Thank You, Publix Super Markets Charities!

At Habitat Lake-Sumter, every home we build is made possible through partnerships with organizations that believe everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. This month, we are proud to recognize Publix Super Markets Charities for their incredible support of our mission and the families we serve.

In December 2025, Publix Super Markets Charities awarded Habitat Lake-Sumter a generous $175,000 grant to support our Homeownership Program. This funding helped make the construction of one triplex unit possible in our newest neighborhood, Cottages at Heritage Grove in Tavares.

Designed specifically for residents ages 55 and older, Cottages at Heritage Grove will provide 23 affordable homeownership opportunities for seniors seeking stability, independence, and a place to age in the community they love. As housing costs continue to rise, many older adults on fixed incomes are finding it increasingly difficult to secure affordable housing. Thanks to partners like Publix Super Markets Charities, more local seniors will have the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership.

What makes this project even more special is that the triplex supported by Publix Super Markets Charities was also built with the help of students from the Eustis High School Youth Construction Academy. Throughout the construction process, students worked alongside Habitat staff and construction professionals, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the skilled trades while helping build homes that will serve local families for years to come.

These students are learning much more than construction skills. They are developing teamwork, responsibility, and confidence while seeing firsthand the impact they can make in their own community. Their involvement, combined with the generosity of Publix Super Markets Charities, demonstrates what can happen when businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community members come together with a shared purpose.

We are incredibly grateful to Publix Super Markets Charities for their continued commitment to affordable housing and community development. Their support is helping create more than houses. It is helping create stability, opportunity, and brighter futures for our neighbors throughout Lake and Sumter Counties.

From all of us at Habitat Lake-Sumter, and from the future homeowners whose lives will be changed because of this investment, thank you, Publix Super Markets Charities, for helping build a stronger community one home at a time.