Builders Care, a charitable program of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), has received some exposure from a new television public service announcement.
“The public service announcement lets the public know more about the good work of Builders Care,” said the program’s chairman, Ken Kuester. “Statistics show there are between 45,000 and 60,000 substandard dwellings in Jacksonville. Our goal is to substantially reduce substandard housing in Northeast Florida.”
The spot, produced by Ch. 4, was the brainchild of J.J. Currie.
“I have gotten involved in the program as a volunteer and to see the difference it is making in our community is quite remarkable,’ noted Currie, director of sales development for the Post-Newsweek station.
Builders Care was organized Oct. 1, 2001 by NEFBA in response to the growing needs of Jacksonville’s elderly, disabled and disadvantaged citizens who need emergency repairs to their houses but can’t afford them. Since then the program has repaired over 260 severely damaged homes since started last year. The program is also expanding into Nassau and Clay Counties.
Builders Care specializes in making homes handicapped accessible; repairing roofs, siding and leaks; painting; general repairs and installing heating and air conditioning systems. Volunteers have included the NEFBA Student Chapter at the University of North Florida and dozens of community groups and churches as well as hundreds of NEFBA members.
“Builders Care can be the catalyst for the industry to give back to the community through the Northeast Florida Builders Association, funded by the Duval County Housing Finance Authority,” said Kuester.
A volunteer day is held on the third Saturday of each month next one is August 16. Call 727-3443 for more information.