FirstService Residential

The New York team recently held a donation drive in support of Friends of Karen’s 2026 Back-to-School initiative, helping provide school supplies to children whose families are facing the financial challenges associated with caring for a terminally ill child. For these families, the cost of back-to-school shopping can add significant financial pressure during an already difficult time. The donated supplies provide children with the tools they need to start the school year prepared while helping ease some of that financial burden for their families.

The response from associates was tremendous, with more than 200 brand-new school supplies collected through donations made directly to the HR office. Associates also supported the initiative through monetary contributions and by shipping school supplies directly to Friends of Karen. Through these combined efforts, the New York team helped ensure that children supported by Friends of Karen could begin the new school year with the supplies they need, while giving their families one less expense to worry about.

On August 8, a group of FirstService Residential volunteers joined the DC Metro Social Committee in participating in the official Spread The Meals Day by delivering and distributing the lunches prepared for Carpenter's Shelter. Volunteers spent the afternoon at David's Place, Carpenter's Shelter's walk-in resource center for adults experiencing homelessness in Alexandria, helping ensure the meals reached those who needed them most.

This experience provided a powerful opportunity to see the direct impact of our efforts. Beyond providing nourishment, the meals represented care, compassion, and support for members of our community facing difficult circumstances. Being able to personally distribute the lunches and connect with the mission of Carpenter's Shelter made the experience especially meaningful and reinforced the importance of giving back through both donations and hands-on service.

Throughout the summer, FirstService Residential associates participated in a bookmark-making project benefiting Comfort Cases organized by the DC Metro Social Committee. Associates across our offices and communities created handmade bookmarks that will be placed inside new books given to children entering foster care. Some communities even hosted their own bookmark-making activities, allowing residents and associates to join in supporting this meaningful cause.

Although small in size, each bookmark carries a personal message of kindness and encouragement for a child facing an uncertain transition. This project provided a simple yet impactful way for participants to share compassion and creativity while helping children feel seen, supported, and cared for. It was inspiring to see so many associates and community members come together to create thoughtful keepsakes that will accompany a special gift and remind children that they are not alone.

The DC Metro Social Committee partnered with Comfort Cases to provide FirstService Residential associates with an opportunity to support children and youth entering the foster care system. Comfort Cases is dedicated to providing essential items and comfort belongings to children during a time of significant change, helping bring dignity, hope, and a sense of care during a difficult transition.

During the volunteer event, associates worked at the Comfort Cases facility to help prepare items that would be distributed to children entering foster care. This hands-on experience allowed volunteers to directly support an organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Knowing that our efforts would help provide comfort, encouragement, and essential necessities to children during a challenging time made the experience especially rewarding and reinforced the importance of serving our communities with compassion.

Throughout the summer, the FirstService Residential DC Metro Social Committee organized a pull tab collection drive benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Collection boxes were placed across the DMV, including our Fairfax office, encouraging FirstService Residential associates to save and donate aluminum pull tabs from cans. Once collected, the tabs are recycled, generating funds that help support RMHC's programs and services.

What made this initiative especially meaningful was knowing that a simple item many people would normally overlook can contribute to a larger mission. The proceeds from the recycled tabs help Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a "home away from home" for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals. It was inspiring to see employees from across the region come together in support of this effort and demonstrate how small contributions, when combined, can make a meaningful difference for families facing challenging circumstances.

On August 7, the DC Metro Social Committee brought FirstService Residential associates together at the Fairfax office to assemble bagged lunches for Carpenter's Shelter as part of the Spread The Meals campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our associates, we not only met our goal of 88 meals but exceeded it by packing and delivering 114 meals, with additional donated supplies left over.

This achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of everyone who donated items, volunteered their time, and helped promote the campaign. Seeing so many people come together to support our neighbors in need was incredibly rewarding. Surpassing our goal demonstrated the impact we can make when we work together and highlighted the generosity that exists throughout our organization.

