GREEN COVE SPRINGS—Last Wednesday, County and community leaders came together to help build a home for a deserving family.

For the Clay County Habitat for Humanity’s annual Leaders Build, Green Cove Springs Mayor Steven Kelley and representatives from the Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, Hercules Transportation, Rotary Orange Park Sunrise, VyStar Credit Union, Higginbotham Custom Homes and many other organizations were in attendance.

“It’s just an opportunity for leaders in the community to get together [and] help a deserving homeowner get into their home by doing some of this construction work,” said Carolyn Edwards, Executive Director of Clay County Habitat for Humanity.

The event was initially scheduled for Oct. 10 but was pushed back due to Hurricane Milton.

Edwards said it is the 186th home Habitat for Humanity has helped to build within the Clay County community. It will be the future residence of single mom Keri Gambardella and her children, who are battling significant structural issues with their housing.

With a mission to provide safe and affordable housing for those in need, Edwards said the job was well done.

 In a sea of matching blue T-shirts, the volunteers were divided into groups and put to work, painting and installing shelves and door handles, caulking baseboards and writing encouragement on the walls.

President of the Clay County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors Mike Youngblood said there was a great turnout for the event.

“It’s something that we look forward to as well as the community,” Youngblood said.

Edwards said the organization hopes to have the home ready for Gambardella and her family right before Thanksgiving–just in time for them to give thanks for their new home.

Gambardella, who dropped by to meet the volunteers, said she is grateful for all Habitat for Humanity has done to help and that she and her family are excited about what’s to come.

“To be at this point right now, and Habitat being there for me, it’s such a true blessing,” Gambardella said.