Beaches Habitat for Humanity raises $130K at Atlantic Beach fundraiser
MAYPORT, Fla. – Beaches Habitat for Humanity, which helps get needed home repairs done for military veterans, senior citizens and others who qualify, raised $130,000 during is big fundraiser Monday night in Atlantic Beach.
News4JAX anchor Jennifer Waugh was the emcee for the event, which drew 300 people.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity serves the beaches communities west across the Intracoastal Waterway to St. Johns Bluff Road.
It always needs donations and volunteers. You can help by clicking here.
Also at Monday’s fundraiser was Randy Brown, a military veteran News4JAX highlighted last week who is having a new home built on his family property in Mayport through the generous efforts of Beaches Habitat for Humanity.
CEO Steve Gilbert explained that to qualify you have to be a Jacksonville resident for at least one year.
“You take out a mortgage, interest-free, just pay on the principal, 30 years fixed mortgage,” Gilbert said about the veteran’s home repair program.
When Beaches Habitat for Humanity inspected Brown’s storm-damaged home, it discovered the structure was beyond remodeling. That’s when Brown received another stunning offer.
They would build him a new one -- on his family’s property!
Beaches Habitat for Humanity has a five- to six-person crew of trained construction experts who are paid to oversee the builds and remodels.
The rest are volunteers, who either work in the construction industry and bring their expertise with them to the job site, or are novices with no building experience, but want to help and to learn.
Brown took the time during Monday night’s fundraiser to thank everyone in attendance for their generosity.