Holmes Garden

Holmes Garden

Holmes Garden is dedicated to transforming disenfranchised neighborhoods into thriving communities. Our mission focuses on safe housing, education, and support systems for families in need. We believe in empowering families to overcome challenges and achieve their goals through education and resources. Building a strong community fosters connections, support, and resilience among our residents.

We promote sustainable practices that enhance the quality of life for all families in our neighborhood. Through strategic planning and community partnerships, we ensure that affordable housing remains accessible for future generations.

First Steps

I applied to a couple of volunteer opportunities on Catchafire. It was a matter of days until Denise from Holmes Garden responded to my application. After chatting on Catchafire, we exchanged email information and continued our conversation. This is when I discovered everything Denise needed, and we began to develop a plan.

Planning

Holmes Garden needed a website. As a volunteer, I offered to build them a five-page site at no cost. Denise accepted, and we agreed to a phone call.

Denise is one of the sweetest people I have ever spoken with. Her dedication and passion for Holmes Garden’s mission to build a positive community are clear. I eagerly looked forward to creating a platform that helps Denise expand her efforts.

We talked on the phone for a while and created a plan to build a website for Holmes Garden. I wrote up a plan outlining what I needed from Denise and offered a step-by-step proposal to bring this project to life. Once we agreed on the plan, the work started.

Web Crafting

The first step was content. Denise provided me with the website content, including copy and images, via email, Google Docs, and Google Drive. This approach kept the content organized and communication open. Despite the 1,000 miles between us, we worked efficiently with the use of these various digital tools.

While Denise gathered and sent me the website content, I built the framework of the website that would soon house the content. The website is built with WordPress. I decided to use the Astra page builder so that Denise can easily maintain the content once I am finished.

I transferred and optimized the content Denise provided as it arrived. It took about a week to build a basic website with content. Basic search engine optimization tactics were implemented to increase the website’s visibility in search engines. This was enough to launch the website, so we did. Since then, we have been adding functionality and new features as needed.

The Volunteer Experience

Denise and I have spoken on the phone several times since we began our journey together. One critical moment in our conversation made me realize the importance of this work. Denise shared her struggles with finding good people willing to genuinely help. It hasn’t been easy; her emotions told the story.

I wish I could dedicate all my time to helping people like Denise, because they truly deserve a chance to make the world a better place. Still, I am grateful to have met Denise, and I hope we can continue working together and build a lasting friendship. I wish Denise and Holmes Garden all the best in their endeavors.

The Results

The Holmes Garden website is now live. You’ll find information about the organization, photos, resources, a blog, and contact details. Discover how inspiring their work truly is and learn about their plans to enhance the community. You can access it by clicking the button below or by searching for it on Google and other search engines.