Recipients

Women Build 2012

Sanchez FamilyJuan Francisco Sanchez Jr. was born in Piedra Negras, Mexico, but has lived in the United States for 26 years. Brenda was born and raised in Clewiston, Florida and lived there for 24 years until she moved to Martin County.

In 2002, Juan and Brenda decided to move to Indiantown to make a change in their lives and to be near Brenda’s relatives. Juan has worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator for several years. Brenda stays at home to care for their five beautiful children: Nevaeh, 9; Aracely, 8; Juan III, 7; Jerius, 5; and Jasiah, 2. The school-aged children attend Warfield Elementary in Indiantown and the two youngest are home with their mother.

Janet Rosado, a Habitat homeowner, recommended that the Sanchez family apply for a Habitat home of their own. They are the first members of their families to become homeowners. As a child, Juan moved often and he never got the feeling of really belonging to a community he could call home. He is very thankful for the opportunity and stability the Carter Park development will provide for his family.

The Sanchez Family is very close and they enjoy spending quality time together. They like bicycle riding, spending time with their pets, going to the beach, family dinners, playing on the trampoline, picnics and grilling out with family and friends. Most important to this closely bonded family is showing love and support for one another.

They are very thankful to everyone who has contributed to making their dreams come true and they would like to give a special thanks to Sonia Snyder for never giving up or doubting that their dream of owning a home would become a reality.

Women Build 2011

Shameeka Dixon is the recipient of the Habitat for Humanity of Martin County 2011 Women Build home in Hobe Sound.

Shameeka is a hardworking mother of two 4-year-old boys, Jermari and Jerbari. Shameeka has worked as a clerk at the Martin County Tax Collectors office since July 2007. She is also pursuing a degree in Elementary Education from University of Phoenix. Although she has a busy schedule, Shameeka is working diligently to complete her 300 hours of sweat equity.

Shameeka has lived in Hobe Sound for 22 years. Her mother owns a home in Hobe Sound and she will be the first of her siblings to own a home. Shameeka heard about Habitat for Humanity through a Habitat homeowner.

"Owning a home means everything to me. I’ll be setting up a great foundation for my children and they’ll have a place to call home,” says Shameeka. "It’s also a great achievement for me to reach one of my life-long goals.”

Women Build 2010

Amanda Gonzalez is the recipient of the Habitat for Humanity of Martin County 2010 Women Build home in Hobe Sound.

This is Amanda's story:

My name is Amanda Gonzalez and I was born and raised in Long Island New York. I have lived in Florida for 11 years now. I have two beautiful children: Amya, age 5 and Alijah, age 3. I am one of six brothers and sisters. I currently work at CVS Pharmacy in Hobe Sound as a pharmacy technician. I have been employed there for almost three years now. I really enjoy working in the pharmacy; it has been a great experience. I love interacting with my customers and helping them lead a healthy life. The people I work with are so awesome and encourage me to do well.

I currently attend Indian River State College, achieving my Associate of Science degree in radiography. I hope to graduate by the fall of 2012. I believe that my example will definitely show my kids that anything can be achieved in life if you just apply yourself. I will definitely say that it is not easy but I will show them that hard work always pays off in the end.

When my mom showed me the application for Habitat for Humanity I had never heard of it. I was so amazed that there was an organization like this. I see on the TV shows, when they help families fix and redesign their homes. I would never think that an opportunity like that would ever happen to me. I filled out the application and prayed that something as wonderful as having "my own home” for my family.

Right now I am in the process of getting my Habitat homeowner classes completed as "my home” is in the beginning stages of being built. "I am so excited!!” I also have been chosen for the annual Habitat "Women Build.” I am so grateful that all these wonderful people are here for me.

Women Build 2009

Janet Rosado is the recipient of the 2009 Women Build/Habitat for Humanity home in Indiantown.

This is Janet's story:

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I have lived in the Indiantown area since 1994. I attended school in the Martin County area. I’m a proud mother of three beautiful children, Aracelis, age 11, and a set of 2-year-old twins, a boy, Jan Luis, and a girl Janelis age 2. I have a younger brother and sister who live in Providence, RI. My mother passed away May of 2007 due to health complications.

I have been working at the Elisabeth Lahti Library for six years. I really enjoy my job. I love helping people with their paper work, translations and even their government paper work. I try to do the best that I can for those who are less fortunate. I am currently taking classes at IRSC to get my Associates Degree in Business Administration & Management. I want to emphasize the importance of education to my children, so therefore I want to accomplish my college degree. In my spare time I bake or try new food recipes. I also bake creative cakes for the YMCA Indiantown facility. I always dreamed of having my own kitchen, where I can spend my free time creating my delicious treats.

The first Habitat application I turned in was during the 2005 hurricane season. There were two gentlemen from Project Hope helping people in Indiantown. They encouraged me to fill out a Habitat application. Later, Habitat called and told me that my application looked good but I needed to work on my credit.

During these four years I have been through some rough times but here I am still trying to make a difference. After my mother passed away at such a young age I realized I really needed to get a move on the paper work that was necessary for the Habitat house. I’ve been waiting for this since I don’t know when but all I know is that I’m not only doing it for myself now, I’m doing it for my children so they may have a better place to live.

I have prayed all these days for everything to be ok. And when Habitat called me and told me I was going to have people coming over for an interview I got on my knees and asked God for everything to be ok. Two days after the interview I got a call that I was being approved and being considered for the Women Build family. I am truly honored to be considered.

I still remembered what Susan, a member of the interview team, told me after making sure all my paper work was completed, "God has something special in store for you.”

Women Build 2008

Patricia Malone is the recipient of the WOMEN BUILD/Habitat for Humanity Home of Martin County. This is the first WOMEN BUILD for Martin County and construction is to be completed in Indiantown in 2008. Malone has lived in the Stuart area since 2004 after moving here from Decatur, Georgia. She was born and raised in Delray Beach, where her parents and two sisters still live today. She is the proud mother of a daughter, Ciara.
 
Malone, with a 15 year history working in dialysis, was employed by the Florida Blood Center shortly after arriving in the area and continues work there as an apheresis technician. She enjoys her job and knows the positive impact it has on many patients, especially those in chemotherapy and recovering from life threatening illnesses.
 
While she has always longed for a permanent residence to raise her 7th grader, she thought that owning a home would be way beyond her means and couldn’t begin to imagine qualifying for any program’s help since she works and earns a steady income. In fact, her daughter’s desire to paint her own room any color was a motivating factor to have a place of their own, along with her dream of getting to landscape her own yard.
 
It was the persistence of co-worker Patricia Vacca, known as Tish, whom helped make the dream a reality. Trish had qualified for a Habitat home after losing her residence in a recent hurricane. She kept telling Patricia that Habitat for Humanity would begin taking applications in January and to apply. One day Trish was on the phone with Habitat for Humanity’s Peggy Bennett when she forwarded the call to Patricia to find out more information. All matters fell into order after that. Patricia even went to work on the job site of her friend’s home joining other families in the Habitat program as it was being built in Indiantown, which also increased her enthusiasm and excitement of the possibility.
 
Malone completed the paperwork and submitted the application on February 23, 2007. Patricia and Ciara learned on May 21 that they could begin picking out paint colors and planning for plants in their own yard. It was then decided that when that Patricia would be a perfect fit for the Habitat program.
 
"I prayed over the paperwork before mailing it in," said Malone. "There’s no doubt in my mind that it was God’s divine intervention that put this whole plan together. And to think that WOMEN BUILD is funded and built strictly by women is a great example and encouragement for my daughter."