As the summer sun began to fade and the back-to-school season approached, we launched two heartwarming initiatives that brought us all closer to our communities and supported important causes. Our recent school supply drives in Texas, carried out in partnership with Star of Hope in Houston and the other with Partnerships for Children in Austin, have left us inspired and grateful. Read on to learn more about how our team has succeeded in giving back to communities that have given us so much.

Spreading the Word and Sharing the Love

It takes a team to achieve a dream, and that couldn’t be truer in these cases. At the start of our initiatives, we reached out to our homeowners, vendors, prospects, and realtors, inviting them to be a part of something meaningful. Spreading the word within our model homes and across our Texas communities, we encouraged people to join hands with us in supporting students in need.

Turning Generosity Into a Friendly Competition

Who doesn’t love a little competition? To add some extra excitement to our initiatives, we turned our school drives into contests among our communities. The challenge was simple: who could gather the most supplies and create the most impact? The response was nothing short of phenomenal.

From Model Homes to Office Walls: A Ripple Effect of Kindness

Our initiatives weren’t just confined to our communities. The spirit of giving spread to our office spaces as well. Our team didn’t hesitate to add their own donations to our growing piles of supplies.

The Impact of Small Acts of Kindness

Through the collective efforts of our team in Houston, we were able to donate about 200 items to support students in need with our contributions in Austin being just as successful. Items like notebooks, folders and pencils are simple items but can make a substantial difference in a student’s school life.

Our Continued Efforts of Give Back

Our partnerships with Star of Hope and Partnerships for Children are more than just one-time endeavors. They’re commitments to our communities and uplifting those around us. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who participated, donated, and spread the word. Your involvement has left an indelible mark on our communities and has shown that, when we come together with purpose, remarkable things happen.

Discover some of the other initiatives we’ve been a part of in support of our local communities, including our volunteer day at Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

While giving is often associated with the holidays, giving back to our community is something we prioritize and encourage all year long. With the help of our partners, employees, and volunteers, Empire Communities has been a proud sponsor of various charitable organizations in Atlanta that rely heavily on donations to not only survive, but thrive. Read on to learn more about our contributions to a community that gives us so much.

The Happy House may not be Empire Communities’ largest home underway in the Austin area right now, but it just might be the one with the biggest heart.

With just 190-square-feet of living space, Empire’s tiny home is being built in Community First! Village — a 51-acre community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Community First! Village is a development of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a social outreach ministry that has been serving the homeless in Central Texas for more than two decades.  

The appropriately named Happy House floor plan features a dining room, living room and sleeping area, with interior and exterior closets and a screened-in porch. Residents have access to a communal laundry area, restrooms and shower facilities, as well as outdoor kitchens, community gardens and more.

At Empire, there’s an underlying feeling of care that runs intentionally throughout our entire organization, driving what we do and how we do it. It’s present in all facets of the business, and is even reflected in our core values — by caring for our customers, having a caring attitude, building caring relationships and caring for excellence. We embrace everything that has potential to make a positive impact and strive to inspire others to do the same. With that said, Empire is as proud of our 190-square-foot Community First! Village home as we are of the much larger homes we’ve built in the Greater Austin area, just knowing that it’ll help someone in need.

The first phase of Community First! Village comprises 230 tiny, RV and park homes with Phase 2 — now under development — adding an additional 200 tiny houses, as well as 110 RV and park homes. Approximately 180 men and women found a home in the community’s first phase, with nearly 100 now moved into Phase 2. The average age of the community’s residents is 58, the majority of whom have spent approximately 10 years on the streets.

Offering affordable, permanent housing, Community First! Village also boasts features that encourage people to gather and build relationships. From the community’s outdoor movie screen and art house to the front porches of homes, the community is designed to help residents connect. Employment opportunities can be found within the village, and Capital Metro’s nearby bus stop makes it easy for residents to venture into the surrounding area for work and other needs. Genesis Gardens has farmland on the community’s grounds spanning more than ten acres, providing Community First! Village residents with fresh and free produce. An on-site clinic provides physical and mental health services, while a chapel, dog park, outdoor grill and hair salon are also at residents’ disposal. All homes are fully furnished when residents move in, and come with a fully stocked pantry and refrigerator.

HomeAid Austin and its participating builders work with trade partners to procure discounts and donations to help fund construction of homes, while the overall development of the community is funded through a variety of grants. Recent donations have helped the organization acquire another 127 acres — enough for 1,900 permanent homes across all phases.

