Pictured: Manatee Habitat Critical Construction Manager Steve Reinfeldt and ReStore Director of Operations Karen McElry at the new living room game table

What happens when you have thirteen children, two parents, one house and a team of home improvement experts from Manatee Habitat? You get a stunning new living space furnished with Manatee Habitat ReStore items, fresh paint, new crown molding, custom built shelving, and a huge happy family. In celebration of Manatee Habitat ReStore’s first anniversary of their new store on 70 and 15th Street East in Bradenton, Director of Retail Operations Karen McElroy offered patrons a chance to win a complete family room makeover. The winner was Yvonne Westermeyer. She and her husband have 13 children and 21 grandchildren and wanted the family/living room space updated and re-designed for get-togethers and provide LOTS of seating.

Before she retired, Yvonne was an emergency room nurse and volunteered in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). There she saw the need for foster care for babies who had medical problems, were premature, and born to parents who could not care for them. She became a medical foster parent to six of these special needs babies which led to adoption. Two additional children came to the family through the Guardian ad Litem child advocacy program. Now all her children are grown and only five of them are still living at home.

“I am more than grateful for this lovely new living space,” said homeowner Yvonne. “We would like our kids to stay in our family home when we are no longer on this earth. My husband is 80 now and has Parkinson’s. Karen and the team from Manatee Habitat have given us so much – not just in the makeover but in providing a true family space where we can comfortably enjoy spending time together.”

Pictured: Manatee Habitat Critical Construction Manager Steve Reinfeldt and ReStore Director of Operations Karen McElry at the new living room game table

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