Christmas came early for the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida.
On the Monday after Thanksgiving, Glenn East, the CEO of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, drove up to Housing Partnership’s warehouse door and delivered $8,100 worth of much-needed new construction tools and supplies.
A generator, nail guns, sanders, drills, multi-pronged extension cords and even extra industrial batteries were among the items donated by NEFAR. The Housing Partnership’s Home Rehabilitation staff and volunteers will use the tools to build wheelchair ramps and rehabilitate the homes of the area’s poor and elderly.
Carolyn Wallace Ettlinger, president of the Housing Partnership, and the staff were excited about the unexpected donation. They quickly unloaded East’s vehicle, which was so full of tools that they were even stacked on the truck’s dashboard.
“We are most heartened by this very generous donation from the Realtors,” Ettlinger said. “This donation means more than tools. It means we can rehabilitate homes and build wheelchair ramps with better, more efficient tools, thus allowing us to complete more jobs and help more needy people.”
For the past three years, NEFAR has had a volunteer partnership with the Housing Partnership called Realtors Ramp It Up! During that time, NEFAR Realtor and affiliate members have built approximately 65 wheelchair ramps for the physically disabled.
“We’re delighted to be able to support the programs and services conducted by the Housing Partnership, which result in greater mobility and better housing for members of our community who need it most,” said East. “Through our Realtors Ramp It Up! program, we’ve seen first-hand the need for quality tools and supplies to accomplish the mission.”
After 13 years of heavy use, the Home Rehabilitation staff’s tools had become worn. NEFAR invited the Housing Partnership staff to provide a wish list of needed items. The Housing Partnership provided a list of needed items, but had no idea the request had been granted until the tools showed up.
The Housing Partnership is a non-profit organization and has programs specializing in home rehabilitation, home ownership, community development, multi-family and real estate. Over the last 13 years, the Housing Partnership has rehabilitated more than 2,754 owner occupied homes and constructed approximately 870 wheelchair ramps.