Thanks to a $25,000 donation by a real estate organization, the People's Arc of Suffolk has renovated a kitchen at its Dix Hill residence.

The new kitchen is designed to enhance the daily lives of intellectually and developmentally disabled residents who live there, and provide a more functional and welcoming environment.

"The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where people get together to share stories about their day," John McGuigan, CEO of People's Arc of Suffolk, said in a news release about the renovated kitchen.

"For the nine people who live here, this is where they get together. It's an integral part of the program for them," McGuigan added.

Formerly known as AHRC Suffolk, the People's Arc of Suffolk provides employment opportunities, education programs and community engagement for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The $25,000 donation is from Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG), a professional organization with a philanthropic arm.

The renovation took about three weeks and included new dining room and kitchen floors, recessed lights, baseboard covers, window moldings, blinds, countertops, cabinets, new refrigerators, paint and a new flattop stove.

It's a welcome refresh for the kitchen after decades of wear, including scuffed countertops, uneven floors and aging plumbing.

"This is good because I can get around easier that way," a 30-year resident in the house who surveyed the new kitchen from her motorized wheelchair, said in the news release.

"To see people in a home, happy, to make them more comfortable, is wonderful," Andrew Richards, a member of LIREG said in the news release.

"It's very personal," Richards added. "We care. A lot of us don't have to deal with the challenges people in this program live with every day. To be able to make this happen is very important to us."

Now, People's Arc of Suffolk hopes to renovate the bathroom, and is seeking a similar philanthropic partner for the project.