By Jean Sealey
Northeast Florida Builders Association
After pledging $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,” the Northeast Florida Builders Association Charitable Foundation continues work on this project.
Earlier this year, NEFBA’s Charitable Foundation agreed to match up to $100,000 of private donations raised by Daniel Davis, NEFBA’s associate director, for construction of the new 14,000-square-foot emergency shelter, which is designed to meet the needs of 100 women and children.
In the Easter evening service at Trinity Baptist Church, NEFBA members Jerry Linder, Bobby Walton, Derrick Walton, Malcolm Wills, Johnny Williams and Pud English were in the audience when Greg Matovina, immediate past president, and Bryan Lendry, current president, presented 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. Matovina subcontracted with Bill Reeves Construction to clear, grade and excavate the property, bringing construction and completion of the shelter one step closer.
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, A Woodside Community, 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.
“This is a great opportunity for NEFBA to help provide housing for those who need it the most - homeless women and children,” said Greg Matovina, immediate past president of NEFBA. “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.”
The property adjacent to the existing Men’s Mission on West Union Street 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.