Volunteers Build Playground and Community Space at Samaritan Daytop Village Bronx Family Shelter as Part of Lowe’s Red Vest Day

Volunteers Build Playground and Community Space at Samaritan Daytop Village Bronx Family Shelter as Part of Lowe’s Red Vest Day

– Project is Part of Lowe’s Commitment to Deliver 10 Million Square Feet of Impact –

(BRONX, NEW YORK)— Lowe’s red vest associates from the Bronx and Westchester gave their time today to help support the development of a playground and community space at Gloria’s House Family Transitional Residence (Gloria’s House). Gloria’s House is a family shelter operated by Samaritan Daytop Village in partnership with the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS). The new playground and community space will transform the outdoor space from an empty lot into a vibrant gathering area that will benefit more than 325 families, including nearly 600 children, over the course of each year. Gloria’s House is named after Gloria Binkowitz, a former gala honoree and a now retired, longtime Samaritan Daytop Village staff member.

Samaritan and Lowe’s volunteers spent the day painting, assembling playground equipment, and installing picnic tables and benches. The renovation of the empty lot will be a huge benefit to children and families residing at the shelter. Access to safe and engaging outdoor spaces is essential for the emotional well-being, physical activity, and social connection of children, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Samaritan Daytop Village was selected as a Lowe’s Hometowns project, one of 100 community-nominated, large-scale renovations that will revitalize nonprofit and community spaces serving as hubs and heartbeats for hometowns. Lowe’s Hometowns is the company’s five-year, $100 million commitment to renovate and rebuild community spaces nationwide. Samaritan Daytop Foundation, the fundraising arm of Samaritan Daytop Village, played a key role in securing funding for this project through the leadership of its Board Chair, Colleen Taylor.

“At Samaritan Daytop Village, we strive to provide families with a sense of stability, especially during times of uncertainty,” said Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village. “Thanks to Lowe’s, families at Gloria’s House will now have a place where they can relax and spend time together, and where kids can experience the joy of just being kids.”

Samaritan Daytop Village operates a network of transitional housing programs across New York City, serving families and individuals working toward permanent housing. Each year, the organization helps more than 800 New Yorkers secure affordable, long-term housing.

Earlier this year, Lowe’s announced a promise to deliver 10 million square feet of impact to capture the immeasurable difference made when Lowe’s shows up to help, including through initiatives like Lowe’s Hometowns. With help from Lowe’s red vest associates, Lowe’s Hometowns projects will expand kitchen and serving capacity for food pantries, restore dignity to well-used transitional housing facilities, revitalize parks and gardens for neighbors to safely gather and build restorative spaces for first responders to rest between calls.

ABOUT LOWE’S HOMETOWNS:
This year, Lowe’s made a commitment to deliver 10 million square feet of impact in communities nationwide, measuring all the ways the company helps each year foot by foot. As a part of this commitment, Lowe’s is driving measurable impact through Lowe’s Hometowns, the company’s five-year, $100 million initiative that powers 100 large-scale community renovations annually, alongside 1,700 associate-led efforts. From neighborhood parks to food pantries, these projects renovate and revitalize spaces that serve as hubs and heartbeats for hometowns – and each project will now be measured as part of Lowe’s 10 million-square-foot goal.

Projects are slated to be completed by the end of 2025. Visit Lowes.com/hometowns and follow #HowLowesHelps on social media for progress on projects nationwide.

ABOUT SAMARITAN DAYTOP VILLAGE:
For 65 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers facing adversity. We are nationally recognized for our treatment of substance use disorder as well as for the veteran-specific approach we pioneered. Our continuum of services includes health and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families, and seniors. Annually, Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 43,000 people at more than 80 programs throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

ABOUT SAMARITAN DAYTOP FOUNDATION:
Samaritan Daytop Foundation was created in 1979 as the fundraising, housing development, and real estate arm of Samaritan Daytop Village, and champions the mission of the organization to improve lives by helping people help themselves. Samaritan Daytop Foundation raises critical funds to help expand the vast array of programs and services, including housing and shelters, addiction, mental health, and employment programs, which collectively serve over 33,000 New Yorkers with person-centered care each year.

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