Pickens County is in the Upstate Region of South Carolina
The office currently serves approximately 80 children in foster care and needs approximately 40 more foster families.
Prior to the Lily Pad space, children would make pallets on the floor in their case managers’ offices.
We had a significant amount of help from Tommy Webster and his team from the building maintenance department for Pickens County. Tommy’s team hardwired sconces to help us eliminate the need for fluorescent lighting and create a calm, warm setting. His team added electrical outlets for the monitoring system and lamps for more warm lighting. They purchased the paint and changed out old, discolored ceiling tiles. We are grateful for the county’s support, partnering with us to serve the youth that will use this Lily Pad space!
Students from Wren High School’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) organization teamed up with us to design and install this Lily Pad space. Students made many of the design decisions and selected the charitable registry items that filled the space. They even spent the Saturday morning of their homecoming weekend helping to install this Lily Pad space! They put together furniture, steamed the canopy and pillow covers, broke down boxes, and much more. Thank you Wren FCCLA!
July 2026: Room Refresh:
For nearly four years, the Pickens County Lily Pad has provided a welcoming, child-friendly space for children in both short and long term situations. seeing clothes, backpacks and personal belongings in the room is a reminder that it is serving exactly the purpose it was created for.
To better meet the needs of the children who use the space, we recently replaced the original futon with a larger sectional featuring a pull-out mattress, creating a more comfortable place to rest. We also added a LEGO activity wall to engage children of various ages. These updates reflect the thoughtful evolution of our Lily Pad spaces over the past four years as we continue to learn and improve the space for every child.
Lily Pad #4: October 2022
Department of Social Services Pickens County, SC
July 2026 Room Refresh
October 2022 Room Installation
BEFORE: Old, uncomfortable furniture, harsh overhead lighting, disorganization and pallets under desks for sleeping.
AFTER: Clean, cozy and relaxing... "a soft place to land."
A warm and inviting space with a large, durable, machine washable rug.
A great space to do homework or to color, and it includes a 3 in 1 sound machine, nightlight, and air purifier.
Functional seating that doubles as a bed.
A TV, gaming console, games and other fun things for kids to do as they wait.
Calm lighting was a high priority for this space.
A cozy corner to curl up with a book or play with some dolls.
Coloring supplies and toys.
A book nook with a rocking chair and weighted blankets provides sensory support.
A place to inspire the imagination.
A soft place to land.
This sign was made by Samantha Cook at Sugar and Spice Woodworking. If you would like to view her Etsy shop, click on the above photo.
Wren Highschool's FCCLA Organization