We love our volunteers!
Habitat of Lakeland would like to thank all our hard working volunteers that help us make a difference here in the community. If you are a volunteer or have been in the past, please come and join us for our Volunteer Dinner.
When: January 19, 2012.
Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: First United Methodist Church ~ 72 Lake Morton Drive~ Lakeland
Are you a Habitat For Humanity of Lakeland volunteer?
Helping students achieve their dream of a college education is extremely rewarding to students, donors, and staff alike. In its over 30-year history, the Polk State College Foundation has awarded more than 5,000 scholarships and loans to Polk State College students representing over $2,000,000 in awards. One of those was Lakeland Habitat for Humanity.
In a check presentation ceremony on September 26, 2011, the Polk State College Foundation gratefully honored Lakeland Habitat For Humanity for giving an endowment for 6 scholorships, helping Polk State College students fulfill their dreams of a college education.
*pictured -Larry Maron, Board President, and Diretta Wilcox, Board Vice-president of Lakeland Habitat.
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity needs you! We have so much going on and we do not want you to miss out. Come join us Saturday, September 24th at the Cleveland heights Golf & Country Club for our annual Golf Tournament. We will Tee off at 8:00 am, registration will begin at 7:00 am. For additional information on teams and sponsorship opportunities, please click the link https://habitatoflakeland.org/donate.php
Come be part of one of Habitat's biggest Fundraising Events.
Wait, that’s not all. Our Lakeland Habitat for Humanity Restore also needs your help! We are always in need of donations, a few items that are always in high demand include building materials such as insulation, roofing shingles, paint and wood. We also welcome house appliances and furniture items, these items are constantly in high demand. Feel free to bring in any items you feel may be of value to us! We know your schedule can be very hectic, with little free time to spare. If you can’t find time in your schedule to drop of your donation items simply give us a call and we will come pick them up! 863.682.3812
Habitat for Humanity Partners with HAP International
ATLANTA (July 15, 2011) — Habitat for Humanity International has been named an associate member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership, the first international self-regulatory body for organizations involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Established in 2003, HAP International is currently comprised of more than 75 nonprofit member organizations from around the globe and seeks to make humanitarian action accountable to its intended beneficiaries through self-regulation and quality assurance.
“It is with great pleasure and interest that we received the application of Habitat for Humanity International to join the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership,” said Angela Raven-Roberts, Executive Director of HAP International. “Shelter is a human right and key to the survival, livelihood, protection and well-being of families, particularly those emerging from crises and situations of forced displacement. The work of Habitat has been and continues to be vital in mobilizing support for the millions around the world who remain homeless.”
Habitat for Humanity is no stranger to disaster response. This year alone, Habitat has responded to a number of natural disasters worldwide, including the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan and the series of deadly tornados that recently struck the Midwest and southeastern U.S.
“Partnering with fellow disaster response organizations that have such agreed-upon standards of accountability simply makes sense,” said Kip Scheidler, Senior Director of Global Disaster Response with Habitat for Humanity International.
“With a number of active disaster relief and recovery operations throughout the world, it’s important for Habitat to use internationally recognized and well-vetted standards of accountability and quality assurance,” said Scheidler. “We thank HAP International and our fellow member organizations for the opportunity to partner together so that the people we help know that they are fully benefiting from the resources generously given to us by our donors.”
For more information about HAP International, visit the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership website.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is a retail outlet where quality new and like-new building materials are sold at discounted prices. The ReStore sells scratch and dent, vendor returns, over stock, and items donated by individual donors. The purpose of the ReStore is to generate revenue to fund Habitat homes, to provide low cost building materials to the public, to keep usable materials out of the land fill, and to increase the breadth of donations Habitat is able to accept. There are currently over 600 ReStores across North America.
1317 George Jenkins Blvd.
Lakeland FL 33815
Phone: 863.688.4660
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
| In Flanders Fields John McCrae, 1915. |
| In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: |
These are the words that inspired a woman named Moina Michael, to reply with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.
Read more here, about the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day and how you can observe this day in your own home and town.
New Habitat House
Exciting times here at Lakeland Habitat For Humanity! Thursday morning, we had the pleasure of giving the keys of a new home to a very beautiful family. As a bonus, sponsors of the new house which included former professional football player, Warrick Dunn, along with Aaron’s Inc and Etrade representatives, came to award Deliliah Baez-Perez and family with a down payment and a fully furnished home.
