Close to 90 volunteers helped paint at six shelters across the Portland Metro area

Now in its ninth year, Painting a Better Tomorrow (PBT) is a joint effort of the home building community and the generosity of Miller Paint and Rodda Paint. “It’s great to see competitors joining together for a worthy cause,” said Ken Cowdery, Executive Director of the HBF. “Painting a Better Tomorrow brightens the lives of shelter residents and demonstrates the commitment the HBA has to our community.” “Volunteers at Work” signs were visible around the Portland Metro area on Saturday, March 7st, from inner SE, to St. Johns, to even our first PBT site in McMinnville!

The Home Builders Foundation organized teams of volunteers at six local shelters where we were able to provide a much needed coat of paint for non-profit service providers that often have very small budgets for maintenance for their facilities. We are thankful for our volunteer professional paint contractors at each of the sites that help to oversee the teams and of course we are thankful for the generous paint and supply donations of our sponsors Miller Paint and Rodda Paint.  

This year, teams of HBF supporters will be spread across the Portland Metro area to brighten the walls of Boys & Girls Aid Safe Place Shelter in Hillsboro, Community of Hope shelter for women and children in St. Johns, New Avenues for Youth day center, Volunteers of America Family Relief Nursery, Youth Progress Mariposa program, and also a family shelter in McMinnville operated by Yamhill Community Action Partnership.

While these wonderful programs and their residents and staff benefit directly from this annual event, the volunteers leave with a deep sense of service well done for those who are truly in need. They are an inspiration to each other and to those they serve.

“The spirit is contagious as you work together to better someone’s environment knowing that, in your heart, it helps you much more than it helps them.  It is enriching to see the transformation, not just on the walls but on the faces of those who get to live in a ‘new’ space and know that people care and there is good in the world” says Lis Weller, Brand Manager at Rodda Paint who has volunteered for HBF’s Painting a Better Tomorrow program since it started and co-chairs the PBT committee with the help of Jesse Gann of Miller Paint.

Improving the lives of those who call a shelter “home” is what Painting a Better Tomorrow is all about. It’s an opportunity for volunteers from the home building community to use their skills, enjoy a great team building event, and give back to those in our community who need it most. Since its start in 2006, volunteers have given over 9000 hours of community service through the Painting a Better Tomorrow event. If you’re looking for a way give back, please contact HBF Project Manager Brenda Ketah for upcoming volunteer opportunities.