Nest Fest strikes up support for less fortunate
Nest Fest 2015 is back to feature food, entertainment and special celebrity judges.
The event will be held 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Bossier Civic Center. Doors and the bar will open at 5 p.m. for judging of the design competition.
Noel Haacker, founder and executive director of Renesting Project, is looking forward to this year’s event. “Nest Fest is a fundraiser to benefit Renesting Project Inc.,” Haacker said. “It’s a casual evening of fun, food and furnishings!” The Renesting Project, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2009 by a group of individuals with big hearts for helping the less fortunate. Their mission is simply to reclaim gently used furniture and goods from the community, renew by repairing and cleaning the products, and then renest – helping provide for those coming out of homelessness by setting them up with household items needed for a functioning life, Haacker said.
Supporters can participate in a good cause all while having a blast. “Guests at Nest Fest will get to dance to the live music of Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, dine on an extensive buffet from Good Eats, join in a photographic scavenger hunt and bid on amazing auction items,” said Haacker, who also serves as Nest Fest chairperson.
Silent auction goodies range from Strawn’s “One Pie a Month” gift certificate, to chairs from Yarbrough Interiors, to Colorado vacation getaways and more.
Haacker was hard pressed to determine what she’s most looking forward to about this year’s fundraiser. But when she had to pick, she stuck with what she loves best. “As an interior designer, I really enjoy the design competition,” Haacker said. “It’s where local students, enthusiasts and professional designers – including local furniture retailers – create vignettes within 10x10 spaces inside the event, while striving to meet the prescribed design criteria. This year the big challenge will be transforming a piece from its original purpose.”
When asked why people should come out and participate in Nest Fest 2015, Haacker said, “You mean aside from supporting Renesting Project’s mission of serving the homeless as they transition from homelessness to hopefulness? Well, it’s just a really good time for a great cause!” Haacker said the mission of Nest Fest is more than worth the investment of time and money. “In the last year, we have served 290 individuals ranging from Caddo Parish school children to veterans with PTSD,” she said. “Renesting Project Inc. currently partners with over 20 local social service agencies, serving a very diverse demographic.”
When the Renesting Project agencies place their homeless clients into permanent housing, they are providing basic necessary items needed for living and functioning with dignity, with no cost to the client.
“We gather and provide gently used furniture and household items from our community,” said Haacker. “Of course, that requires a warehouse and all that goes with 5,000 square-feet of volunteer magic! Some Renesting funds come from locally funded grants such as The Beaird Foundation, United Way of Northwest Louisiana and [the] Community Foundation.”
However, the Renesting Project unfortunately does not receive any federal, state or local government funds, even though more than half of their clients are veterans.
“We depend on the generosity of the people, right here in our community to continue our mission,” Haacker said.
And that’s why, Haacker said, patrons should come to Nest Fest 2015, to enjoy the food, the fun, and the fellowship, but also to contribute to a cause that will change someone’s life.
“This particular fundraiser is especially unique because on top of the CHAIRished Beginnings Design Competition – where you can bid on all furniture and items in the vignettes – our guests will share their party photos on the big screens as they ‘selfie’ their way through the in-house photographic scavenger hunt,” Haacker said. “It’s seriously going to be a lot of fun for all ages.”
This year’s Nest Fest features celebrity judge Alice Fakier, who was the first runner up from season one of HGTV’s Design Star. “Guests will win prizes in the scavenger hunt and watch the evening unfold on the big screens with their own party pictures, all while trying to outbid their competition in the silent auction for a plethora of amazing auction items,” Haacker said.
To participate in Nest Fest 2015, buy tickets or reserve a table of eight at www. renestingprojectinc.org/nestfest. To learn more about the Renesting Project, go to www.renestingprojectinc.org.
–Betsy St. Amant
