The Front Porch Project was born from a simple belief: community is built through presence.

In our family, some of the most meaningful moments didn’t happen in formal places or grand settings. They happened on a front porch—with a cup of coffee in hand, the sound of waves in the distance, and a gentle breeze rolling in from the shore. It was a place where neighbors lingered, stories were shared, and kindness was offered freely.

That porch belonged to Diane Walton. Diane believed deeply in showing up for people. She believed in listening without rushing. She believed that small, steady acts of kindness could hold families together and turn strangers into neighbors. Her porch light was always on, and so was her heart.

The women who came after her and surrounded us growing up carried that same spirit forward in their own ways.

One brought it into the most vulnerable spaces as a hospice nurse—walking alongside individuals and families during moments many are afraid to face, offering compassion, dignity, and unwavering presence when it mattered most. Others lived it through advocacy for children with special needs, believing every child deserved to be seen, supported, and included. Another expressed it through a deep love for animals and a belief that caring for the vulnerable—human or otherwise—is an essential part of caring for a community.

Together, these women showed us that being a good neighbor isn’t a role you take on—it’s a way of living.

The Front Porch Project was created to carry that legacy forward. We exist to extend neighborly care, practical support, and human connection to individuals and families facing hardship. Our work is rooted in hospitality, dignity, and the belief that no one should navigate difficult seasons alone.

We built this organization in honor of the women who taught us what love in action looks like. But it exists for our neighbors—for the families navigating the unimaginable, for those quietly carrying heavy burdens, and for anyone who needs a soft place to land.