Helping the Homeless- Rachael's Womens Center

Every year, each Long and Foster office shuts down for one day and everyone goes out to do Community Service. My office, Long and Foster Foxhall, usually focuses on something housing related. This year we used the day to volunteer at Rachael's Womens Center, an organization that provides homeless women a structured place to hang out, have meals, and get the support they need to get back on their feet. Racheals is located on 11th street just southeast of Logan Circle, in a huge house that, unfortunately, has seen better days. The interior of the house has all of the original moldings, dark wooden doors, and hardwood floors, but the organization doesn't have the cash flow to keep the place in good condition. Today our focus was painting the upstairs library (I worked on this project, transforming the room from a burnt orange to a pretty light green seafoam color), painting the kitchen (from a dusty rose to a light buttery yellow) and painting a mural of the Biblical Story of Rachael on the back fence to make the backyard a more fun and inviting space. DC is plagued by thousands of Homeless, and it was very rewarding to spend a day making a small difference.

For more information please visit http://www.rachaels.org/

**Click on "wish list" to get a list of every day household items that the house is in need of, I know I will be cleaning out my linen closet to drop off some towels, hotel toilettries, and such.