By Kim Brown
Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County held its annual Women Build event March 6 and 7 at Volusia Woods, the nonprofit’s newest neighborhood.
A total of 90 women participated over the two-day event, performing tasks such as painting and caulking. The global initiative is designed to empower women to address housing issues for themselves and their neighbors. The annual event coincides with International Women’s Day and was inspired by the first all-women-built Habitat for Humanity house completed in 1991.
“Seeing nearly 90 women come together to build hope and opportunity for a local family was truly inspiring,” said Malinda Everson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County. “Women Build is about more than construction. It is about empowerment, leadership and neighbors lifting each other up.”
On Friday, March 6, 49 volunteers were welcomed with remarks from St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor. On Saturday, March 7, founding board member Deltra Long met with 41 volunteers and toured the Volusia Woods model home.
Participants included groups from Alpha Kappa Alpha, UF Health St. Johns Care Connect, Costco and Anastasia Fitness, as well as representatives from Westminster of St. Augustine and City of St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder. Four members of the Habitat St. Johns board of directors also joined the teams, with two serving as site supervisors.
Lindsey Rodea, who serves as the vice chair of the Habitat St. Johns board of directors and works for UF Health St. Johns, returned to the organization where she began her career.
“Working in healthcare, we’re used to giving back every day, but this is a whole new way,” Rodea said. “It also gets their minds thinking about who they might know that could use a hand up when it comes to finding a path to home ownership.”
The event was supported by sponsors including Ameris Bank, Florida Power & Light, Publix Supermarkets, Skinny Lizard Screen Printing and UF Health Flagler Hospital.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County is a nonprofit housing organization that builds housing solutions through community partnerships and volunteer involvement. The local office is located at 7 Hopkins St. in St. Augustine. For more information, visit www.habitatstjohns.org.
