Habitat dedicates three homes

Three excited families will get to enjoy the holidays in their new homes following the completion and dedication of three houses constructed in Winter Garden by West Orange Habitat for Humanity.

On Oct. 10, the nonprofit organization held the dedication of the homes, built side by side, for Charlotte Thornton, La’Tanya Hardy and Latoya Jackson. There to celebrate with them were their children, extended family members, their mentors and sponsors, and Habitat board members.

Marilyn Hattaway, Habitat director, said she was excited to help the three families celebrate their milestones on their journey to homeownership. Hope Church pastor Wes Beacham touted the thrill of miracles and called the dedication ceremony a “divine happening.”

The three homeowners were given a chance to speak to those attending the program.

“We can’t wait for this journey ahead,” Thornton said.

Hardy said the most important thing for her was having a place her children could always call home.

“I can’t wait to add the razzle dazzle,” she said of decorating her new place.

“I’m ready to make memories in this life-changing journey,” Jackson said.

Hardy, Jackson and Thornton joined the Habitat program nearly a year ago after qualifying for a home. They have worked alongside their mentors, completing 200 sweat-equity hours and financial literacy classes and saving for their down payment. Hardy worked with C.W. Abel and Cheri Mayfield, Jackson was mentored by Pat Woodhouse and Josie Zarate, and Thornton worked with Kim Morgan and Rafi Rivera.

Miller’s Ale House was the sponsor for Hardy’s home, and Pilars Martini & Loft sponsored Thornton’s and Jackson’s houses.

Each of the three families received a bible, tool kit, charcuterie board, Adirondack chair, flower kit and plant.

West Orange Habitat works closely with the city of Winter Garden to address the need for affordable housing. This partnership provides the opportunity for low-income families to purchase their first home. Habitat oversees the construction of these single-family residences, using sustainable materials and environmentally friendly building and landscaping practices.

The West Orange chapter of Habitat has partnered with volunteers, donors, and Habitat homeowners to build, renovate and repair more than 45 homes.

GARDEN CLUB, HABITAT FORM PARTNERSHIP

The Bloom & Grow Garden Society is partnering with West Orange Habitat for Humanity to provide landscaping at each new home built. The landscape partnership started with the three most recently constructed homes in Winter Garden, and the garden club planted three pink trumpet trees at each residence.

Members of the garden club showed homeowners how to care for their trees and gave all three of them a gift bag of tree-care supplies.

The pink trumpet trees are part of Bloom & Grow’s Plant it Pink campaign to “pink up” Winter Garden with the flowering trees, also called Tabebuia. The program has won multiple awards for this colorful program.