BUFFALO, N.Y. — Most Buffalo took a quick field trip to preview the Home Show at the Convention Center for the Most Buffalo story of the day Thursday.
The show doesn’t open until Friday, but Kate Welshofer had the chance to come in for a preview because she is part of the Home Show this year.
Three notable Buffalonians (and Kate) were asked to help design four rooms for the Home Show this year as part of a fun contest that also benefits the community.
Home Show visitors can vote for their favorite room. Ethan Allen will then donate $1,000 to the charity of the guest designers' choice.
Kate said she wanted her room to reflect Most Buffalo – a little colorful, a little quirky, but mostly a place where you would want to spend some time and hang out with your favorite friends.
Working with designers, Kate helped develop the overall mood and look of the room. With just a few finishing touches to go, she saw the room put together for the first time Thursday and wanted to instantly move in.
The really important part of all of this, of course, is that, no matter what, some very deserving charities will benefit. While the winner gets $1,000 for their charity, Ethan Allen is donating $500 to all the charities chosen by the guest designers just for participating.
Kate selected the Family Justice Center. The organization provides free services to domestic violence victims. Their services are needed more than ever.
Kate spoke with Family Justice Center CEO Mary Murphy who explained, "In the last year-and-a-half here in Erie County, we have logged 16 domestic violence homicides. We have never seen numbers like that before. It's critical that people in the community understand the big red flags. It's preventable. If there's a shining light when it comes to this public health crisis, it is the fact that these domestic violence relationships and, in particular, the violence and the murders are preventable."
Coming up next week on Most Buffalo Kate will have much more on just how big of a problem domestic violence is here in Western New York. She will explain the services the Family Justice Service offers victims and share ways we can all help protect our friends, family and neighbors from abusive partners
Kate said, "after all, this is the city of good neighbors and I think home should be a place where everyone feels safe. If you’re at the Home Show, I’d definitely appreciate a vote for our Most Buffalo room here and for the Family Justice Center."
The Home show runs this weekend and next weekend.