Warrick Dunn
In 1997, Dunn established the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation and the Homes For The Holidays Program, which helps struggling single parents purchase homes. The program buys homes through a down payment provided by Dunn, who also worked with area sponsors to furnish and outfit the homes. The program, as of April 2010, has assisted 103 single parents and 274 dependents in Lakeland, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Tampa, and Tallahassee. Dunn’s goal is help these parents realize the dream that his mother was not able to give to him and his siblings, to own their own home.
Warrick Dunn Surprises Delilah and son
This beautiful home, near the heart of downtown Lakeland, was sponsored by Aaron’s Inc. and E trade and built with the sweat of local Habitat volunteers. Ms. Baez-Perez was awarded the down payment through the Homes For the Holidays Program for single moms, and will be able to pay for this home interest free through Habitat of Lakeland.
Handing over the keys
To see if you qualify for a Habitat For Humanity home, call 682-3812.
Did you know there is a World Habitat partnership?
For many of us, we will be celebrating Easter this weekend with loved ones near and far. For some around the world, celebrating may not be easy during a time of disaster, catastrophe, or tragedy. Through these trials, ironically, we find the most giving, kind, united and generous people within the community itself. But when that community is devastated, it takes a global effort to put things back together again.
Luis Santibañez, national director Habitat Chile
Thankfully, Habitat Chile was there. To help rebuild. To give hope and help to those left homeless because of the utter devastation that took place. Efforts around the globe have helped support the area. But, there is still much more work to be done. 10,000 Chilean families are still in need.
Thanks to the many contributors who donate their time, talents, goods and money to help in the most impossible of odds by giving to those who need it most, there have been many Chilean families who have been able to rebuild their lives.
Whether it’s the World Habitat or your local Lakeland Habitat for Humanity, your donations are what helps turn tragedy into a triumph. This Easter, lets remember those who are celebrating a full life with their loved ones, but possibly without a roof over their heads.
To read more about how Habitat Chile is doing or to donate, go Here.
Interested in owning a home of your own? This Saturday, April 16th, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity will be holding an open meeting for people seeking affordable housing. This meeting will be to inform people on how to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity Home. Applications and instructions will be provided.
Most Habitat homes will cost the homeowner less than $500.00 per month including mortgage, taxes and insurance. PLUS, Lakeland Habitat will hold the mortgage at 0% interest. Please come or tell a friend about this meeting and make your dream of home ownership come true. Habitat homeowners are beginning school teachers, firemen, city and county workers, bus drivers, workforce people and people on a fixed income.
When: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Where: New Bethel AME Church
2122 Martin L King Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, Fl.
Time: 10:00 AM
Call 682-3812 for more information.
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity only exist because of people like you who take the time out of your busy schedule and come to the aid of others. It was once said by an unknown that, “Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something”. It is with that attitude, we find ourselves coming together with people from all walks of life. I can not prick the finger of another and hope to see green or purple blood. If I prick the finger of my neighbor I will see the same color blood that came down the side of Christ on calvaries cross. As we already know, when Jesus died, he FREELY GAVE his life for ALL mankind.
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity has developed a new website dedicated to Lakeland Habitat Restore. The Restore is a home improvement center that sells quality new and recycled items at a fraction of the common cost. The store receives new inventory weekly. You’ll find items such as laminate flooring, ceramic tile, cabinets, plumbing supplies, lighting solutions, building materials and more. Shopping at the ReStore not only benefits you, but it also helps the environment. Over the past two years, the ReStore has recycled nearly 400 tons of material, keeping it out of our local landfills. And ReStore proceeds go back into building new Habitat houses.
Donating to the ReStore not only helps you find a new home for unwanted or unused items, but also provides us with the inventory we need to resell to the public. Your donation also helps the environment by keeping usable goods out of landfills!Please bring your donation to the ReStore, located at 1317 George Jenkins blvd. Lakeland, FL 33815.
To schedule a donation pick-up , or for more information about donating to the ReStore, please email or call 863.682.3812
Please bring your donation to the ReStore, located at 1317 George Jenkins blvd. Lakeland, FL 33815.
