On Thursday, August 10, and Friday, August 11, we welcomed 125 volunteers with the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation to help build four homes in Habitat’s new neighborhood off Prospect Avenue in the City of Fort Myers.
Staff and season ticket members with the Lightning Foundation and Vinik Sports Group, the umbrella company of the Tampa Bay Lightning professional hockey team, volunteered alongside Habitat staff and future homeowners to build and raise the walls on four single-family homes on Journey Together Street in our Prospect Avenue neighborhood. Over the two-day span, 125 Lightning volunteers dedicated 566 hours of work installing pre-built interior and exterior walls, hurricane straps and clips, and more among the four homes. In addition, future Habitat homeowners and their families also participated, contributing 60 hours of sweat equity to help build their future homes.
“We are extremely grateful to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for its willingness to roll up its sleeves and make a difference in our community,” said Becky Lucas, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. “Together, we are building more than houses; we are building brighter futures. These four homes will not only provide shelter but will serve as the foundation for new beginnings, empowering families to thrive through the power of affordable homeownership.”
In response to Hurricane Ian, the Lightning Foundation pledged to support hurricane relief efforts in areas most impacted by the storm, resulting in partnerships with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties and other local affiliates. The Lightning Foundation sponsored one of the four Habitat homes on Journey Together Street, which covers the full cost of building materials, supplies and skilled labor needed to complete the home. The four homes are expected to be move-in ready by early 2024.
