Breaking Ground at Manatee Habitat’s 25th Anniversary Interfaith Home Build
New home build kicks off with local faith leaders uniting to better a community through shelter
September 2019, Bradenton – Manatee County Habitat for Humanity broke ground with several local faith leaders and new homeowner for its 25th Anniversary Interfaith Home Build. The faith organizations will help fund the construction materials to build the home and will promote volunteering among their congregations.
“We are so grateful,” said new homeowner and mother of three, Markisha Harris. “Manatee Habitat helped me prepare for this with classes on finances and home ownership, and I feel I’ve gained a future that I would never have.”
Harris has also been volunteering on home builds having been on a waiting list of more than 400 people for two years, and then joining the program a year ago. Her plan is to continue to help others with their homes after hers is complete.
Faith leaders came to turn a shovel of dirt to celebrate the start of the build and included Reverend Brian Bagley-Bonner, Faith United Church of Christ; John Joly, Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church; Pastor Ted Land, Palma Sola Presbyterian Church; Fr. Shawn Roser, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; Vicar Fred Klinger, Trinity Lutheran Church; Neil Clark, Temple Beth El; and Shiraz Hassan, The Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton.. The event will be held Thursday, September 12 at 12 noon at 2207 11th St. West, in Bradenton, in the neighborhood near Village of the Arts. Manatee Habitat has recently built seven new Habitat homes in this area.
The home for the Harris family was designated as the Manatee Habitat 25th Anniversary home because it will be started closest to the anniversary date of the organization. The three-bedroom, two bath home will be the 135th house built by Manatee Habitat.
As Habitat for Humanity is an organization founded in faith, this milestone Build was designated as an Interfaith Build to celebrate our dedicated Faith Community builders while reinforcing the origins of the organization. Manatee Habitat will also host a celebration of 25 years of building homes, community and hope at a free, family-friendly event on the Riverwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information about the build, contact Amy Van Dell, Director of Development at Avandell@manateehabitat.org. To donate, volunteer, or learn more about Manatee County Habitat for Humanity, visit ManateeHabitat.org or call 941-748-9100.
ABOUT MANATEE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical, volunteer-based organization with the mission to develop resources, educate and mobilize people to work alongside families in need, rehabilitating existing homes and building sustainable, affordable homes, thereby improving the quality of life in Manatee County. For more information about Manatee Habitat visit www.manateehabitat.org.