LINDON — The State Developmental Center was short on staff. There were 64 mentally impaired children in need of care, and Debbie Woodward was an intern.

Yet amid the chaos, Woodward said, the kids seemed to understand the situation.

Later that night, as she was holding and rocking a 7-year-old boy to sleep, he looked up at her and said, "Thanks for taking care of me."

At that moment, 27 years ago, Woodward knew she wanted to pursue a career helping those with cognitive impairments.

"I just fell in love with them," she said. "It doesn't matter how many bad moments you have. It's the small moments that make a big difference."

Now, Woodward is the faculty administrator at the Lindon Care Center — home to 66 mentally impaired individuals ages 11 to 69.

The center is one of seven in Utah that provides work programs and training for residents, many of whom have jobs in the community.

On Thursday, about 100 volunteers showed their appreciation to the facility.

Keller Williams Realty teamed up with Utah Valley University's Start Something Beautiful program to remodel the Lindon center. Keller Williams was celebrating its first Renew, Energize and Donate Day in honor of Vice Chairman Mo Anderson, whose focus has always been to help improve people's lives, said Realtor Dean Crandall.

Roughly 78,000 Keller Williams agents throughout the nation did service projects Thursday.

Fifty agents from the Utah County branch and about 50 UVU volunteers spent the day painting the interior and exterior of the Lindon center, putting in new flooring and laying sod. Companies in the community donated time and supplies, including 100,000 square feet of sod.

"I was so overwhelmed with how many people came and how fast they got things going," Woodward said.

Kristy Gunnell, a Start Something Beautiful member who helped organize the event, said she has a passion for serving these individuals, especially since her son is mentally impaired.

"There are not a lot of people who take care of the mentally needy when they get older," Gunnell said. "We all need to give back and empower people to give back."

Jeanette Herbert, the wife of Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and an honorary member of Start Something Beautiful, got her shoes covered in mud while preparing sod to be laid. Herbert said she was reminded of something her mother told her: "Many hands make light work."

"We don't need government to do everything for us," she said. "We can do something for ourselves and our community."

The residents were not at home during the remodel, but they met the volunteers at the park afterward for a picnic and movie.

Then they returned to a remodeled building.

"This is going to improve their lives tremendously," Woodward said. "It's like Christmas all over again."

E-mail: slenz@desnews.com