3,013 homes. That’s how many houses Clinton, Maryland-based nonprofit Christmas in April has supported with home improvement help since their founding in 1989. Over the past 36 years, this organization has set out to help the most vulnerable in Prince George’s County. They work to preserve and revitalize the properties of the elderly and disabled, who may find themselves in situations where they cannot afford to maintain their homes.
The goal of Christmas in April is to provide these homeowners with a space that allows for year-round warmth, safety, and independence. In turn, these improved properties allow the homeowners to remain in their communities and enrich their neighborhoods with an established, longstanding presence. Everyone benefits from neighbors who are invested in their own village and those who bring with them decades of community knowledge.
But why the name Christmas in April? While the organization plans year-round, the last Saturday in April is the day when they disperse across the community to repair the homes of the selected homeowners. These home improvement projects are at no cost to the homeowners, and they are all started and completed within one eight-hour day. There could be minor plumbing, electrical repairs, painting, cleaning, or installation of new appliances.
REUSE HELPS MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE
This endeavor truly takes a community-wide effort, and, since 1989, over 100,000 volunteers have provided over $52 million worth of assistance.
Community Forklift is proud to support Christmas in April’s efforts through a Community Building Blocks Grant, providing salvaged materials, appliances, and other items for reuse in selected homes.
“I am repeatedly humbled by the generosity of those who donate their time, talent and treasure to the program on behalf of the most vulnerable in the Prince George’s County community,” says Pamela Eppard Howard, Executive Director. “The tireless efforts of these volunteers allows our resident recipients to maintain their dignity and continue to live in the homes many have occupied for decades if not generations. Our recipients, likewise, provide a new generation with their wisdom and history.”
Through Community Forklift, the Christmas in April recipients were given everything from cabinet sets to paint, and their gratefulness at the end of the day for the donation of time and materials was truly inspiring.
CHRISTMAS IN APRIL’S IMPACT
One homeowner spoke to the service-oriented outlook of those that came to deliver their new items. “The entire team … was amazing. All came with a willingness to help. What a great crew, they made us feel so happy with their service attitude.”
Another, who received an electric stove said, “Christmas in April really came through for me at a time when others were unavailable. I’m so grateful.”
And other homeowners echoed the sentiment. “Christmas in April has come to my rescue at a very trying time in my life. It is something that has given me all I need,” said a homeowner who received an exterior door.
In the words of another recipient, “It has lifted a financial burden off me and made many repairs to my home that I would not have been able to do.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
To support Christmas in April’s home improvement work in the community, consider donating or put their biggest fundraiser of the year on your calendar. Their 35th Annual Golf Tournament is scheduled for September 22, 2025 at the Courses at Joint Base Andrews.
“I am repeatedly humbled by the generosity of those who donate their time, talent and treasure to the program on behalf of the most vulnerable in the Prince George’s County community. “
COMMUNITY BUILDING BLOCKS
Community Forklift provides free building materials and home goods to nonprofits and community groups through our Community Building Blocks program. If you know of an organization that needs free materials, please encourage them to visit our website to learn more and apply.
Every time you donate or shop at Community Forklift, you’re helping us lift up local communities through reuse. We turn the construction waste stream into a resource stream for communities in the DC region – by keeping perfectly good items out of the landfill, preserving historical materials, providing low-cost building supplies, and creating local green jobs.
