Most of us have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”; the older I get, the more that saying rings true. At Charlotte County Habitat the “village” or as we say, our partners, are crucial to our success. We are currently working on completing four homes before June 30th. With the help of our partners, 22 families will have realized the dream of home-ownership during our fiscal year.

Charlotte Technical College (CTC), old timers will know it as The Vo-Tech, has been a great partner with Charlotte County Habitat. CTC has a construction program that is overseen by Joe Jones, Construction Technology Instructor. The Building Construction Technology program prepares students for employment or advanced training in the building construction industry. In the classroom, Joe teaches students the practical skills necessary for construction; in the field, he teaches them hands on skills by building a Habitat home. For more than 10 years, CTC students have built a Habitat home each school year.

Deelynn Bennett, Director of Charlotte Technical College, said, “Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity’s partnership with Charlotte Technical College’s construction program is an ideal example of people helping people. By providing a construction site for the students to practice their skills, Charlotte County Habitat is instrumental in promoting the growth of future builders in our community. In turn, the students are helping their local Habitat affiliate by donating many volunteer hours to construct a home.” The end result of people helping people provides one more local family the opportunity of affordable home ownership.

When school starts in August, CTC students will again partner with Charlotte County Habitat and build a home for a local family. They will be partnering with us to help 30 families achieve the dream of home-ownership.

If you would like to partner with Charlotte County Habitat and help make dreams come true, please contact our office at 941-639-3162 or visit our website: www.charlottecountyhfh.org