My Happy Place Watertown

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My Happy Place Watertown

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My Happy Place - Creating joyful spaces for the well-being of those with a serious health diagnosis. We simply call it, “my happy place”.

Who we are:
My Happy Place is a 501(c)3 organization comprised of passionate volunteers whose intention is to create healing environments for individuals who are struggling with a serious health issue. A “healing environment” is often defined as one that has a nurturing and therapeutic effect. For the person on a serious health journey, a healing environment can help to lower stress and anxiety, reduce pain, accelerate recovery and promote a sense of well – being. My Happy Place does all that, and more. Often times, the news that the individual is going to have a “happy place” created for them, is the first good news they’ve received since their diagnosis. This gives them something to look forward to other than focusing on their illness. We work closely with the recipient to design and personalize the selected space at their home that will provide the most benefit. We will create a place that embodies soothing colors, cleanliness, sounds, scents and visual stimuli. We use specially curated items that will provide comfort, resulting in a new space that will help to strengthen their ability to cope and recover.

10/21/2026

🏡KAILA'S HAPPY PLACE MAKEOVER AND REVEAL IS COMPLETE!! 🏡

Kaila was nominated for a My Happy Place makeover by her mom in the midst of navigating the challenges of a cervical cancer diagnosis. 💗 We wanted to create a space where she could relax, find comfort, and enjoy precious time with her son Brantley, as well as family and friends.

It all started with a single wall hanging featuring Philippians 4:13 and Kaila’s love for natural colors, plants, and the desire for a warm, cozy atmosphere. 🌿🤎 The goal was a living room that feels peaceful, comfortable, and uniquely hers!

We’re so grateful to the local businesses and generous donors who helped bring this vision to life. Slumberland provided a discount on the beautiful sectional, Active Heating donated the TV, and donor funds allowed us to purchase decor both locally and online to complete the space. Her childhood friend Madison showed up for the reveal and contributed games and snacks too!

To every volunteer who gave their time, every business that stepped up, and every donor who believes in our mission — THANK YOU! ❤️ Your generosity allows My Happy Place to bring comfort, joy, and a little extra love to individuals facing some of life’s hardest challenges.

THANK YOU:
Slumberland Furniture (Danielle and Heather)- generously discounted sectional
Active Heating- donated TV and wall mount
Quality Inn and Suites (Jodi Penrod)- donated hotel room
Wheel Inn (Sara Horning)- family meal voucher
AMJ Style (Michelle Wadsworth)- donated reveal outfit and jewelry
Salon Lux (Renee Graf and Brittany Wollschlager)- donated head spa and style appointment
Watertown Carpet and Upholstery (Nathan Thomas)- donated carpet cleaning
Larry's Lumber (Derek and Greg)- furniture delivery
Ken Meyer- handyman duties
Whispering Winds Photography (Wendy Weelborg)- complimentary shoot
My Happy Place (Trisha Rieffenberger)- design and assembly

10/20/2026

💗 Sometimes the blessing is in the people who simply show up! 📸

A special thank-you to Wendy Weelborg from Whispering Winds Photography for reaching out and volunteering to capture Kaila’s My Happy Place living room makeover reveal!

Wendy, it means so much when someone takes the initiative to offer their time and talents to make a difference in someone else’s life. Kaila has been navigating so much through her cancer journey, and being able to capture the joy and emotion of this special day is such a gift. These are the moments we want her to remember — the love, the surprises, and the people who showed up for her. 💕

Thank you, Wendy, for your kind heart and for helping us preserve these memories for Kaila and her family. We are so grateful to have you be part of her My Happy Place story! 🏡✨

This is what community is all about! 💗

10/19/2026

💗 A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way! 💗

A huge thank you to Renee and Brittany, owners of Salon Lux, for donating a head spa experience and style for Kaila as part of her My Happy Place living room makeover! ✨

Bri shared her time and talents to give Kaila some much-needed relaxation, help soothe her dry scalp, and provide a little extra TLC as she navigates cancer treatment. 💆‍♀️💕

Sometimes, it’s the little moments of self-care that make the biggest difference. We are so grateful for local businesses like Salon Lux who go above and beyond to support others and help us make our mission possible.

