Missouri woman helped decorate White House

A Northwest Missouri woman was one 200 volunteers from across the nation selected to decorate the White House this year. Cindy Roy of Trenton was selected out of more than 6,000 that applied.

Cindy Roy from Trenton, MO. (Facebook)

She first heard about the opportunity when a former White House intern visited her during his winter break from college last year. Roy applied in September with her sister and friend and was chosen in October though her sister and friend did not make the cut.

“It was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and it would be rude to not accept an invitation from the first lady,” Roy says.

Roy says the selected volunteers were split into two groups with one helping with Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, and the other helped after. She was in the group that helped decorate after Thanksgiving from November 23rd to 25th.

She and her husband flew to Washington, D. C. on Thanksgiving Day. All volunteers were responsible for their own travel arrangements and lodging.

Roy says a decorating plan was designed before the volunteers arrived.

“They had a very definite plan as far as what needed to be done with each tree and each room of the White House in the West Wing,” Roy says. “As volunteers, we just show up and they lead us in the right direction.”

Roy was one of only six volunteers who was also allowed to decorate the Oval Office.

Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton, Roy will share her experience in a presentation at 9 a.m in the sanctuary.