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Help us transform an unused side yard into a safe, engaging outdoor space for the teenage girls of Raintree House — a New Orleans group home serving girls who have experienced abuse and neglect. Every dollar goes directly toward seating, lighting, and activity areas.
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Mission, History, and Programs
Raintree Children & Family Services has been a steadfast source of services for children and families in the Greater New Orleans Area for 100 years. It is Raintree’s mission to provide needed services to at-risk children and youth to encourage hope and create opportunities for independence and growth in their lives. Our goal is to improve the overall well-being of children in our community’s foster care system and Early Intervention Services.
Raintree operates the following programs: Family Support Coordination provides case management services to infants and toddlers who experience a developmental delay or disabling condition; Raintree House provides a group home for teenage girls who have been abused and/or neglected; and Family Care provides homes to children and youth in foster care who have also experienced abuse/neglect, yet have less intensive behavioral needs compared to the youth we serve in Raintree House.
Need
The existing outdoor area at Raintree House is underutilized and no longer reflects the everyday needs of the girls and staff.
Project Goal
Transform the side yard into three safe, flexible, and engaging outdoor areas that promote recreation, wellness, creativity, social connection, and staff-supervised programming for teenage residents.
Estimated Project Budget
$4,000 preliminary estimate
Proposal Summary
Raintree Children & Family Services seeks to reimagine Raintree House’s underused side yard as a practical outdoor extension of the home. By replacing unused garden beds and scattered furnishings with comfortable seating, open green space, improved lighting, and defined activity areas, the space can better support daily recreation, outdoor meals, movie nights, group fitness, games, celebrations, informal gatherings, mentorship opportunities, family engagement, and other staff-supervised activities.
Proposed Activity Areas
Outdoor Dining, Events, and Movie Courtyard
Develop an adaptable courtyard for outdoor dining, movie nights, karaoke, parties, arts and crafts, birthdays, accomplishments, and informal gatherings. Planned improvements include a paved area outside the kitchen, lowmaintenance landscaping, durable weatherresistant tables and chairs, improved lighting, an outdoor outlet for a projector or karaoke setup, and the possibility of a colorful mural by a local artist.
Shaded Tree Calming Area
Create a café- or student commons-style area under the tree where residents can relax, read, listen to music, use their phones, socialize, or have informal conversations with staff. Comfortable seating, shade, charging access, and nearby Wi-Fi can help draw residents outdoors without requiring a structured activity.
Flexible Recreation and Wellness Lawn
Transform the underused lawn into a safe, open, and adaptable area for exercise, outdoor games, yoga, dance, water play, picnics, group activities, and wellness programming. Improvements include removing unused garden beds and weeds, repairing grass, creating a level surface, and adding lockable storage for outdoor activity items.
Where Your Donation Goes — $4,000 Total
Outdoor Dining, Events & Movie Courtyard — $2,230
Electrical lighting and outlet improvements ($1,000); 15 restaurant-grade aluminum chairs ($750); 3 outdoor tables ($480).
Shaded Tree Calming Area — $1,083
Limestone gravel ground cover ($498); 5 Adirondack chairs ($100); set of 4 chaise lounges ($419); aluminum coffee table ($66).
Flexible Recreation & Wellness Lawn — $687
Sod and grass repair ($100); lockable storage shed ($422); outdoor Connect Four ($130); ring toss ($35).
Final costs may vary slightly depending on vendor pricing and installation needs.
Expected Impact
With a modest investment, Raintree House can turn an underutilized side yard into a flexible, welcoming outdoor space for residents and staff. The completed project will give teenage residents more opportunities for movement, recreation, calming activities, shared meals, celebrations, positive peer interaction, and meaningful connection with staff and community partners. Most importantly, it will help create a daily environment that feels more comfortable, engaging, and supportive for the girls in our care.
