Danny Huggler, a 15-year-old resident at the Florence Crittenton Home, no longer has to worry about her 9-month-old son Rodney getting his tiny fingers cut by deteriorating cabinets or curiously flipping the garbage-disposal switch that used to be within toddler reach.

Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation, the kitchen at the facility, which provides a home and services to teenage mothers, got a complete overhaul.

“It’s awesome,” Huggler said as she stirred chocolate chip cookie batter at the new island in the kitchen. “It creates a safer, cleaner environment for our kids.”

The kitchen endured some serious wear and tear over the past 12 years of constant use by the residents who live at the home and the staff members who give the girls cooking lessons.

“The heart of our home is the kitchen,” said Kellie Goodwin McBride, home development officer. “Any time of day, you’ll find girls in there.”

The improvements, completed by Revitalize Construction and Restoration, are environmentally conscious, complete with all new Energy Star appliances, paints with no volatile organic compounds (chemicals found in paints that create toxic indoor air quality), cabinets made from sustainable-sourced birch wood and antimicrobial Corian countertops.

Neil Patterson with Revitalize Construction said the kitchen was badly in need of some improvements when he first saw it.

“I could tell they tried to do some repairs, but (the cabinets) were pretty much at the end of their life,” Patterson said.

Genny Sam, 16, has lived at Florence Crittenton for the past 10 months and welcomed the remodel.

“I really like it a lot better than the old kitchen,” Sam said.

The job was completed quickly — 17 days from start to finish.

“They needed a place to cook and feed,” Patterson said. “It’s such a central part of the residence, so as soon as we could get in and get done the better for them.”

Not only does the kitchen serve as a place to learn about meal planning, nutrition, and food preparations, McBride said many times the space also serves as a site for impromptu therapy sessions.

It’s easy to talk and visit while preparing meals, she said.

The remodeled kitchen would have been an unrealistic goal during these tough economic times, Barbara Burton, executive director of the home said.

“It’s such a wonderful gift,” Burton said. “But at the same time it seems surreal. In these hard economic times, it is difficult just to pay the heating bill and staff salaries every month, and here we are getting a beautiful, environmentally friendly kitchen.”

Marci Williams, special events coordinator, said the home needs to raise $700,000 every year to keep the doors open.

“We still need money,” she said.

The home’s largest annual fundraiser, “Paint the Town Pink,” helps to cover some of those operational costs, and this year’s event is set for Jan. 24.

The theme this year is “No place like home: A twist on Oz” and includes an adventure in the Emerald City with dinner, wine, live music and an auction.

Burton says the theme ties into Florence Crittenton’s philosophy of creating a secure home where teen moms learn to bond with their babies and form healthy attachments.

The Broadway play “Wicked” is the inspiration for the event and attendees have a chance to win a raffle to see the show in New York City, airfare included.

Tickets are $100 a seat and $750 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets or get more information call Angela Azure at 442-6950 or http://www.twistonoz.com

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com