From July 1 through July 21, the FirstService Residential DC Metro Social Committee hosted a School Supply Drive benefiting Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS). With support from our Fairfax and Fredericksburg Regional Offices, participating communities, associates, and generous residents throughout the region, we collected school supplies and raised $620 through our donation page to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year.

This effort demonstrated the power of our communities coming together to support local families. Thanks to the generosity of our employees, residents, boards, and community partners, students in Northern Virginia will have access to essential school supplies and resources that help set them up for success in the classroom. It was inspiring to see so many people rally around a shared goal and invest in the future of young learners. Knowing that our contributions will help students begin the school year with confidence and the tools they need to thrive made this initiative especially meaningful.

Following the DC Metro Social Committee School Supply Drive, associates from FirstService Residential visited Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) to help prepare donated supplies for local students and families. After delivering the school supplies collected through donations from our associates and communities, volunteers helped sort materials, fill nearly 500 backpacks, and assemble grade-specific supply kits.

This hands-on volunteer opportunity allowed us to see the direct impact of our donations. From selecting supplies to packing backpacks, associates took pride in helping ensure students have the tools they need to start the school year prepared and confident. Knowing these backpacks will support local children on their educational journey made the experience especially meaningful.

The DC Metro Social Committee organized FirstService Residential's participation in the nationwide Spread The Meals campaign, bringing associates together to support individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in our community. Leading up to the event, associates donated lunch items with the goal of assembling 88 bagged lunches for Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria, Virginia.

The response was inspiring, with employees stepping up to donate supplies, spread awareness, and support the effort. This initiative showed how a simple act of generosity can bring people together around a common purpose. Knowing that these donations would help provide meals to individuals in need made every contribution meaningful and reinforced our commitment to serving our community.

It is always special when we have the opportunity to come together as a team and give back to the communities around us. This year’s Back-to-School Drive, hosted by Alyson’s Allstars, her regional director's teams and our fellow FirstService Residential team members, was a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when we all come together for a good cause, knowing that something as simple as donating a notebook, backpack, pencils, or other school supplies can make a difference in a child's life. These items may seem small, but to a family in need, they can mean one less thing to worry about and one more reason for a child to feel excited and prepared for the school year.

Thanks to the generosity of our team members, residents, vendors, and everyone who participated, we were able to collect more than 400 back-to-school items for Start off Smart (SOS) Homestead!

SOS Homestead is a nonprofit organization that supports children and families in South Miami-Dade by providing essential resources such as food assistance, educational support, youth programs, and other services to families who may be facing challenging circumstances. Their mission is centered around helping children and families have the opportunity to build brighter, healthier futures.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, encouraged others to participate, and helped make this drive such a success. Service is more than what we do for the communities we manage—it is also about the people and families who make those communities special.

Thank you to Alyson’s Allstars and our FirstService Residential family for showing what it truly means to give back.

The DCMetro Social Committee hosted a School Supply Drive during the first three weeks of July to benefit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to help local children and families succeed.

I posted the flyer for the drive at Altavista Condominiums and set out two VERY large boxes, hoping we could fill them.

Well… two boxes were definitely NOT enough! 🎒✏️📚

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our residents and staff, we collected enough school supplies to fill the entire back of my SUV! Backpacks, folders, pencils, glue sticks, index cards, composition books, notebooks, and SO MUCH MORE!

If I had to estimate, we collected at least 500 pounds of supplies—the equivalent of roughly 15 boxes once everything was sorted and repacked into more manageable sizes.

It was truly heartwarming to watch our community come together for such a meaningful cause. Seeing our staff and residents contribute so generously to help local children start the school year with the supplies they need was something special.

I couldn’t be prouder of the Altavista community. ❤️

Sometimes a simple request to “fill a box” turns into an SUV full of generosity. This is what community looks like. 🎒❤️✏️

On July 21, 2026, FirstService Residential Associates partnered with Services for the Underserved to assemble housing kits for formerly homeless families and individuals in New York City. Together, we boxed and prepared hundreds of essential items to help furnish 70 new apartments on West 45th Street.It was a meaningful opportunity to give back to the community where we work and serve.