Participating in the Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful program for the first time, a crew involving a total of 26 persons turned out for eight work parties at the residence of Darlene Allshouse. Prior to the project, the house had a “tired wood stain” that the owner likened to a log cabin look. “The crew transformed it into a beautiful yellow home, complete with picket fence to keep her dog, Snoopy, within reach,” said Judge Maggie Ross, project coordinator.

The court was looking for a way to make a positive community contribution and heard good things about the Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful program, which has painted more than 1,500 homes of people unable to do the job themselves since it was formed in 1985. Paint crews are provided by churches, service clubs, businesses, government agencies, unions and numerous individuals who are assigned to crews.

“We had a great time at the work parties and got to know our co-workers in a new environment. Darlene liked having us around so much that she tried to change her mind on the color when we finished so we would have to paint it again! “The crew feels very satisfied about a job well done and talk has already begun about next year,” Ross said.