This year, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity will celebrate its 20th anniversary and complete its 100th house (and more). We are proud of what we have accomplished, but are constantly looking for ways to make our community stronger and healthier. At this time, we look to you to help us lay the groundwork for the success of future projects by participating in a brief survey based upon the information below.
To meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity is considering a major campaign to raise $12,000,000 over a five-year period. This investment from donors, volunteers, residents, corporations and foundations would restore historic neighborhoods, create a one-of-a-kind community, and celebrate 20 years of providing decent housing.
To transform the lives of more families, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity will:
Partner with Parker Street Ministries and Lakeland’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program to renovate 100+ existing homes in the Parker Street Community through our “Brush with Kindness” program;
Create Laurel Brook Village, an affordable, mixed-income community of 36 homes on 22 acres of land; and
Develop energy efficient projects, including an energy-producing solar farm at Laurel Brook Village.
Role of Community Support
We hope that you will help us plan for the anticipated campaign by participating in a brief survey. I am confident that your guidance will help us lay the groundwork for the success of these innovative and important projects
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We live in a country which has been built upon the backs of a predominantly individualistic society. Personal growth and success have become fundamental objectives in the struggle to achieve the American dream. As Americans, we are expected to compete for a taste of success, and this type of competition often means stepping on one’s opponents to get to the top.
Our annual Hard Hat & Tool Belt Dinner is scheduled for April 15, 6:00 pm, at Higgenbotham Ranch, 2200 Ewell Road. If you have never attended, you have missed a great event. There is good food, music and fellowship followed with a reverse auction. The goal is to raise enough money to fund building a home for a deserving homeowner. You leave with a “feel good” feeling!
Barney and Carol Barnett personally donated two new houses – $60,000 for each home to Lakeland Habitat for Humanity.
The Ledger reports “Side by side with young men and women from Youth Build, a job training program, the Barnetts ceremonially raised the first wall of the 100th house to be built by the Lakeland chapter of Habitat for Humanity. They [personally] contributed $120,000 for the construction of two Habitat houses in the depressed Parker Street neighborhood. A third home will be built on an adjacent lot with loan repayment monies from families in the first two homes.
The first of the three homes, on nearby Peachtree Street, [is] mostly framed. It will be a two-story, four-bedroom home, purchased by Mark and Marvet Brooks, who have three children. The Barnetts looked over the home and chatted with the Brookses before walking over to the freshly poured concrete slab of the second home, which will be sold to Adam and Nicole George, who have two children. The Georges’ 3-year-old daughter, Faith, was diagnosed with luekemia after the family was approved for the home.”
Besides the Barnett’s personal donation of the two homes Publix Charities also donates every year to Lakeland Habitat for Humanity. Carol Barnett tells the Lakeland Ledger “We’re happy to have such a dynamic Habitat chapter in Lakeland. It was an easy decision,” she said.”
The Parker Street neighborhood has a reputation for drug activity and prostitution, but it is improving, said Claire Twomey, executive director of Lakeland Habitat. Even so, Twomey said, it took some persuasion for the Brookses and Georges to accept the location of their homes.
Frank Kendrick, chairman of the board of the midtown community redevelopment project, said bringing in families is important.
“We need families who want to raise their kids here. Habitat for Humanity – that’s what they do. These are nice, quality homes. Working-class families are exactly what we need to stabilize the community,” he said.”
Habitat is addressing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Habitat’s ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, corporate partners and other community organizations. To lend support, please donate today.
It has been two weeks since Claire and I left Vietnam where we participated in the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Mekong 2009 Work Project.
Every day I still think about the small fishing village and the kind and gracious people we encountered. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity assist 32 families who until now have been living on their fishing boat. You could see the difference in their faces each day as their small block home (400 square feet) took shape. There smiles got bigger and they stood taller with pride. Even though there was a language barrier, they showed their appreciation in many ways.
The picture you see is our homeowner with John, one of our team members from Canada. Our homeowner bonded with John and that made it even more special that he laid the last block on the home. John had never worked on a Habitat house. He read about the project and decided to make the trip as his 60th birthday present to himself.
Today, we all are a part of a global community. Habitat for Humanity International builds at home and around the globe. The Carter project is just one vehicle to bring to the forefront the need for affordable housing. It alternates between here at home and abroad. We will keep you posted as to where it will be next year.
Our last day on the work site and our house is finished. Our family whose name is Dong had a ceremonial tea service for all the volunteers to thank us, with a tea set that we all gave to them for their new home. It was very emotional for all of us.
One of the volunteers brought a bag of balloons and Becky and I blew them up and tied them to a string for the children. One after another they came to our house for a balloon, the police had to come and tell them no more. We almost caused a riot! I do not think they ever saw one before. I know that most of them had never seen an American before. We were quite a treat for them, especially with blue eyes.
We then walked behind the dancing dragons to the closing meal shared by volunteers and families. I wish I could tell you what it is really like here, but I cannot put into words what it would take to show the depth of the poverty here. Our family has been waiting 7 years for this little house while living on a very small boat in the river.
They are so grateful for so little and are so happy to work along side us. We cannot speak each others language, but we can read the thoughts in our hearts through our eyes. It has been an honor to be here with such wonderful people.
