Sunday, April 28 was Rotarians at Work Day and the Tsawwassen Rotary Club marked the day by lending a hand at the Little House.

A team of 30 Rotarians and a few helpers planted 300 plants, including 14 trees, on the property to help complete the landscaping.

Just less than a year after ground breaking, the new Little House is complete and has been open for more than a month.

Originally a family home, the little white house on 12th Avenue was purchased by Delta in 1979 to serve as a home for programs offered by Delta Mental Health and Richmond Alcohol and Drug Action Team.

In May 1982, it was made available for 12-step meetings and in 2004 the Little House Society was established to oversee the facility.

For 27 years, the house served as a meeting place for recovery and support groups before being destroyed by fire in 2009.

In the wake of the fire, the Little House Society set out to not only rebuild but expand, and in 2010 launched a capital campaign.

Society president Jim Stimson said the response from the community has been astounding.

The Tsawwassen Rotary coming together last weekend with Patricia Fleming from Earthwise Society to complete the landscaping is just the latest example of community support. More than 100 local businesses have donated $350,000 in labour, services and materials while the Little House has received $150,000 in cash donations.

"It's been a phenomenal response," said Stimson.

"To me, (it's) unprecedented. We did not seek one penny of federal or provin-cial monies."

The society has about $25,000 left to raise to finish paying off the project.

Stimson said, just more than a month after opening its doors, the Little House is already hosting seven support groups for people and families dealing with substance abuse and addiction, and he expects that number to increase. As well, local businesses have taken advantage of the new space as well.

The 1,800-square-foot facility is available to the community for use as a multi-purpose space as well as an education facility for the group.

As part of its mission, the society has committed to reduce and prevent the harm associated with substance abuse, and to support the efforts of abstinencebased recovery through the collaboration, education and facilitation with community stakeholders.

Community education about alcohol and drug abuse and addiction is a key part of the society's goals and something it hopes to facilitate through the new house.

The society is hosting an official opening for the Little House, 5061-12th Ave., on Sunday, June 10 - exactly one year from the ground breaking.

The events will run from 2 to 4 p.m. with the main ceremony taking place from 2: 30 to 3 p.m.

"We really want to invite people to join us that day," Stimson said, adding the society will be holding tours of the house.

For more information about the Little House Society, or to make a donation, call Stimson at 778887-1828.

jkerr@delta-optimist.com