Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter |

September Groundbreakings

We are excited to announce that we are breaking ground on four new homes this month! We are partnering up with three local schools and three local sponsors to kick off some exciting new construction projects through our Youth Construction Academy. The fourth project is a new home being built in partnership with New Covenant United Methodist Church. We’d love to see you at one of the celebrations. Mark your calendars and come celebrate with us!

Groundbreaking Celebrations

Leesburg High School Construction Academy *IMPORTANT CHANGE*

Date: Thursday, September 5th
Event Start: 8:00 AM
Location: Leesburg High Campus Auditorium
What to Bring: ID to Enter School

Eustis High School Construction Academy

Date: Tuesday, September 10th
Event Start: 8:00 AM
Location: 1270 Cottage Circle, Tavares

The Villages Charter School Construction Academy

Date: Thursday, September 12th
Event Start: 8:00 AM
Location: 305 S. Pine St, Bushnell

Classes of students will spend time during the school week working side-by-side with Habitat’s construction staff and professional tradesmen on live construction projects, providing hands-on learning at our dedicated build sites.

Construction will be ongoing during the school year from September through May. In May, the students and teachers will be included in a dedication ceremony where the keys to the house will be handed to a family in need that has completed Habitat’s Home Ownership program. Ultimately, students will graduate from the program career-ready, having assisted in providing new homeownership opportunities for local families.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration

New Covenant United Methodist Church

Date: Monday, September 23rd
Event Start: 9:00 AM
Location: 10244 CR 229, Oxford, FL

Since 2006, New Covenant United Methodist Church has had a special interest in providing community assistance that focuses on construction, repairs, and family support in the Wildwood and Lady Lake area. A partnership has been formed between Habitat Lake-Sumter and New Covenant United Methodist Church to continue to provide this type of aid to families in Sumter County.

Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter and New Covenant United Methodist Church will work side-by-side to complete construction on a home for a family who has been selected through Habitat Lake-Sumter’s Home Ownership program.

Continue Your Education Online with Habitat Lake-Sumter and ed2go

Ed2go is an online learning platform utilized by major universities across the country, and they’re partnering with Habitat Lake-Sumter to help provide our community with access to a wealth of continued education resources.

The best part? Habitat Lake-Sumter receives a portion of the proceeds for every course taken. This means that by choosing ed2go for online learning, you’re not only investing in quality education but also contributing to a cause that helps build stronger, more vibrant communities.

Explore ed2go’s offerings today and make a positive impact with every course you complete. Together, we can continue to support education and affordable housing initiatives.

Ed2go offers two comprehensive education platforms designed to cater to various interests and levels of expertise:

Fundamentals

Ed2go’s Fundamental Courses at HabitatLS offer foundational skills in business and is ideal for people looking to strengthen their foundational knowledge or explore new topics.

See all courses

Advanced Career Training

Ed2go Career Training’s Advanced Courses deepen expertise with specialized training, while providing industry-recognized certifications.

See all courses

Deadline Approaching – Apply for your Playhouse Today!

Habitat Lake-Sumter wants to remind you that applications are open for our FREE playhouse giveaway this holiday season! Applications are closing soon, so be sure to submit yours today!

In December, we’ll be hosting our sixth annual Jingle Build-Off, where teams will build unique and charming playhouses. These specially crafted playhouses will be given away free of charge to deserving families.

Apply by September 30th for a chance to receive one of these wonderful playhouses. For more information, or to submit your application, please contact Hannah at 352-483-0434 ext 114 or email Hannah@Habitatls.org.

We’re excited to bring festive joy and make special memories for families in our community this holiday season!

Click here to download the application.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Erika Acosta

Meet Erika Acosta, the Dispatch Manager at Habitat Lake-Sumter. She plays a crucial role in coordinating drivers and ensuring the timely pickup of ReStore donations across Lake and Sumter Counties. With nine years of dedicated service to Habitat, Erika is essential in keeping the donation process running smoothly and efficiently.

Erika’s favorite aspect of her job is the joy she derives from helping others. She finds immense satisfaction in knowing that her work directly contributes to improving the lives of individuals and families in need. Erika attributes her long tenure to the positive and supportive work environment fostered by Habitat Lake-Sumter. She deeply values the encouraging atmosphere that makes every day at work fulfilling. Among her cherished work memories are the fun-filled staff outings and team-building events, which she believes are instrumental in strengthening relationships and fostering a strong sense of community within the team.

What keeps Erika motivated and inspired daily is the genuine satisfaction she feels from making people happy and contributing to a meaningful cause. She firmly believes that Habitat is an exceptional place to work or volunteer and wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Outside of her professional life, Erika enjoys cooking and indulging in some retail therapy. Her birria tacos are particularly renowned among friends and family for their exceptional taste, showcasing her noteworthy culinary skills. The person who has had the most significant influence on her life is her husband, whose constant encouragement and support are captured in his motivating motto for her: “JUST DO IT.”

If you have items you’d like to donate, don’t hesitate to reach out to Erika at 352-589-3005. She’s eager to assist and ensure that your donation process is as smooth as possible while continuing to contribute to the impactful mission of Habitat Lake-Sumter.

Upcoming Events

You’re Invited! 2024 Pink Champagne Party!

Join us for our sixth Women Build project constructing Habitat Lake-Sumter’s 300th Habitat home!

Women Build is an annual nationwide initiative that invites women from all walks of life to join together to fundraise and build a brand new home in our community.

