Executive Director's Message

      At Habitat for Humanity of Greater Apopka our Mission is to provide decent shelter to people in need through partnerships in the community including participation from the recipient families.  Helping people to become homeowners provides more than just shelter; it also provides hope, supports the local economy by providing a work force that can live where they work and further builds the fabric of community. The Founders of Habitat for Humanity were aware of that in 1976 when Habitat for Humanity International was founded and began changing lives and communities, one home at a time, one family at a time, one block at a time and one neighborhood at a time.

      Several years after Habitat for Humanity was founded, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn added their efforts and prestige to our international organization and also became dedicated to eliminating sub-standard housing. Now, Habitat for Humanity International constructs nearly 20,000 homes a year—one every 26 minutes. Locally, in 1995 – over 13 years ago, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Apopka built its first Habitat home. Last year, our affiliate built six homes for six families.  In 2007 we created the opportunity for 13 families to have a decent and affordable place to call home.  Our goal is to be able to build 10 homes per year on a sustainable basis.

      Most of us take for granted having a safe and secure home in which to live, however not everyone is so fortunate. Today, with the price of homes and land skyrocketing and rental opportunities scarce, more families than ever need homes. To provide those homes, Habitat-Apopka depends on members of the local community to volunteer their time and effort and to donate funds or land.

      Ken Wareham, President of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Apopka states “The Mission of our affiliate is great, and while we are a small affiliate we are doing big things. We need land to continue our Mission and are making an appeal to the Greater Apopka community for help in identifying and obtaining land on which to build.”

      As our biggest need is land. We will take donations of a single lot, or of acreage to build a small sub-division, or of donated tax certificates. We also buy land that is made available to us at affordable prices.  Gifts to the capital fund, specifically for land or home-building, as well as actual donations of land suitable for home building are always welcome, along with supplies and materials. We have generous donor incentives. Those interested in contributing to the Habitat-Apopka building fund can designate funds to be used toward land, or the purchase of a specific part of a home, such as a front door, a sink, a door or set of windows, an entire roof or other parts of a home.

      Volunteers are always welcome at Habitat build sites, and assistance is needed as well in the Habitat-Apopka Restore and executive office. The affiliate also welcomes volunteers to serve on a variety of committees, including Family Services, Publicity, Church Relations, Development, Construction, Special Events, Finance and the Board of Directors.

       The Habitat-Apopka Restore accepts and picks up donations of furniture, home improvement supplies and household items for resale to the public, who is welcome to shop the store’s wide variety of merchandise. The Restore features great buys on home improvement items, furniture, household goods and appliances. The Restore's home improvement items include floor tile, plumbing materials, caulking, new exterior and interior doors, kitchen appliances, windows, cabinets, plumbing supplies and in-the-box bathroom fixtures.

“We have been so blessed with a really wide variety of outstanding donations,” says Restore staff member sue Blackwell. “The community has responded in both donating items and buying.  Our customers are important partners in our Mission.”

I am grateful to the hundreds of good-hearted people who have helped us to further develop our mission in the Greater Apopka area over the last several years in which I have been serving the affiliate.  I hope everyone will continue to support the Restore and also attend our special events.  A big “thank you” is extended to all of you for your support!
Andrea L. Burr

(To volunteer or donate funds or land or to learn more about us, please call 407-880-8881.  To donate items to the Restore, call 407-880-8852.)