Flagler Habitat hosts 2nd annual Dressed to a Tea fundraiser

Feb. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Flagler Habitat for Humanity is proud to present Dressed to a Tea …An Afternoon Tea on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church Fellowship Hall, 915 North Central Avenue, Flagler Beach, Florida. This exciting event is in its second year and will feature a fashion show, Chinese auction, live auction items, door prizes and more, all to benefit the Flagler Habitat for Humanity. This special afternoon embraces, mothers, daughters and friends aged 10 – 100. Master of Ceremonies will be Suzanne Johnston, Flagler County Tax Collector. Fashions are provided courtesy of White House/Black Market and Chico’s and will be modeled by homeowners and partner families. Tickets are $30 and include 2 Chinese auction tickets. Hats and gloves welcome, but not necessary. Call 386-586-6180 for tickets.

This will be an event that you don’t want to miss. According to Joanna Folsom, Director of Programs at Flagler Habitat, “When considering the idea of doing a fashion show to raise funds for Flagler Habitat, the first thing that came to mind was to have our homeowners and partner families be the models. Not only are they all beautiful people to model the clothing, but it is an incredible opportunity to highlight their story, share their journey and rejoice in their successes through Habitat for Humanity. As we like to say at Flagler Habitat for Humanity, ‘It is more than building houses, it is about the people!’

Flagler Habitat for Humanity, part of the Habitat for Humanity International Organization, is a 501 (c) 3 organization and is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry with a mission is to eliminate substandard housing from Flagler County. Through a volunteer labor team and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, they are able to build homes along with the future homeowners. The homes are then sold to the partner families at now profit and with no-interest mortgages. The funds received from mortgages paid are then used to continue building houses for more people in need.

A volunteer board of directors made up of individuals from the Flagler County community direct and govern the work of this affiliate of the international parent organization. Staff, committees and volunteers work together to make Habitat’s vision a reality. Money, materials, labor, and donations of every type are raised throughout the local community. Events such as Dress to a Tea are a vital part of their fundraising efforts. No government funds are used for the building of Habitat houses, though they can be used to purchase land or build infrastructure. Flagler Habitat for Humanity relies heavily upon the generosity and goodness of the businesses and people of the local community to support their mission.

According to UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency for human settlements, one out of every three city dwellers—nearly a billion people—live in slums. Many slum residents lack secure tenure without any legal documentation of their property rights in addition to living in severely inadequate housing conditions. Secure tenure not only facilitates opportunities for investment and wealth accumulation, but also provides a source of identity, status and political power and serves as a basis for the pursuit of other rights.

Flagler Habitat for Humanity began in 1992 with the help of a dedicated and passionate group of citizens who saw a need in our community. To date, Flagler Habitat for Humanity has housed 72 families, over 287 people, in simple, decent affordable homes. Flagler Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating sub-standard housing from our community and around the world, one house, and one nail at a time.

To get involved as a volunteer, contact Joanna Folsom, Director of Programs at volunteer@flaglerhabitat.com or call 386-586-6180, 386-931-2400 (cell) or visit www.flaglerhabitat.com  

The Executive Director of Flagler Habitat for Humanity, Lindsay Elliott-Hunt, is available for interviews. Email ExecutiveDirector@FlaglerHabitat.com