Twin Cities Live to Air “Office Makeover” of Salvation Army Youth Worker

Want to see something heartwarming? Then watch Twin Cities Live today, June 4, at 3 p.m. or 8 p.m. and witness the reaction of Salvation Army youth worker Antwan Flowers after volunteers surprise him with a complete makeover of his office in inner-city St. Paul. (To view photos, click here.)

Flowers is the youth director at the Payne Ave. Salvation Army. When it comes to mentoring inner-city youth, he is arguably the most dedicated man you will ever meet.

“Once we tried to give him a raise, but he wouldn’t take it,” said Captain John Joyner, administrator of the Payne Ave. Salvation Army. “He told us to use the money on the kids.”

To recognize Flowers’ service, nine Salvation Army volunteers spent Monday and Tuesday redecorating his office while he was away in Chicago. He returned to his office Tuesday night and couldn’t even recognize the place. Once in disrepair, the room suddenly was alive with bright yellow walls, freshly-painted furniture, framed photos everywhere, new drapes and more.

“This is beyond comprehension,” he said while walking through the door, just before dozens of friends, co-workers and volunteers hiding in an adjacent room jumped out and surprised him. “The kids are going to love this.”

In addition to the volunteers, the makeover was made possible by Target Corp.($2,500 for supplies) and by Julie Scharnhorst, who volunteered more than 100 hours of design services.

The show is scheduled to air at 3 p.m. on KSTP-TV Channel 5, and at 8 p.m. on KSTC-TV Channel 45. Watch the video here.

For more information about Twin Cities Live, click here.