There are a number of ways the public can support the mission of Community First! Village. Donations are welcome, as are volunteers. You can also shop artwork, handmade crafts and other items.

Learn more about Community First! Village here.

There are many local charities and organizations that rely heavily on community support to not only survive, but thrive. This is especially true during the holiday season, when residents are reminded to give back to those in need. 

Most people have more stuff laying around in their homes than they will ever get to use, so it’s good to make a habit of regularly auditing your closets or pantries to see what can be given a new life and what can be donated. While this may seem like an overwhelming task to undertake, we promise it isn’t as daunting as you think. Check out our guide so that you can become a master at decluttering.

Images courtesy of; Chron (HomeAide Houston); Austin Monthly (Austin Free Fridge Project); The Guardian (San Antonio Food Bank).

It’s the holiday season (a.k.a. the giving season), so what better time to give? We don’t mean gifts for family and friends, or for yourself — we’re talking about giving back to our communities, to those in need, and to causes that were created to effect change. To help you take some of the guesswork out of how or what to donate, and which charities to support, we’ve rounded up a list with information that touches on just that.

Now that you’ve got your gifts in order, we want to give you a little tip. As your holiday festivities draw nearer, gathering with family and friends doesn’t have to be so complicated to plan. If you’re responsible for hosting this year, read this one trick that’ll make your celebrations easier than ever.

Photos and videos courtesy of: Operation Christmas Child (Operation Christmas Child); The Salvation Army (Boys & Girls Club); Axios Charlotte (Second Harvest); The Wildest (Humane Society). 

The holiday season is a special time for many — it’s when families gather together to exchange gifts, and create special memories with the ones they love. It’s also the time of year when many are reminded to give. While monetary donations are the most common ways people choose to give back, there are many ways you can support those in need without spending any money. Sometimes, it’s the smallest gestures that make the biggest difference. If you’d like to give back to your community this holiday season, here are a few charities across Ontario you can support:

Thinking about donating your old stuff but just don’t know where to start? It can be overwhelming to fish out items you probably haven’t seen in quite some time, so here’s a guide to help you conquer decluttering.

Images courtesy of; Daily Bread Food Bank (Daily Bread Food Bank); The Toronto Observer (Community Fridges TO); Furniture Bank (Furniture Bank); Brantford Expositor (Brantford Food Bank); Will Power (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara);

Empire’s mission isn’t just to build beautiful and exceptional-quality homes, it’s also to invest in the communities that we grow in. This week, our team in Houston volunteered at Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children and families in need. Learn more about what the organization does, as well as how Empire contributed this month to helping them achieve their goals below.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers as well as donations to build, assemble and deliver top-notch bunk beds for children and families in need. In Houston and across the United States, they know all too well how many boys and girls go to sleep at night without a bed or even a pillow to rest their heads on. Without help from organizations like Sleep in Heavenly Peace, these individuals would be forced to sleep on couches, blankets and even floors — affecting not only their health, but their happiness too. With the help of volunteer groups like Empire, they’re one step closer to helping that many more people in need.

Thanks to Empire’s efforts, the team was able to build 30 beds for those living in the Houston area. But we can’t take credit for it all — without the help of our vendor partners who made monetary and material donations, none of this would have been possible. A special thank you to:

• Ironwood Connection
• Datasmart
• Allpoints Surveying Company
• DPIS Builder Services
• Wisenbaker Builder Services
• Builders First Source
• Scott Clements
• Tyler Jordan
• JP Hart Lumber Company

Empire has more volunteer days planned soon. Keep up with the latest news on the ways that we give back in our communities, and explore our homes across the Houston region.

Eight boys will soon have a home and a bedroom to call their own with the help of Empire Communities.

In partnership with HomeAid Houston, we’ve begun construction on a cottage on the campus of Boys and Girls Country in Hockley, Texas. The non-profit aims to change the lives of children in crisis.

We will be responsible for every construction stage of the 8,100-square-foot cottage that will house eight boys as well as teaching parents who will work with the boys. The cottage will include a full kitchen, a separate area for the teaching parents, a study, a large family room and eight bedrooms so that each boy has his own space.

‘Tis the season to spread cheer — and to give back to our community. Empire is proud to give back to the cities and towns we build in, and earlier this year, we partnered with HomeAid Houston to construct a cottage on the Boys and Girls Country in Hockley, Texas, near our Dellrose community. Together with this non-profit organization, Empire helped give eight young boys a place to call home.

