Holy Ecumenical Neighbors (HEN) support affordable home construction

[Lexington] (June 6, 2017) — Lexington Habitat for Humanity celebrates the construction of the home of Cynethia “Neeka” Jackson at a dedication ceremony Sunday, June 11, 2:00 p.m. at 647 Ohio Street.  Neeka and her children Jackquese (16) and Jo’seiya (3) will enjoy the new home, as Neeka’s oldest daughter, Micola, is already living independently.  In order to reach the goal of home ownership, Neeka worked alongside volunteers and provided 250 sweat equity hours and also completed Lexington Habitat’s Homebuyer Education Program, learning self-reliance through financial management, community engagement and home maintenance.

The Jackson family home was built thanks to the Holy Ecumenical Neighbors (HEN) partnership, which brought together Central Baptist, Christ Church Cathedral, First Presbyterian, Good Shepherd, Lexington Friends Meeting, Masjid Bilal Ibn Ragah, Second Presbyterian and Temple Adath Israel. “The HEN group continues its mission of building community through Habitat impacting and strengthening families.  Our group welcomes new members from the Temple and Mosque, building on our commitment of including a broad community in our mission.  The 2017 Build was fun, hard work and full of surprises underlining the importance of the Habitat mission and its impact on the community and families,” said Jim Clifton, a long-time volunteer from Good Shepherd and Lexington Habitat Board Member.

“Neeka has been a wonderful partner, a shining example of what it means to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. We are so grateful to the HEN group’s support of her family and Habitat’s vision that everyone has a decent place to live. Their interfaith partnerships are a true testament to our primary principle of loving our neighbors, all of them, no “ifs”, no “excepts,” said Rachel Smith-Childress, Lexington Habitat CEO.

For more information about supporting a future home build either financially or through volunteering on a build site, contact Laura Howard at laurah@lexhabitat.org

Lexmark and The Pat Smith Habitat for Humanity Endowment help build homes, communities and hope in Lexington

[Lexington] (July 19, 2017) — Lexington Habitat for Humanity will join home sponsors Lexmark and The Pat Smith Habitat for Humanity Endowment to celebrate the dedication of a new home for Cecile Kahindo on Saturday, July 22 at 3:00 p.m. The house, located at 1765 Russell Cave Road, will become home to Cecile and her daughters, Furaha (11), Deborah (5) and Victoria (1).

Cecile left the Democratic Republic of Congo at the age of 16, and was resettled in Lexington after four years in a camp in Uganda. “When you come here, you have a new life,” Cecile says of Lexington.   

The Kahindo family home was built thanks to a partnership between Lexmark and The Pat Smith Habitat for Humanity Endowment.

“Cecile has traveled a long and arduous journey to bring her family to this day,” said Rachel Childress, Lexington Habitat CEO.  “We have been blessed by her strength and perseverance. It was fitting that two of our most faithful sponsors made it possible for Cecile to achieve her desire to feel safe and have a new life. She joins dozens of other families who have been supported by Lexmark and the PSEF. We are so grateful for their compassion and generosity.”

In order to be eligible for a Lexington Habitat home, Cecile volunteered X hours, and completed classes to support financial literacy and homeownership. Her hard work has paid off, and she is proud of how she is able to provide for her daughters here in Lexington, and has many hopes for their future. To the sponsors and volunteers who have helped build her new home, Cecile says, “God will bless you tremendously.”

For more information about supporting a future home build either financially or through volunteering on a build site, contact Laura Howard at laurah@lexhabitat.org .

Community members and businesses join hands to sponsor and build homes, communities and hope

[Lexington] (August 4, 2017) — On Sunday, August 6 at 2:00 p.m., Lexington Habitat for Humanity will join home sponsors Disciples for Habitat, Tenmast Software and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation to dedicate the new home of Brenda Robles Flores and her sons, Anthony (4) and Larry (2). The home, located at 1785 Russell Cave Road, will help Brenda achieve her dream of homeownership, a dream she has been striving to achieve since leaving Durango, Mexico.

Disciples for Habitat, Tenmast Software and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation have been loyal supporters of the Lexington Habitat mission. The organizations joined hands to sponsor the home for the Flores family, continuing their commitment to ensure more families in Lexington have a safe, affordable place to live.

“Brenda’s love for her boys is obvious to anyone who sees them together. She has worked hard to achieve her dream of providing them a place where they can play freely, study quietly and grow up in a stable environment,” said Rachel Childress, Lexington Habitat CEO. “Her commitment has made it happen, but it would not have been possible without these long-term, faithful sponsors. We are so grateful there are organizations in our community who live out their love of neighbors.”

Brenda expresses deep gratitude for those who have helped her achieve her dream. “Thank you Disciples for Habitat, Tenmast Software, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation and all of the volunteers working alongside me on my new home. I really appreciate it very much. I am very happy to be a part of Habitat. Thank you again.”

For more information about supporting a future home build either financially or through volunteering on a build site, contact Laura Howard at laurah@lexhabitat.org or call 859-252-2224 ext. 113.