PORT ANGELES — Rose House is beginning to live up to its name.
Two months after getting a fresh coat of paint, Healthy Families of Clallam County’s transitional shelter for survivors of domestic violence has a new play center for kids.
Thanks to an $1,850 donation from the Moose Lodge — funneled through Soroptimist International of Port Angeles Noon Club — volunteers assembled a multipurpose play structure on the west side of Port Angeles shelter on East Fifth Street on Wednesday afternoon.
Becca Korby, executive director of Healthy Families of Clallam County, said it was a “huge surprise” when Healthy Families received the donation late last summer.
Healthy Families is now taking donations to build a new roof for the six-bedroom, Victorian-style shelter that can accommodate up to 14 people.
“We’re doing all this fixing and cleaning and making it beautiful again,” Korby said.
The wooden play center — made by Cedar Summit and called the “Rocky Mountain Retreat” — is equipped with a covered fort, swing set, slide, climbing wall, ladder, trapeze rings and a picnic table.
The equipment itself cost $1,200. The rest of the money is being spent on a soft landing surface at the base of the 7-foot-tall structure and lunch for the volunteers, Korby said.
Marty Hoffman, Healthy Families transportation and procurement coordinator, said the playhouse will give the children a safe place to play.
“It’s something kind of special — just for the children,” he said.
“It’s all their own.”
Many of those who stay at the Rose House do not have transportation to take their children to a city park, Hoffman added.
Healthy Families volunteers John Carroll, Doug Hastings, Robert Rankin and Hoffman assembled parts of the play center from a remote location earlier. They finished putting the pieces together on Wednesday.
The new play center replaces a hodgepodge of plastic toys that the children played with in the Rose House yard.
“It’s bringing that playground to where it should be for the children,” Korby said.
“It safe. All parts of the playground are easily visible.”
Korby thanked members of the Moose Lodge and Soroptimist Club for their generosity.
“Once again, it’s evidence of the community embracing these families who need a place to heal,” Korby said.
“It says we values and honor these families.”
A College Pro Painters crew volunteered their labor to paint the house light blue in June. It was the first coat of paint Rose House had since 1995. College Pro plans to finish some touch-up work on the trim later this summer.
Healthy Families of Clallam County has launched a new website at www.healthyfam.org.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
