Roots & Results: How Our Teams Spent Community Service Day at Missoula’s Orchard Gardens

June 5th, 2026, marked the 22nd Windermere Annual Community Service Day. It’s a day where agents and staff set aside their workday to give back. Over the years, Windermere has logged over one million hours of service nationwide. They’ve shown up for organizations like The Meadowlark, Watson’s Children’s Shelter, Youth Homes of Montana, Ronald McDonald House, and many more. Each year, the locations change, but the spirit stays the same.

Where We Ended Up

This year, the Missoula team spent the day at Orchard Gardens Apartments on Missoula’s west side. Developed by Homeword, it’s a community built from the ground up with the planet in mind. Think solar energy systems, ground-source heat pumps, strawbale construction, recycled materials, and native drought-tolerant landscaping. Nearly every detail reflects a deep commitment to sustainable living. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel good just being in it. The mission here is clean and clear, but keeping it that way takes real work.

What Work We Did

The primary focus of the day was landscaping. Volunteers trimmed and planted trees, pulled weeds, and spread wood chips and rock. Orchard Gardens also features a community garden and shared outdoor spaces that residents genuinely rely on. Keeping those areas clean, safe, and welcoming was well worth the effort. Montana weather is tough on outdoor spaces. A few fences and exterior features showed it. With nails, paint, and stain, volunteers repaired and refreshed what needed it, ready for another year of use.

Who Made it Happen

Windermere agents and staff from both the Missoula and Hamilton offices came together for the day. They were joined by Homeword staff and a great group of additional volunteers. It was a full house in the best way. First Security Bank generously sponsored lunch. By midday, the togetherness made the work feel less like work and more like hanging out with friends. Friends who are very good at pulling weeds, that is.

Windermere Community Service Day: Why It Matters

At Windermere, real estate doesn’t end when the keys are handed off. Showing up matters not just on closing day, but on a random Thursday in June with work gloves and a paintbrush. That’s what it means to be a neighbor. That’s the kind of trust that builds something that lasts. Montanans help each other and stick together like family. It’s woven into the culture here. It’s reflected in the way your local Windermere agent operates every single day: community-oriented, trustworthy, and always willing to put in the hard work.