Building Futures relies on community volunteers to contribute their personal time, effort, and care in support of our families and their housing. We work with both groups of volunteers and individuals.

Fixing up Daffodil House for new residents is our top priority right now. Groups of volunteers have helped remove old carpeting and tiles, damaged drywall, and old appliances, patched holes in walls, painted hallways and stairwells, and performed other tasks. The progress is showing! Special thanks to volunteers from these organizations:

• Fannie Mae (ERG and HIV/AIDS Committees)
• Greater DC Cares through its annual Servathon
• Yachad DC (and Congregation Beth-El in Bethesda)

The Junior League of Washington just completed this school year’s Study Buddies program for the kids living at Sunflower House. Their volunteers work with kids to complete their homework, improve their reading and literacy skills, and create activities that help our kids learn while having fun too! Thank you, JLers!

Sometimes, volunteers assist with special projects on a one-time basis. In fall 2008, two groups of volunteers, from Greater DC Cares/AAMC and NetSAP-DC helped undertake two ambitious landscaping projects, one at Sunflower House and one at Marigold Place. We created a beautiful shady meditation garden with a flagstone patio in an underutilized side yard at Sunflower House and completely transformed the yard along the streets at Marigold Place, planting a tree, shrubs, perennial flowers, and other plants. We can’t wait for spring to come and for our new outdoor refuge from the summer heat. Thank you, volunteers!