Of course, we aren’t alone in our endeavours in making Houston one of the best places to live. There are countless organizations across the city that strive to do better for people of all ages and walks of life. Read on to discover some of the organizations that are making a difference this holiday season, and how you can get involved.

The Houston Food Bank works to provide assistance to thousands of individuals each week, including low-income seniors, at-risk children in schools, children in after-school meal programs, and working families that don’t have access to their neighborhood pantry. The Houston Food Bank is America’s largest food bank, distributing 104 million nutritious meals to the 18 southeast Texas counties it serves, and helping to feed over 800,000 individuals each year.

How to give back: There are plenty of ways to give back to the Houston Food Bank, from donating funds or food, or volunteering at one of their food banks, special events, or leader programs. To learn more about how you can give to this organization, visit their website.

A faith-centered community dedicated to supporting homeless men, women, children, and teens across Houston, Star of Hope Mission encourages positive life changes with programs in education, employment, spiritual growth, life management, and substance abuse recovery. The mission aids approximately 1,000 people daily.

How to give back: Star of Hope Mission is always looking for new volunteers to help meet the needs of Houston’s homeless. Those looking to aid the organization can also make a monetary contribution (donations will be matched dollar for dollar), purchase a gift from their Christmas catalog (presents include the gift of a good meal and the gift of fresh clothing), or visit their website for other ways to give back.

A non-profit organization, the Houston Children’s Charity is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Greater Houston’s underprivileged, abused, and disabled children. For over two decades, the charity has provided program services for over 300 agencies, and more than 3.5 million children, pledged over $2 million dollars in relief aid, provided over 30,000 children with gently-used clothing and shoes, and given more than 40,000 children basic school supplies. Their goal is to give all children a positive outlook on their future and help them grow into successful adults.

How to give back: Houston Children’s Charity’s Christmas program helps make miracles happen. Those looking to give back can partake in the Adopt-a-Family program, which allows sponsors to purchase items, clothes, and more needed for their family, or get involved with Toys for Tots, which organizes and distributes toys to over 20,000 kids in time for the holidays. The organization is always looking for more helping hands; volunteers can register online for office support or day-of-event volunteering opportunities.

A veterinary clinic and animal shelter, the Houston Humane Society is dedicated to ending animal cruelty and abuse and providing the highest quality of life for animals brought to their care. The shelter has dogs, cats, and other animals that are ready to be adopted into their forever homes, and provides new pet owners with services that includes a low-cost spay/neuter wellness clinic.

How to give back: While there’s nothing better than saving a life and welcoming a new furry family member into your home, there are a number of other ways to give back to the Houston Humane Society. The organization is presently running a holiday fund drive, where gifts and donations made to the shelter are matched, providing pets with greater access to safe shelter and care. Additionally, new volunteers are always welcome.

Toys for Tots is dedicated to collecting new, unwrapped toys to distribute to less fortunate children at Christmas, giving them a message of hope through the gift of a new toy. The organization has been supporting children since 1947, having helped over 258 million kids, and handing out over 566 million toys. The program also enjoys a special connection to beloved movie maker Walt Disney, who designed Toys for Tots’ miniature three-cart train logo as a special favor to charity founder and personal friend Bill Hendricks.

How to give back: Visit their website to make a toy donation, apply to be a volunteer, or to become a toy drop-off site.

Empire is pleased to introduce our Hometown Heroes Program in Houston, Austin & San Antonio, honoring the brave men and women who work tirelessly to make our communities safer. Through the Empire Hometown Heroes Program, everyday heroes like our armed forces, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, teachers and nurses will receive a $1,000 credit that can be used as a discount off the base price of a new Empire home or a discount towards closing costs.

With a strong corporate commitment to creating livable and safe communities wherever we build, it seemed only fitting we show our support and gratitude to those who have dedicated their lives to the same cause. Through the Empire Heroes Program, homebuyers can choose the home that’s right for them from any one of our Houston, Austin and San Antonio area communities. Explore our homes in Houston, Austin & San Antonio.

* Heroes Program Terms and Conditions: This program is open to (a) hospital staff, (b) police force or fire department members, (c) EMS employees, (d) teachers, and (e) Active Members, Reservists and Veterans of the U.S. armed forces. *The $1000 savings is a discount off the current base price of the home before taxes.  Lender and closing cost contribution only apply with Empire preferred lender. Offer (a) may change or end at any time without notice (b) is non-transferable, (c) may not be combined with any other offers, and (d) has no cash redemption value. Please see a sales counselor for more information.