COEUR d’ALENE — Lisa Biondo and Vicky Houle spent a good three hours Friday morning deep cleaning the kitchen at Children’s Village. They scrubbed and scoured until the counters and walls and windows — and those areas you don’t even see — were spotless.

“It needed lots of work,” a smiling Houle said as she focused on the floor with a brush.

Both real estate agents with Windermere/Coeur d'Alene Realty were happy to be there. They agreed the CV staff needs to focus on the children.

“Deep cleaning isn’t what they have time to do,” Houle said. “We do it so they feel good about where they work.”

“The buildings need maintenance, but their job is to focus on kids,” Biondo said. “So, we want them to have a safe place to come to."

Each year, Windermere agents, managers, owners and staff from over 300 offices across the western United States gather and devote a workday to make a positive change in their communities, a press release said.

Windermere’s Community Service Day was established in 1984 to offer agents and staff a chance to volunteer an entire workday to give back to the neighborhoods in which they live and work.

On a warm Friday, about 75 Windermere Coeur d'Alene-area associates arrived at the Coeur d'Alene Children's Village, and some with other businesses, to tackle an array of tasks.

They painted curbs.

They trimmed trees.

They raked lawns.

They spread bark.

They repaired bikes.

They cleared gutters.

And much more.

Many brought their own tools, including weed whackers, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows. Trucks and trailers rolled in, too.

“I just like helping the children,” said Windermere’s Josie Krahn, who was painting along with Lianne Hague and Jeff Scott. “And it’s fun to work together.”

“Giving back to the community that basically provides us our job,” Hague said.

Krahn added that over the years, she has taken on many jobs on Community Service Day at Children's Village, including cleaning toilets.

“Every last one of them,” she said, laughing.

Larry Frisbie was on double-duty of edging and leaf blowing.

“The kids are important. It’s something in my heart to give back, to volunteer,” he said.

Rich Dussell was repairing bikes.

“This is the most phenomenal thing we can do in the community,” he said. “It’s just great. It’s one of those community services that never get tiring.”

Jennifer Jenkins with Pioneer Title Company was there, too, along with her daughter, Lydia, trimming tree branches.

"I’m here every year,” she said, smiling. “I used to be a Windermere agent. I’m just addicted to you guys."

Vanessa Moos, Children’s Village interim acting CEO, was delighted. She said there was plenty to do after the annual cleanup day was canceled last year due to coronavirus restrictions.

“We need them. We need them to help us each year to bring the yards back up to speed, get the kids a safe place to play,” she said. “We love them. We’re so grateful.”

Windermere has donated its Community Service Day to Children's Village for the past 20 years.

“We’re thrilled to support the kids and it’s nice to se the community supporting us,” Moos said.

Owner Don “Pepper" Smock said Windermere has given back on Community Service day for 25 years, with the last 20 dedicated to Children’s Village.

He estimated they were donating about 300 hours of labor Friday with such a large turnout of volunteers.

“Which makes things happen really fast,” he said.

Real estate agent Richard Jurvelin pointed out a large bulletin board that had a detailed outline of all the jobs to do that day, and the tools on hand to do them.

He said every person there was glad to pitch in and do their part.

“We have a good feeling about what Children's Village is doing for the community,” he said.

He said they love helping beautify Children’s Village so the kids will say something like, “I’m going home and my home is pretty.”

He believes such examples pay dividends later in life, too. He hopes the kids will reach out and give back when they grow up, buy homes and become part of their communities.

And they will remember what Children's Village did for them.

“This is a great place to live,” Jurvelin said.