welcoming, and cozy home.
Courtesy of SDM Staff
What was your favorite part of this volunteer experience?
Honestly, I think it was spending a day with people I work with in a nonwork environment. Here at San Diego Magazine, everyone’s usually head-down working, so it doesn’t allow us a whole lot of time to get to know one another. Being able to spend a day hanging pictures and folding towels next to them means you’re talking about yourself and your families and their motivations and why they’re there, and getting a deeper understanding of how wonderful the people are that I’m lucky enough to work with every day.
The biggest challenge was scheduling it because it’s hard to find a time when everybody is so busy. But I think it’s really important that as a company we’re prioritizing engaging in the community and giving back to our community, especially as San Diego Magazine. Laura (Lavoie) was wonderful about accommodating our schedule. There was no complication on the side of the actual volunteer work. Humble Design made it very easy and welcoming. There wasn’t even any heavy lifting because they have workers who are moving in the heavy furniture. Really, anybody can do it.
What advice would you give someone who’s considering volunteering as a way of giving back?
Just do it. Don’t hesitate. Try whatever organization; it doesn’t have to be the perfect one. There’s so much need in our community. There are so many small nonprofits that can only function because they have the support of volunteers. So, just find one that you think aligns with your values and go experience it. And try out lots of them. There are so many that are doing great work in our community.
Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.
