In The  Beginning

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.  
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.

The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965. They had recently left a successful business and an affluent lifestyle in Montgomery, Alabama to begin a new life of Christian service.

At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The Fund for Humanity
The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement:
What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . .    The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout.

Inception of Habitat for Humanity
In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

Zaire
In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the Fund for Humanity concept in developing countries.

Workers build the exterior wall of a house in Zaire in 1975

 The Fuller family moved to Mbandaka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo.) The Fullers’ goal was to offer affordable yet adequate shelter to 2,000 people. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program, the Fullers returned to the United States.

Expansion into Habitat for Humanity International
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting. The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller’s book, “Love in the Mortar Joints,” proved that the vision of a housing ministry was workable. Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its successful course.

Phenomenal growth
In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat’s ministry brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat’s work across the nation. HFHI experienced a dramatic increase in the number of new affiliates around the country.

Habitat today
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem ― decent housing for all.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 400,000 houses, sheltering more than 2 million people worldwide.

Come in this Father’s Day weekend to the Lakeland Habitat ReStore for a great deal on kitchen cabinets!

Lowes generously donated 5 pallets of base and wall, natural wood cabinets in all shapes and sizes.

The ReStore has already dicounted them 50% off the retail price for you.  If  you come in today or Saturday we will take off an extra 25%!!!

Come in today for all your home improvement needs. 

 Lakeland Habitat for Humanity ReStore

1317 George Jenkins Blvd.

Lakeland, Fl 33803

Call 688-4660

http://www.lakelandrestore.com/

 ”Find a need and fill it.” 

            ~Ruth Stafford Peale

Here at Lakeland Habitat for Humanity, we do our best to build great homes for one in need.It takes time, talents and efforts as a whole community of volunteers to build a beautiful home for a worthy family.

Generous donors like you make it possible to give a family this chance to own a brand new home. 

But,what many of you may not know, is that the ReStore is where we get much of our funding  to keep building.

The ReStore is a part of Lakeland Habitat for Humanity, and is a ”home improvement thrift store”.

So, while we don’t have a stock of all supplies, building materials and appliances that you may need, there just might be that one you are looking for, and at half the price!!!

Try us first.  See what you can find here before you shop the costly retail stores.

We also gladly take your gently used home improvment supplies.  From tools, to window and doors, to extra carpet, tile, and toilets, If it’s in good shape, we’ll take it!

A tax right off for you is just that extra bonus, especially when you know you’ve given to meet a need in the community.

Right now, because of a generous donation from someone like you, we have a wall full of  colorful glass tiles that are on display.  Great for a bathroom makeover!  Come and see them today!

1317 George Jenkins BLVD.

Lakeland, FL  33815

863-688-4660

http://www.lakelandrestore.com/

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.

Location

1317 George Jenkins Blvd.

Lakeland FL 33815

Phone: 863.688.4660

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5  p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

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.

Here at the Lakeland Habitat ReStore, we are always in search of quality donations to sell to our public.  The ReStore carries brand new, as well as gently used, appliances, flooring, cabinets, lighting, tools, paints, tiles, windows, doors, and furniture. 

So, come and shop to see what we have for your new home impovement project!

Also, if you are changing existing home fixtures etc…don’t discard it!   We will always take your gently used items.  We can’t do it without your donations!  Help us continue to empower our future community home owners by donating any gently used, or new items from your business or home today.  It’s tax deductible and your donation shows you’re a community supporter!

Lakeland Habitat For Humanity

1317 george jenkins blvd. | lakeland, fl 33815 | 863.682.3812

Did  you know that the Habitat of  Lakeland ReStore has brand new light fixtures for your home?  Lighting ranging from a beautiful  four bulb pewter vanity fixture, to an eight lamp modern iron scroll chandelier.   Prices are 50- 75% off retail. 

 We have a store room full of varying lighting options just for you! Come see if one or two can make a difference in your home today. 

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.

What do refrigerators, dryers and Disney have in common?

Why it’s the Lakeland Habitat ReStore of course.

model#ABB192ZDB

Your local Lakeland Habitat ReStore has 7 new Whirlpool Amana,  Black,  freezer on bottom, refrigerators for sale right now for

ONLY $500!!!! { Retail  $1048}

They also have  brand new Eurotech dryers, they are white, front loader and 24 inches for

ONLY $175!!!! { Retail $475}

Just in:  Disney World French Quarter  dressers, 6 drawers with matching nightstands…

Were $85, now  $65!

Doing a home construction project?  The ReStore carries windows, doors, chandeliers, concrete supplies, tile, grout, glue, nails, sinks and much much more.  Come and see what you ‘ve been missing!~

Lakeland Habitat For Humanity Restore

1317 George Jenkins Blvd.

Lakeland, FL  33815

(863)688-4660

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.

On Feb. 27, 2010, a magnitude-8.8 earthquake rocked the length of Chile and triggered a tsunami along the country’s coast. One year later, much work remains to help families rebuild their lives and their homes.

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.