The Northeast Florida Builders Association Charitable Foundation pledged $100,000 to help construct a much-needed Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter in conjunction with Trinity Rescue Mission’s capital fundraising campaign, “Partners in Hope.”
NEFBA’s Charitable Foundation agreed to match up to $100,000 of private donations raised by NEFBA staff member and Jacksonville City Council member Daniel Davis for construction of the new 14,000-square-foot emergency shelter, which is designed to meet the needs of 100 women and children.
Easter Sunday evening, NEFBA members Jerry Linder, Bobby Walton, Derrick Walton, Malcolm Wills, Johnny Williams and Pud English joined the congregation of Trinity Baptist Church to see Greg Matovina, immediate past president, and Bryan Lendry, the current president, present a check for $557,000 to Gene Pruett, executive director of Trinity Rescue Mission. The check reflected a $215,000 cash contribution and donations of in-kind services and materials.
“We are extremely happy at the high level of involvement of NEFBA members,” said Pruett. “Their commitment has become a key to the success of this initiative, and we are deeply grateful.”
Matovina & Co. is providing the site work at no cost and other NEFBA members are assisting through the donation of labor and materials. Ken Kuester and the Florida Building Materials Association are donating the lumber and truss package. Williams & Rowe is spearheading the project by providing all construction management services free of charge.
Substantial cash contributions from Howard White of North Florida Builders and Ken Atlee of Kendale Land Development helped push the NEFBA contribution over the $200,000 goal.
Many other NEFBA members have committed materials and labor to this project.
“This is a great opportunity for NEFBA to help provide housing for those who need it the most – homeless women and children,” said Matovina. “Having four daughters of my own, the plight of these homeless women and children really hits home with me. And we’re not through yet.”
Adam Hollingsworth, chief of policy from Mayor John Peyton’s office, hand delivered the building permit to Pruett so that work can begin immediately.
City Councilman Reggie Fullwood, who represents the district where the new shelter will be located, has committed to fund landscaping and a metal roof for the building.
The property adjacent to the existing Men’s Mission on W. Union St. already has been purchased and money raised during the capital fundraising campaign will be used to build the center, furnish it and staff it for the first two years. The goal is to raise $2 million.
The new emergency shelter will be available to homeless women and children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is projected to serve at least 1,200 women and children annually. It will include several small dormitories for single women and private rooms for each mother with children. The facility also will include a child-care center, a medical clinic, a playground, a common living room, a laundry room, a small kitchen and counseling rooms for individual counseling and case management by Trinity Mission staff.
It is estimated that on any given day there are 1,040 women and children without homes, and many are without shelter each night in Jacksonville because the city’s 18 shelters and transitional housing agencies are full.
Trinity Rescue Mission was established 41 years ago by Trinity Baptist Church, and the church provided a leadership gift of more than $400,000.
“As we have become aware of the need of so many homeless woman and children in the city of Jacksonville, we have determined to show people in need the love of Jesus Christ by opening a Women’s and Children’s Shelter as a part of the Trinity Rescue Mission,” said Tom Messer, senior pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. “Our church has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Northeast Florida Builders Association in partnering with us in helping to make this shelter a reality. We are grateful for their interest in giving back to the community and helping us meet this great need in our city.”