Thank you for helping Kaila feel relaxed, pampered, and beautiful! 🩷

10/18/2026

📺💗 A BIG THANK YOU TO ACTIVE HEATING! 💗📺

We are so grateful to Active Heating for donating a TV to help make Kaila’s My Happy Place living room makeover extra special! 🏡✨

Active Heating has a BIG heart for our community, consistently showing up to support breast cancer initiatives and individuals navigating the challenges of other cancers. Their generosity makes a difference in so many lives, and we are honored to have them join us in bringing a little extra happiness to Kaila and her family.

To make this donation even more meaningful, Active Heating is also where Kaila’s boyfriend Mason works! 💗 What a beautiful example of a company supporting not only its community but also its own people.

Thank you, Active Heating, for your unwavering support, compassion, and commitment to making a difference. We are so lucky to have businesses like you standing alongside My Happy Place to remind people facing cancer that they are loved, supported, and never alone. 💗

10/17/2026

A BIG THANK YOU to Watertown Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning!

Sometimes, it’s the behind-the-scenes acts of kindness that make the biggest difference! 🏡✨

A huge thank-you to Watertown Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning for stepping up to clean the carpets in Kaila’s apartment as we prepare for her My Happy Place living room makeover!

It’s because of local small businesses who are willing to give their time, services, and support that we’re able to carry out our mission of creating beautiful, comforting spaces for people facing serious health challenges. 💗

We are so grateful to have community partners who remind us that kindness is alive and well in Watertown!

Thank you for being part of Kaila’s journey and helping us make her space a little brighter. 🫶

10/14/2026

✨ Helping Kaila Feel Beautiful on Her Big Day! ✨

A huge thank you to Michelle Wadsworth from AMJ Style for helping make Kaila’s upcoming My Happy Place reveal extra special! 💕

As we transform the living room of this young mom battling cervical cancer, Michelle stepped in to make sure Kaila felt just as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. She styled Kaila with a new outfit and jewelry for her big reveal, giving her one more reason to smile on a day all about her! ❤️

We are so grateful for community members like Michelle who use their talents and generosity to remind our recipients how loved and special they are.

Thank you, Michelle, for helping us make Kaila’s My Happy Place truly unforgettable! ✨🏡

09/30/2026

💛 GOOD NEWS FOR KAILA! 💛

We’re so excited to share that Kaila recently received the news we’ve all been hoping for — her tumor is SHRINKING! 🙌✨

She still has a long road ahead, but this is a beautiful step in the right direction, and we couldn’t be happier for Kaila and her 4-year-old son.

And now, her My Happy Place is in the planning phase, but we still need donations to make it a reality! 🏡💛✨ Want to be part of Kaila’s My Happy Place? Donate TODAY using this secure link: https://myhappyplaces.org/donations/donate-to-kailas-room-makeover/

We’re working hard to transform their living room into a cozy space where they can rest, make memories and find a little comfort during this difficult season. Every dollar gets us one step closer to creating a space filled with comfort, hope and love.

Let’s show Kaila what happens when a community comes together. 💛🏡 Help us make Kaila’s Happy Place a reality!

09/15/2026

MEET KAILA — OUR NEXT MY HAPPY PLACE RECIPIENT

At just 22 years old, Kaila Sholes is facing a battle she never imagined she would have to fight. Kaila is a young mom to her 4-year-old son, and in the middle of May 2026, her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

“I never thought I would get cancer, but I guess you never see it coming.”

After traveling to Rochester to explore her options, Kaila received another heartbreaking piece of news. Because of her cancer and treatment, she will not be able to carry another child. Her doctors have taken steps to preserve the possibility of having another child someday through surrogacy — something that remains an important dream for Kaila.

As if a cancer diagnosis wasn't enough, Kaila has also had to leave her job. The physical demands of standing for long hours caused significant pain around her tumor, making it impossible for her to continue working while fighting this disease.

On August 31, 2026, Kaila began chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. And already, the treatments are taking a toll. There are some okay moments, but many days are simply hard. Really hard. Sometimes family and friends check in and Kaila doesn't even know what to say. Sometimes she just wants to sleep because, for a little while, she doesn't have to feel so sick.

