Pacific Gas & Electric Playhouse Blitz

Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County (Habitat SLO), in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Habitat for Humanity California, successfully hosted a Playhouse Blitz on Friday, June 26, at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Community in San Luis Obispo. Forty-one participants, including more than 30 PG&E employee volunteers, spent the day designing, painting, and building five custom playhouses that are bringing joy to local children and early childhood programs throughout San Luis Obispo County. 

The volunteer build day also marked the local launch of Connecting Hometowns, a new initiative between PG&E and Habitat for Humanity. The program includes a two-year, $500,000 investment from PG&E to support local Habitat organizations across Northern and Central California. Habitat SLO is one of five Habitat for Humanity affiliates receiving a $50,000 grant during the program’s second year. In addition to financial support, PG&E coworkers will volunteer alongside Habitat teams on homebuilding projects, critical home repairs, and other hands-on activities that help create safe, affordable homeownership opportunities for local families. 

Held during National Homeownership Month, the event highlighted the ongoing need for affordable housing in California, where only 16% of residents can afford to purchase a median-priced home. Through Connecting Hometowns, PG&E and Habitat for Humanity are working together to help more families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership while also supporting meaningful community service projects like the Playhouse Build. 

Made possible through Habitat for Humanity California and the generous support of PG&E, the Playhouse Blitz is part of Habitat SLO’s Playhouse Build program, which provides handcrafted playhouses for local children while creating a meaningful volunteer experience centered on teamwork, creativity, and community service. 

The five completed playhouses were distributed to families and organizations throughout San Luis Obispo County. Three playhouses were donated to Little Sprouts Day Care, with one going to the Avila Beach location and two to the San Luis Obispo locations, where they will serve children ages 18 months to 4 years. Another playhouse was delivered to a family in Santa Margarita for siblings ages 18 months and 3½ years, while the fifth will soon be delivered to a San Luis Obispo family for their 2-year-old child. 

“The highlight of the day was sharing the stories of the children and organizations who would receive these playhouses,” said Colleen Stefanek, Programs Manager for Habitat SLO. “Once participants learned who they were building for, the project became even more personal. It was wonderful to watch volunteers pour so much care and creativity into every detail, knowing these playhouses will spark imagination and create lasting memories for local children.” 

Throughout the day, volunteers painted, assembled, and personalized each playhouse before celebrating their accomplishments together. The event showcased the power of community partnerships and demonstrated how businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers can work together to make a lasting impact for local families. 

Habitat SLO’s Playhouse Build program accepts nominations throughout the year for local children and families who would benefit from a special place to play, imagine, and grow. Businesses and organizations can also sponsor a Playhouse Build as a unique employee engagement and team-building opportunity.