The Northern Montana Care Center hasn’t moved, but parts of it look like a brand new place, thanks to some extreme room make-overs provided by youth and adult volunteers from three Hill County 4-H clubs.

Volunteers from the Blue Horizon club put energy, imagination and elbow grease into a room re-do for a resident named Gus. Over the span of a weekend, they pitched in to paint Gus’s room and give it a splash of décor to fit his outdoorsy style. Framed nature pictures and a new fleece quilt of duck-print fabric helped to bring in the outdoors. Creative garage sale shopping added a real fishing rod and a flock of wooden ducks. Thoughtful touches were a desk where Gus can pursue his poetry and drawing interests, and a display for his creative works.

Just like on TV, it was all a surprise for Gus, and when the 4-H volunteers escorted him to his new room, surprised he was! “This is just the cat’s pajamas,” he said. “I think there is a tear trying to get out.” The Prairie Rattlers teamed up to surprise another Care Center resident, John, while he was away at bingo. When he returned to see his new room, he admitted he hadn’t won anything at bingo, “But I sure won here!”, he said. The Happy Havre 4-H club decorated rooms for Bill, a former dairy farmer, and for Mrs. Bowl, who loves cats. With fresh paint, fabrics and decorative accents, they designed cozy surroundings that fit each person’s style.

The kids said that it was fun and they felt good that their new friends now have homier surroundings. One club member said, “At first it was hard, but when I realized someone lived in this room, I felt happy to make it a nicer place.”