This is where My Happy Place comes in.

Home should be a place of comfort. A place to rest. A place to escape the weight of the world for a little while. A place where a young mom and her little boy can curl up together, laugh, make memories and simply be together. We want to give Kaila and her son a living room makeover that creates exactly that — a beautiful, cozy space that feels like their happy place during an incredibly difficult season of life.

At My Happy Place, we may not be able to take away someone's cancer, but we can surround them with love, kindness and a reminder that they don't have to walk through it alone. Together, we can turn a living room into a place filled with comfort, hope and beautiful memories.

My Happy Place functions solely on donations and volunteers. You can easily donate using this link: https://myhappyplaces.org/donations/donate-to-kailas-room-makeover/

If you feel moved to volunteer or have resources that could be helpful in this project, please reach out to our local Director, Trisha K. Rieffenberger at [email protected] or message My Happy Place - Watertown on Facebook.

Welcome to My Happy Place, Kaila. We are so honored to be part of your story. 🏡

08/05/2026

Drumroll..... AND the moment you've all been waiting for... The REVEAL!

Last December, Dawn's world changed with a cancer diagnosis. As she began navigating treatments, fatigue, and the many challenges that come with cancer, one thing she missed most was spending time outside with the people she loves.

Her daughter, Jessica, knew how much those moments meant to her, so she nominated her mom for a My Happy Place project.

From that moment on, an incredible journey began.

One by one, our community stepped forward. Family, friends, and strangers donated towards the project. Businesses provided materials. Volunteers gave their time, talents, and hearts. Servant leaders worked side by side with one shared purpose—to create a place where Dawn could find peace, comfort, and joy during one of the hardest seasons of her life.

Last weekend, what was once just a backyard has become so much more.

It is a place where grandchildren will laugh around the fire, conversations will linger under the gazebo, and memories will be made for years to come. Thoughtfully designed with low-maintenance landscaping, a few of her sentimental ornaments, and artificial greenery, this space allows Dawn to enjoy the outdoors she loves without the physical burden of keeping it up.

This project was never just about building a beautiful backyard. It was about reminding Dawn that she is not walking this journey alone. It was about giving hope, creating moments of peace, and showing what can happen when a community chooses compassion.

To every donor, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who made this dream possible—thank you. Your generosity has given Dawn more than an outdoor space. You have given her a place to breathe, to gather, to heal, and to make priceless memories with the people she loves most.

This is what My Happy Place is all about.

THANK YOU TO OUR Volunteers:
Jordan Splide, and wife Andrea- Spilde Construction
Matt Moyer- Moyer Construction
Brett Blank, Dan Sauer, Sam and Greg Rieffenberger- construction/landscaping volunteers
Josh Welder- Welder Electric
Keith and Ryder Rieffenberger- furniture assembly
Trisha Rieffenberger- coordination, planning, labor and decorating
Rachel Hauck and Jill Pownell (MHP Board Members)- reveal preparation
Alli Pratt- Apodo Photography

THANK YOU for the Donations/Discounts:
Mark Walsh- MJ Walsh- rock delivery
Duininck- landscape rock
Tree Farm- tall grasses
AMJ Style/Michelle Wadsworth- Dawn’s outfit
Angela Laframboise- S’mores kit
Project supplies purchased from donations at Wayfair, Menards, Hobby Lobby, and Target

08/03/2026

💜🩵Dawn’s My Happy Place reveal was a HUGE success! 🩵💜

We can’t wait to share the amazing photos captured by Alli Pratt of Apodo Photography! 📸

Projects like this are only possible because of the incredible generosity of our community. We are so grateful for everyone who gives their time, talents, and resources to help make these special moments happen.

A huge THANK YOU to Alli for sharing your time and photography talents with My Happy Place and helping us capture memories that Dawn and her family will cherish forever. 🩵💜

Stay tuned for the incredible reveal photos of Dawn’s outdoor space! Oh, and can we get a 👍 for Alli’s adorable baby bump?

Address

PO Box 1281
Watertown, SD
57201

Website

https://myhappyplaces.org/watertown-sd/

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