Gather your friends and come build with us!

WHAT: Pink Champagne Party kickoff for Women Build 2024

WHEN: Wednesday, March 20th from 6p-8p

WHERE: RoMac Training Center located at 200 E Main Street, Leesburg, FL

RSVP by March 15th via email to melanie@habitatls.org

If you feel that it’s your time to sign up and create a fundraising team, or to simply give a donation. Contact Melanie at 352-483-0434, extension 141, for details.

Save the Date – Giving Tuesday, November 28th!

The daylight is shorter and pumpkin spice is in insatiable demand. It’s autumn, and as thoughts turn to turkey dinners and the brief chance to wear cable-knit sweaters in Florida, Habitat Lake-Sumter has been busy planning with the Mount Dora Community Trust for a different special day: Giving Tuesday.

#givingtuesday

SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 28th

Mount Dora Community Trust has partnered with Habitat Lake-Sumter to give back to our community by matching your Giving Tuesday donations.

Stepping away from shopping to do something a little more meaningful, Giving Tuesday is your opportunity for generosity and gratitude!

Support Habitat Lake-Sumter and have your gift matched to further our mission of building decent, safe, and affordable housing by donating through The Mount Dora Community Trust during Giving Week 2023 – click for details.

Donate to Habitat Lake-Sumter through the Mount Dora Community Trust Giving Week from November 28th to December 5th and your gift will be matched! Giving Tuesday was launched in 2012 to start a conversation about the good we may do in this world. Ultimately, making the world a better place requires generosity and a dedication to measuring impact, talking about what we want to achieve, and gaining a better understanding of the problems we’re trying to solve. Your partnership with Habitat Lake-Sumter and Mount Dora Community Trust is your chance to make a difference regardless of the size of your contribution.

Together, we’re building a more compassionate and giving world while building homes, communities, and hope.

Give more when you give back this holiday season with Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter.

For the past four years, your Hometown Habitat has participated in Giving Week hosted by the Mount Dora Community Trust. During Giving Week, a portion of all donations made to Habitat are matched by the Mount Dora Community Trust. This makes your dollar go even farther is supporting our mission of providing safe, affordable housing in your community.

Giving Week is the perfect opportunity to give a gift to your community that keeps on giving. When you donate to Habitat Lake-Sumter during Giving Week, your generosity makes a deeper impact than ever before, and you move us one step closer to ensuring that our community has decent housing for all.

All donations must be made through that link, mailed to the Community Trust and received during Giving Week, or taken directly to the Mount Dora Community Trust offices to be considered for matched funds. If you have questions about Giving Week or how you can ensure your donation is eligible for matched funds from the Mount Dora Community Trust, please contact Hannah at hannah@habitatls.org or call (352) 531-5223 x114

Do You Want to Build a Playhouse?

Build a Playhouse. Compete as a Team.

Win Bragging Rights and Title of BEST Playhouse!

Plus, put a priceless smile on the faces of children? (*Right in time for the holidays!)

Teams sponsor the build of each playhouse to support building and preserving safe, affordable homes for families in Lake and Sumter Counties.

Teams of any kind can build playhouses – corporate groups, faith congregations, youth and school groups, members of community organizations and groups of friends.

The 2022 Winner of Best Playhouse was Team Shuffield-Lowman with their Princess themed playhouse, which was decked out with a pink fur rug, bookcase full of books, and even a tiny pink chandelier!

Sign up today to build a playhouse!

Contact Melanie at 352-483-0434 EXT 141 or email at melanie@habitatls.org to make magic happen with Jingle Build Off 2023!

Credit Education Workshop – October 23rd, 2023

RSVP Today!

RSVP Now!

To learn more about our programs, contact Veronica Troxell at (352) 483-0434 x 124 or Veronica@HabitatLS.org

The Villages Habitat Club Creative Emporium – Grand Opening

Join The Habitat Lake-Sumter Villages Club at the grand opening of The Creative Emporium at the Leesburg ReStore!

Join us on Monday, October 2^nd, 2023 at 9am for the Official Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Visit the newly-renovated location, shop eclectic home décor, artisan pieces, and much more!

Need to Know:

Grand Opening on Monday, October 2nd at 200 N. Lone Oak Drive, Leesburg, FL
- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 9am
- Co-President, Kevin Tucker will be grilling and serving lunch at 12pm
Store Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 9:30am – 4pm
Store Closed: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
The Habitat Villages Club member creations include eclectic décor, handmade gifts, and more
Every purchase supports Habitat’s mission to build and preserve local homes

The mission of the Habitat Villages Club is to directly support Habitat Lake-Sumter’s construction and preservation of homes in our local area. The Habitat Villages Club completed it’s third new home build in November 2022, from fundraising to hands-on construction, the clubs members did it all. Through club activities, the members help provide strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter to the families throughout Lake and Sumter Counties. There are many facets to the club and they welcome all Villagers, whether they are handy with a hammer or not – all skills and talents can be put to good use.

Sally Read, co-president of the club, said, “All the members love their involvement with Habitat, but they could not build homes without the support of the community.”

When you purchase items from The Creative Emporium at the Leesburg ReStore, you make it possible for The Habitat Lake-Sumter Villages Club to build and repair homes for the families in Lake and Sumter counties.

Here’s a little snippet of fun that the creative, hardworking members of The Villages Habitat Club have: