Pensacola Habitat for Humanity receives $66K from Lowe’s to make renovations for seniors

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity recently received a $66,000 grant to help renovate six homes for older adults in the greater Pensacola area.

With the support of this grant, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity will be able to perform renovations for six older adults in the community who would otherwise be unable to afford to repay project costs. To assist older adults in making their homes more accessible and comfortable, Pensacola Habitat installs walk-in tubs, handrails, wheelchair ramps and more.

These projects are a part of Pensacola Habitat’s community development program, designed to help homeowners live and stay safely in their owned homes. Not only does these projects prevent older adults from having to relocate, but it helps promote independence and dignity within their familiar surroundings.

To meet qualifications for these renovations, clients must be 65 and older, own their home, and be within 0 to 80% of the area median income. A two-part Housing Plus Aging in Place assessment takes place with a health or human service professional meeting with the homeowner regarding instrumental daily living activities.

A complete home repair evaluation is then completed by Pensacola Habitat construction staff to assess problem areas of the home that could interfere with the homeowner's ability to remain safe and independent in the home.

The funding from Lowe’s is part of a two-year, $6 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International to support home repair and preservation efforts in owner-occupied homes.

Visit pensacolahabitat.org or habitat.org for details.

Find ways to help: Wine & Fries event raises $43,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida

Santa Rosa drive-through food distribution set for Thursday

SAFER Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa County Public Safety, in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast and FoodRaising Friends Inc., will hold a community drive-through food distribution from 2-4:30 p.m. (or until the food runs out) Thursday, Dec. 21 at the Santa Rosa County Emergency Operations Center, 4499 Pine Forest Road in Milton. Cars may begin lining up at 1 p.m.

Volunteers will distribute 10,000 pounds of food. This event is open to Santa Rosa County residents only (have ID ready) and is on a first come, first served basis. Multiple families may be in one car, though there is only one box per household and a household representative must be in the car.

Residents are asked to follow signage/instructions and enter the EOC parking lot from Spikes Way. Pine Forest Road will be closed to through traffic beginning at 8 a.m. until the food distribution is complete. Those coming through the distribution line are asked to have their trunks open before they make it to the front of the line.

Visit santarosa.fl.gov for details.

Be a Santa to a Senior gift-wrapping party for Greater Pensacola Area seniors

Thanks to the generous support of the local community, Home Instead has collected hundreds of gifts through its 20th anniversary Be a Santa to a Senior program, and they’d like to invite everyone to join them as they get the gifts ready to deliver to local older adults who need a little extra joy this holiday season at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 at the Home Instead office, 817 N. Palafox St.

Stacy Robello, owner of the Home Instead office serving Greater Pensacola, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, can share insights on how Be a Santa to a Senior engages community members to help local seniors. Attendees can also talk with staff and volunteers helping get the gifts wrapped and ready.

The holidays are a time with share joy throughout the community and these simple gifts go a long way to help uplift lonely and isolated older adults. For two decades, the Be a Santa to a Senior program has helped spread holiday cheer to older adults across the greater Pensacola area.

Visit homeinstead.com for details.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services offers Home for the Pawlidays foster program

Foster a pet this Christmas through Santa Rosa County Animal Services Home for the Pawlidays short-term foster program. Those interested in this fostering should complete a foster application. Staff will review the applications and determine the pet that will best fit each foster.

Foster parents can pick up a pet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, foster them through the Christmas holiday and drop them off from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2. The shelter will provide everything a foster parent needs to care for the animal, including food, toys, treats, a harness and a leash.

Staff also recommends scheduling time to meet animals before picking up for fostering, all pets available for adoption online can be fostered. This program gives pets a break from the shelter environment and the opportunity to spend the holidays in a loving foster home. Foster homes give the shelter insight into the animal's behavior and reduce the number of shelter pets to care for during the holidays.

Call 850-983-4680 for details.

Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Habitat receives $66K from Lowe’s to make home renovations