Kaiser Permanente Riverside County leaders and volunteers joined a team of more than 60 volunteers to revitalize Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service, a nonprofit community center in Riverside that serves families in need. Volunteers painted and refreshed community spaces, organized donated clothing and supplies, added storage solutions and shelving and improved outdoor areas throughout the center.
Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service provides food, clothing, diapers, educational programs and support services for local families. Since 1957, the organization has helped residents meet immediate needs while fostering personal growth and community connection.
The project was organized by Kaiser Permanente’s National Facility Design and Construction Services team, which selects a deserving nonprofit each year to receive facility and space enhancements that support its mission and expand its impact.
“For Kaiser Permanente, health starts long before anyone enters our medical centers. It starts where our families live, gather and find support,” said Sammy Totah, senior vice president and area manager of Kaiser Permanente Riverside County. “That’s why this partnership matters. Together with our partners, we are helping improve a space that serves our neighbors every day. We are grateful and proud to be a part of this important effort.”
For the past 17 years, the team has led similar efforts across California and brought this year's project to Riverside in partnership with construction company Hensel Phelps, which has completed multiple large-scale projects in the county. Kaiser Permanente Riverside worked with community volunteer program Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful to select Casa Blanca for this year’s project.
“We are deeply grateful to Kaiser Permanente, Hensel Phelps and every volunteer who gave their time to Casa Blanca and the families that we serve,” said Jerry Pulido, executive director of Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service. “Their work made our spaces brighter, and it was so much more than a fresh coat of paint. It’s a reminder that our community sees our work and wants us to continue.”
The one-day project strengthened the nonprofit’s ability to serve local families by improving community spaces, expanding capacity for the programs and resources local families rely on throughout the year.