A residential facility for foster children received some much-needed renovations with the help of some unusual handymen — eight former pro football players who live in the area.
The Washington, D.C., NFL Players Association former players’ chapter teamed up with the Maryland National Capital Area Building Industry Associations Home Builders Care Foundation to help refurbish the residential wing of St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in unincorporated Hyattsville near the District border.
The facility provides a place for children aged 2 days to 12 years old who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment or neglect to stay until they are placed in foster care.
The players were on hand Monday to help convert a section of the residential wing into a new kitchen and dining room. About $20,000 worth of repairs were scheduled, with much of the material and labor donated. About $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs were paid by the foundation, which has partnered with St. Ann’s on several projects in the past, said, Patti Kane, a foundation spokeswoman.
Cold, institutional tile was replaced with wood flooring, metal cabinets were removed to be replaced with wooden ones, a wall was built to separate one room into two and a fresh coat of paint was applied.
The renovation work by the NFL players was expected to conclude Wednesday, Kane said.
"We want to make it more of a home-like environment," said Cal Snowden, a District native and president of the local former players' chapter. Snowden played defensive end for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers from 1969 to 1973.
St. Ann's was founded in 1860 as the first home for abandoned children and unwed mother's to serve the District, and its official charter was signed by Abraham Lincoln, said Lisa Sheehan, director of development for St. Ann’s.
In addition to the residential program, St. Ann's offers housing, health care and education programs for teen mothers and job training programs for single mothers up to age 25.
About 20 children can be housed at a one time, and between 250 to 300 children temporarily stay at St. Ann’s each year, said Sister Mary Bader, the facility’s CEO.
“We are very delighted because we rely on the gifts of others to maintain our programs,” Bader said. “We would never have this kind of renovation if it wasn’t supported and funded by groups like NFL Players Association and [Home Builders Care].”
Ken Jenkins, a Redskins running back from 1985 to 1986, said the project was a way to show gratitude to the community.
"A lot of our guys ... enjoyed the most fantastic times of their lives playing professional football in Washington, D.C.," Jenkins said. "This is just a way to ... continue to say 'thank you' for all the fun we had playing football."
dleaderman@gazette.net
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