From HabiJax: We are joining in the Home for Christmas Challenge, raising support for ONE MORE FAMILY to have their dreams of homeownership made true this year.

My staff story: In 2000, I was born here in Jacksonville and have since spent my 22 years of life in this city. Having the opportunity each and every day to give back to the community that raised me is one of the greatest blessings I could ask for. While in middle school, I attended a mission trip in New Orleans, LA. At this time I was young, new to my faith, and unsure of my passion or purpose here. My youth ministry worked all week through the organization we stayed with doing things like yard work on city plots, hosting a VBS for local children, and learning about the homeless community in New Orleans. One evening in particular, we went to the French Quarter to distribute RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) packs and speak to homeless residents of the city. My group's first encounter was a pair of men who proceeded to tell us their story.  After talking with them, my youth director asked if we could pray for and with them. They agreed and we all bowed our heads, closed our eyes, and stood together. Then, my youth director said, "Go ahead, Addy." I was terrified of praying out loud, but felt honored to have the chance to pray over these men. I said, "Dear God..." and started uncontrollably weeping for a reason unbeknownst to me at the time. Throughout the years that followed, God reminded me of his persistence often. In high school, I attended a local event known as 'Cardboard City' which raised awareness for the struggles of the homeless community by providing a space for individuals to sleep in a box or in their car for the night. Also In high school my friends and I were tasked with writing down a cause dear to our hearts at youth group. Coincidentally (or not at all) my closest friends and I wrote the exact same cause- homelessness. When I began teaching students of my own in youth ministry, God sent me a group of middle school girls who were fiercely passionate about the homeless community in Jacksonville. In 2020, I felt overwhelmingly led to change my major from Business Administration to Human Services and did so even in one of my final semesters of my BS program. In early 2022, after deciding to leave my job in marketing, I knew the non-profit industry was the best fit for me. I applied to more than 25 positions all around Jacksonville and each time was met with an email of decline. Close to giving up, I applied for Habitat for Humanity after my boyfriend, Jonah, began discussing possibly volunteering there in the near future. Unfortunately, I was denied. However, something felt unfinished to me. I went back to the HabiJax website and applied for a different position of which I received an interview for the next day. Days later a phone call entailed both disappointment and excitement after finding out I did not get the position I applied for, but was thought to be a great fit for a newly vacant role. I officially started at HabiJax in March of this year as the Community Volunteer Partnerships Coordinator. Since starting with HabiJax, I have gained a vast knowledge of the need for affordable housing in our community as well as a variety of skills. I've had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with an incredible team of staff with hearts and passions like my own. Best of all, the persistency in God never stopped, but now I choose to embrace it here. Each homebuyer testimony, first-time volunteer, high school presentation and every moment in between reminds me of why my heart led me here in the first place. I'm so incredibly blessed and proud to be apart of the mission of HabiJax.