Homeward Bound, a leading nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and support to families experiencing homelessness, recently celebrated the completion of a transformative laundry room renovation at the Thunderbird’s Family Village (2302 W. Colter St. in Phoenix). Dubbed the “Loads of Love” project, the transformation was made possible through a generous in-kind donation by McCarthy Building Companies valued at approximately $100,000.

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“The newly renovated laundry room is a testament to the power of community collaboration and corporate social responsibility,” said Sam Fowler, CEO of Homeward Bound. “The Loads of Love project not only greatly enhances the quality of life for families residing at Homeward Bound by providing modern, efficient and well-equipped laundry facilities, the renovated laundry room sends the message to our families that our community cares about them.”

The laundry room renovation project includes state-of-the-art washers and dryers, improved lighting, new paint, polished concrete flooring, custom artwork, storage equipment and a welcoming and comfortable waiting area for families. Behind-the-scenes work included replaced and upgraded HVAC, new ceiling grid and tile, upgraded venting for new washers/dryers, innovative solutions for a higher-efficiency plumbing system, and a reconfigured space layout to include a children’s play area.

These enhancements will not only streamline the laundry process, but also create a more pleasant and functional space for the 76 families who call Homeward Bound their temporary home as they work toward self-sufficiency.

“As a builder with self-perform capabilities, our McCarthy team was able to tackle the vast majority of the project scope, including identifying and executing a solution that provided proper drainage for the new washing machines, which eliminated an existing odor issue,” said Larissa Tavelli, Homeward Bound board member and chair of McCarthy’s Heart Hats® program for the Southwest region. “We enjoy being able to give back to our community through hands-on projects like this, which will benefit Homeward Bound families for years to come.”

McCarthy’s self-perform work included electrical, mechanical, concrete, carpentry, drywall, firestopping and interior finishes. While McCarthy’s in-house design services included architectural stamping and interior design, in-kind structural engineering was donated by PK Associates, MEP design services were donated by LSW Engineering, as well as additional material and in-kind donations from local trade partners and vendors.