Blue Zones Project Riverside Recruits 50 Volunteers for Nov. 7 Home Prep

Blue Zones Project Riverside is seeking 50 volunteers for Saturday, Nov. 7, to prepare a renovated house for families experiencing homelessness. The event will take place at All Saints Episcopal Church, located at 3847 Terracina Drive in Riverside.

Participants will split into two teams to work alongside Family Promise of Riverside. The indoor group will organize shared living spaces and add decor focused on well-being. The outdoor team will assemble a playhouse designed by local builders at Gigi's Playhouses. The home, known as Bright Horizons, is owned by All Saints Episcopal Church and managed by Family Promise of Riverside.

The house will serve families leaving hospitals after childbirth who lack other housing options. The first families are scheduled to move in this January. Organizers state that no construction experience or special skills are required for the volunteer work.

Local data indicates a rising need for such resources. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count recorded 294 Riverside County families experiencing homelessness. That figure is more than double the number of unstably housed families recorded two years prior. In the education sector, Riverside Unified School District and Alvord Unified School District report a combined 3,722 unhoused students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade.

Organizers describe Bright Horizons as an example of local groups collaborating to address shelter needs. Blue Zones Project Riverside Executive Director Erin Edwards said in a statement that well-being is for everyone. She noted that the organization's vision is to make healthy choices easy for all residents, especially the most vulnerable.

The project incorporates what Blue Zones calls the Core 4, a set of healthy habits. The playhouse supports the Move Naturally habit by encouraging children to play outdoors. This type of hands-on play is considered important for child development.

For the Right Outlook habit, volunteers will create a calm, low-stimulation space with soft lighting for residents to relax. The Connect habit is addressed through common areas designed to help residents build a supportive circle of friends, a concept Blue Zones terms a Positive Pack. These areas aim to ease isolation and help families prioritize their loved ones.

The Eat Wisely habit will be supported in the kitchen. The space will include a fruit bowl on the table and fridge magnets listing longevity foods. It will also feature Plant Slant recipes from Blue Zones cookbooks to simplify healthy eating.

Family Promise of Riverside Executive Director Claire Jefferson-Glipa stated that investing in the health of housed and unhoused neighbors builds a healthier community. She expressed gratitude for the partnership with Blue Zones Project Riverside.

The event is a joint effort between Blue Zones Project Riverside, Gigi's Playhouses, Bright Horizons at Family Promise of Riverside, and All Saints Episcopal Church. Volunteers may sign up for one of two shifts: 9 a.m. to noon or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is available on Eventbrite. Questions can be directed to Erin Edwards at erinedwards@bluezones.com or 815-793-4957.