More Than a Fresh Coat of Paint: Paint The Town™ 2026
It was a great day for Paint The Town™
On Saturday, June 13, approximately 470 volunteers came together to paint and improve 26 homes for seniors, veterans, and neighbors with disabilities across Ada County. From Star to East Boise, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help preserve safe, stable housing and ensure homeowners could continue living proudly and independently in the homes they love.
For homeowner Lynn Hathaway, the experience was about much more than a freshly painted home.
Throughout the project, Lynn spent time outside visiting with volunteers as they worked on her home. Proudly wearing her Paint The Town™ T-shirt, she welcomed teams with homemade fudge, cake, and other treats, turning the project into a celebration of community and friendship.
Reflecting on the experience, Lynn shared:
“You have filled up my heart. Paint aside, the people have been beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Her words capture the true spirit of Paint The Town. While volunteers improve homes and neighborhoods, they also build relationships, create lasting memories, and remind homeowners that they are valued members of a caring community.
One of the most inspiring aspects of Paint The Town is the way it brings people together. Faith communities, veterans organizations, professional networking groups, corporate teams, civic organizations, schools, government agencies, and community volunteers all joined forces to serve their neighbors. Veterans helped fellow veterans, coworkers strengthened team bonds while giving back, and community members from all walks of life worked side by side to make a difference.
This year’s event added to a remarkable legacy. Over the past 44 years, Paint The Town volunteers have painted more th
an 3,500 homes and engaged more than 92,000 volunteers throughout the Treasure Valley. What started as a simple effort to help a few homeowners in Boise’s Vista Neighborhood has grown into one of Idaho’s largest and longest-running volunteer traditions, improving lives one home, one neighborhood, and one community at a time.
The success of Paint The Town begins long before volunteers pick up a paintbrush. Homeowners are screened and selected, homes are inspected, repairs are completed, paint colors are chosen, volunteer teams are organized, and supplies are assembled. This year, a special thank you goes to Treasure Valley Habitat for Humanity, whose partnership helped make Paint The Town possible for many homeowners. Nineteen of the 26 homes received repairs before painting could begin, ensuring homes were ready for volunteers and able to benefit from a fresh coat of paint.
June is National Homeownersh
p Month, a time to celebrate the opportunities, stability, and sense of belonging that homeownership provides. Paint The Town reflects that spirit by helping longtime homeowners maintain their homes, preserve their independence, and remain connected to the neighborhoods they helped build.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, donors, community partners, and volunteers. From Rodda Paint Company’s paint donations and technical expertise to the critical repairs completed by Treasure Valley Habitat for Humanity, Paint The Town is powered by organizations and individuals who believe in the importance of safe, stable housing and strong communities.
Together, we did more than paint houses. We strengthened neighborhoods, preserved homeownership, and demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together to help its neighbors.
Thank you for making the 44th annual Paint The Town a success.
Have photos to share? Email us at PaintTheTown@nwboise.org.
