One room features a ceiling fan, a wood armoire and a four-post double bed topped with gold throw pillows.

Another room features a white crib, antique chest and mirror, area rugs and a comfy chair where someone can read or rock baby to sleep.

However, it will be a few months before anyone can stay in these or other rooms at the Salvation Army shelter, 615 S. Main. Salvation Army Major Daniel Birks said the charity still needs to raise $75,000 to open.

“The $75,000 will give us the opportunity to hire staff, buy food and pay for utilities until Oct. 1, the new fiscal year,” Birks said. “Then we will need another $150,000 a year to operate.”

The Salvation Army closed its shelter in June 2004 after owing more than $100,000 to Salvation Army headquarters, utility companies and local suppliers. At the time, officials attributed the debt to lagging financial support and increased community needs.

Reopening the shelter became one of Birks’ top priorities when he came to the Muskogee Salvation Army last October. In December, he asked churches, civic organizations and businesses to “adopt” a room to refurbish and furnish.

Since then, churches, groups, even some individuals have adopted all the rooms, Birks said, adding that groups were free to paint, re-floor and furnish rooms however they wanted.

Some groups already have converted their rooms into something one would find in a Parade of Homes. Others took a more simple approach.

“They’re nice, encouraging rooms,” Birks said. “A person can walk in and feel comforted.”

Members of the First Presbyterian Church Women’s Association furnished the room with the crib.

“In our church we talked among members of our Women’s Association that instead of sending money to foreign countries, we decided to do something local,” association president Marilyn Stout said. “This put us more in touch with the community.”

She said some group members went to the shelter to prime and paint the room. Others donated furniture, bedding, even grooming goods, a Bible and inspirational books.

“Some of us went together and bought a crib,” she said. “We probably had 30 women help. Some donated, probably six or seven physically went down there and painted the room.”

Stout said the project was spread out over a couple of weeks.

“I think it really looks comfortable for someone,” she said.