As you’ll read in this month’s issue of Building Hope, we’re launching our Builders for Babies initiative, an annual effort to collect diapers and wipes for our nonprofit partners serving families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. While this effort may be familiar, our goal for 2025 is unprecedented: we’re shooting for the moon, with a goal of one million diapers and wipes collected by Father’s Day, far surpassing previous years. We are setting our sights high because the need is urgent. One in two families struggle with diaper insecurity, and in our region, the average annual cost of diapering a baby is $1,200. Unfortunately, diapers and wipes can’t be purchased with government supplemental financial programs forcing many young families to have to make heart-rending decisions, such as whether to pay rent, fill a prescription, or purchase diapers. Some parents resort to reusing diapers, putting their child’s health and well-being at risk.
HomeAid’s approach is simple: if one of our nonprofit partners requests diapers for the families they serve , they get them-no barriers, no red tape. There are no hoops to jump through, because we believe that diapering our babies shouldn’t be hard for parents. The need in our communities is enormous, and our ability to make change for our tiniest neighbors is in our hands. One million diapers and wipes is an ambitious goal, but we’re determined to be part of the solution. Please join us in making a difference for the youngest members of our community by hosting a collection and/or purchasing diapers online!
With gratitude,
Our Annual Builders & Friends BBQ brings together our region’s top builders, trade partners, and other industry leaders to celebrate our collaborative and mission-building work. This year, we can’t wait to see you on June 26, 2025, from 3:30-6:30pm at the National Botanic Garden in South Riding, VA! In addition to top-rate networking opportunities, we’ll welcome you with delicious food from Mission BBQ, craft beer, cornhole games, ice cream from C&C Frozen Treats, and live music from the Liberty Street Band.
Presented by Buhl Electric Co., Inc., tickets are $75 per person, with a wide range of sponsorship opportunities available that include up to eight registrations for the event. Find out more and make plans to be there – you won’t want to miss the summer’s best opportunity for making new connections and renewing partnerships!
For any Builder Captain or Trade Partner who volunteered on a HomeAid project between June 2024 and June 2025, you are also eligible for TWO FREE tickets to the event; please contact Tammy Glasser for reservation details.
On Mother’s Day (May 11), we’ll kick off Builders for Babies 2025, when we start collecting diapers and wipes for dozens of local nonprofits who serve families with young children. This year, we have one wild and beautiful goal: To collect ONE MILLION diapers and wipes for 50 local nonprofits before the collection concludes on Father’s Day (June 15). Yes, you heard that right: One million products for 50 of our nonprofit partners.
How will we do it? Same way we always do by encouraging supporters like you to make an online donation, purchase diapers and wipes, and/or serve as a collection site! It’s never been more important, as prices rise and government assistance programs are at risk. While programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are not yet impacted, diapers and wipes cannot be purchased using either program. So, this is where YOU come in.
Share Diaper Drive information on social media or print and share our flyer and QR code.
Host Donation Site Sign up to collect donations of diapers and wipes at your office, church, business, etc.
Purchase items online– with options ranging from a case of diapers or wipes to entire pallets!
Download our Diaper Drive flyer and email it to 10 friends
Volunteer to help sort, count, pack, and deliver diapers and wipes to our nonprofit partners. Email tglasser@homeaidncr.org for more information.
Help make this year our biggest diaper collection yet by donating generously, spreading the word, and encouraging friends and family to contribute! Together, we can support more families in need than ever before.
Attention Nonprofits! If you would like to be included in our diapers and wipes distribution network, please complete our Diaper Request Form.
NVBIA’s Future Leaders and HomeAid National Capital Region are organizing a Care Day, a hands-on service day during which volunteers give back to local HomeAid nonprofit partners. The Care Day will be held on May 1st from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, and NVBIA Future Leader members will be tasked with providing yardwork at affordable housing properties owned by Cornerstones, a local organization that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter and affordable housing. After the service project, volunteers can unwind and connect during happy hour at Aslin Beer Company in Herndon.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves, rakes, hand shovels, and gardening shears. A suggested $20 donation per person will help cover additional supplies—donations can be made through HomeAid’s website.
Register now on NVBIA’s website to get assigned to a team and receive the meeting location for the service project.
RC Enterprises, which specializes in residential interior trim and custom cabinets, has participated in six HomeAid projects since 2010, most recently installing wall-to-wall, custom built-in bookshelves at a townhome for nonprofit partner Second Story for Young Mothers. Owner Keith Raymond has worked with us every step of the way, and today we learned a little bit more about what these projects mean to him and his company.
Q: What has inspired RC Enterprises to keep saying “yes!” to HomeAid?
A: We have had the privilege of working with many builders over the years, many of whom have served – and continue to serve – as Builder Captains on HomeAid projects. We’ve always been grateful when they ask us to participate as a Trade Partner, as we very much appreciate the chance to work on great projects with our builder and trade partners and give back.
Q: If another Trade Partner is considered getting involved with and supporting HomeAid, what would you tell them about your experience?
A: I would absolutely encourage other Trade Partners to volunteer to help these projects. HomeAid offers a great opportunity to help in your local community and work with other trades in a really unique way. It’s a normally very competitive industry, and HomeAid projects are unique in that they give us all a chance to give back and work together in a really meaningful way.
Q: What do you feel your work provides to our nonprofit partners and the families we help serve? A: HomeAid projects give us the opportunity to put a true personal touch in a family’s home, whether that’s through custom built-ins, play areas, or anything else a current or future family will need as they recover and relaunch in their new home. It’s a privilege to work with HomeAid.
Caring Through Volunteering
Recently HomeAid teamed up with Beazer Homes for a Care Day supporting Catholic Charities. Volunteers spent the morning stocking and organizing the food pantry, making it easier for clients to access fresh produce, dairy, meat, cereal, canned vegetables, rice, beans, and other essentials. A huge thank you to Beazer Homes for launching an inaugural company-wide Day of Service. HomeAid was proud to be part of it!
HomeAid’s Home Essentials Program: Providing Comfort & Support Year-Round
At the end of every year, HomeAid hosts our Home Essentials program, in which companies and individuals collect essential household items such as cleaning supplies, bedding, towels, and cookware for our nonprofit partners serving those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These items are then used throughout the year to put the final touches on our projects and to support families and individuals moving into housing.
Over the last three months, 219 donated items with a retail value of $3,973 were distributed to three of our nonprofit partners – The Lamb Center, Second Story, and St. John’s Community Services.
Thank you to everyone who donated and collected items for this important program—we are putting your donations to good use!
Leadership in Action: Representing HomeAid National Capital Region at the National Leadership Conference
Our CEO Kristyn Burr, VP of Fundraising and Communications Courtney Bishop, and Construction Program Director Erica Simpson attended the HomeAid 2025 National Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City, UT, last month. Kristyn co-led a session on Executive Coaching 101 and facilitated a meeting with other Executive Directors focused on ongoing collaboration and feedback between HomeAid Affiliates and HomeAid America. All three participated in a wide range of networking and educational sessions, including a tour of a master-planned community for people coming out of chronic homelessness in Utah. HomeAid is made up of 20 affiliates across the United States.
Builders for Babies Diaper Drive
Mother’s Day (May 11) through Father’s Day (June 15), 2025
Diaper and Wipe Deliver Day June 20, 2025
Builders & Friends BBQ
Thursday, June 26, 2024, 3:30-6:30 pm
National Botanic Garden
26320 Ticonderoga Road
South Riding, VA, 20152
