Last week, the saying “home is where the heart is” took on new meaning for the WellPower’s Beeler Street Residence. More than 13 volunteers from Impact Denver volunteered their time and effort to dramatically improve Beeler Street’s landscaping and appearance.

For the past 20 years, the WellPower has operated the Beeler Street Residence as a residential treatment facility for adults experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Originally constructed in 1925, the house was built as a showpiece to promote the city of Aurora as Denver’s finest suburb and was the area’s first home with electricity. The 87 year-old building was overdue for new landscaping to improve its appearance and the Impact Denver volunteers made it happen.

Impact Denver is a civic leadership program with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. As part of the program, volunteers choose a community project to support. The WellPower, the community’s leading resource of treatment for children, teens and families, believes that a safe and pleasant place to call home is important in the recovery process.

For their class project, the Impact Denver team worked with the WellPower to coordinate the landscaping project and secure significant donations from ValleyCrest Landscape Companies and Country Lane Wholesale Nursery. Thanks to the Impact Denver team’s work, the Beeler Street Residence’s east entrance was significantly beautified, and with the support of volunteers and donations, at an almost 60 percent cost savings to the WellPower.

“We are very proud of the work we did to enhance the appearance of the Beeler Street Residence and it was great to have all of the Beeler Street residents watch as the landscaping project took shape,” said Impact Denver volunteer Matt Huelskamp. “They were very thankful for the new look at the entrance, which they walk in and out of on a daily basis.”

“The staff and consumers of Beeler House are extremely appreciative of the Impact Denver team and the wonderful landscaping work they did. The team was professional and really listened to what would work for the site and went above and beyond our expectations. Consumers have commented on how nice the entry looks and that they felt special to have their site chosen,” said Oriana Sanchez, assistant facilities director for the WellPower.