LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Local firms bring the beach to a military family


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Branagh Development Inc. and Left Coast Architecture partnered with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley to design and build a beach themed playhouse for a military family. BDI and LCA reached out to Habitat for Humanity back in March to organize a volunteer day and identified the Playhouse Program as a good fit. Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley's Playhouse Program offers sponsors a fun, unique team building experience spent creating custom playhouses for local children, with sponsorship proceeds going back in to fund housing solutions through Habitat.

Habitat EBSV partners with Blue Star Moms to select a family currently serving in any of the branches of the Armed Forces of the United States to receive the playhouse. The recipient family recently relocated to the Bay Area and requested a beach theme for their 5-year-old son who left a lot of friends and family back in San Diego where they were last stationed. The intent of the playhouse is that it will help the boy make a smooth transition into a new community when the family relocates.

Based on the template provided by Habitat EBSV, LCA came up with the design for the playhouse which was full of vibrant beach colors and scenery including sand, waves, sun, and surf boards. On Aug. 3, with guidance from two representatives from Habitat EBSV, volunteers from BDI and LCA constructed and painted the playhouse at Branagh Development Inc., located at the west end of Lafayette. The recipient family arrived just as the paint was drying. They were thrilled with the design and the 5-year-old boy quickly ran inside his beach shack.