Despite living in Moscow for more than a decade, Lydia Byers never felt like part of the community.
The California native and University of Idaho graduate moved to Moscow in 2007, deciding to stick around after finishing her psychology degree, only to be met with some resistance.
“I was a transplant,” she said. “When people found out I wasn’t from here, they’d tell me to go back to California, and I don’t want to go back — I never do.”
Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
UI students volunteer during the Paint the Palouse event Aug. 25.
However, Byers finally found that missing sense of camaraderie during UI’s annual Paint the Palouse event.
Her house on North Almon Street was one of four Moscow properties repainted Saturday by student volunteers.
“It was like an 11-year-old welcoming party,” Byers said. “I felt so spoiled.”
She and her husband moved into the forest green and maroon home in January 2016.
“I absolutely hated the color,” the stay-at-home mom said. “It was so ugly.”
Her disdain toward the house’s original color led her to apply for Paint the Palouse in late May on a whim, believing the application was a “shot in the dark.”
Byers heard back from the program near the end of June. After an inspection to see if her home was eligible, she learned her family had been chosen.
“My stress melted away,” said Byers, who suffers from fibromyalgia. “The house needed to be updated, but I didn’t know how we were going to do it.”
She selected the new, “pretty” colors — blue and light grey — during the summer with her vision coming to life this past weekend.
UI senior Nova Tebbe supervised the 20 volunteers working on Byers’ home Saturday. There were around 370 students who donated their time to the program, which is in its 29th year.
“I absolutely love this project,” said Tebbe, who has been a site leader for the past two years and a volunteer before that. “It makes such a huge impact on the community.”
Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
UI students volunteer during the Paint the Palouse event Aug. 25.
She said many students don’t realize how much it costs to paint a house — how to even paint in the first place — but love “getting their hands dirty.”
“Heck, I’ve been doing it for four years now and it never gets old,” Tebbe said.
Laura Peterson, a first-time volunteer and UI junior, said she had no idea how much effort went into painting a house.
She said she enjoyed seeing the project through Byers, who interacted with the students as they worked on the home.
“You could just tell it was like we were making a dream come true for her,” Peterson said. “I think that’s what made it so fun and worthwhile. I definitely think I want to do this again next year.”
Now, Byers is in love with the exterior of her home — crisp blue with light grey accents. A sentiment her 4-year-old son shares.
“It’s great,” Elliott Byers said with a smile as he played in the front of their updated house.
Even though the Paint the Palouse event only lasts a day, the impact is evergreen.
Byers said the volunteers saved her family the thousands of dollars it would have cost to hire a painting crew, increasing the value of the home.
“There are no words … We didn’t pay a cent, we are all so grateful,” she said. “It’s truly indescribable, especially since it was my alma mater who helped us out. How can you describe that? You can’t, and that’s just the best thing about this.”
Olivia Heersink can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @heersinkolivia