Flagler Habitat for Humanity house No. 89 dedicated to Dr. Jim Guines

Flagler Habitat for humanity dedicates house number 89 to Dr. Jim Guines, one of the original founders for the Flagler Habitat program.

By Anastasia Pagello
| 5:59 p.m. March 4, 2016

Christina Whitaker and Kaydence Bliss break ground together for their new home. Photos by Anastasia Pagello

The Flagler Habitat for Humanity joined hands around the Whitiaker family and declared the program was "Not a hand-out, but a hand-up."

Christina Whitaker has a tearful embrace with her grandmother, Barbara Whitaker.

The Flagler County Rotary Club came in support of the Flagler Habitat of Humanity, and will help build the house through to its finish.

Christina Whitaker and Kaydence Bliss

Christina Whitaker and Kaydence Bliss with Tracie Whitaker and Barbara Whitaker.

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The first stake was drilled into the ground by past Flagler Rotary Club President Jim Callender with founding and current member of the Flagler Habitat Board of Directors Bob Cuff, in honor of Dr. Jim Guines.

The second stake represented the Flagler County Rotary Club and was placed in the ground by current Flagler Rotary Club President Matt Maxwell.

Flagler Habitat Board of Directors Sandra McDermott took the honors of picketing the third stake in honor of all of the Habitat committee members.

The fourth stake was set in place to honor the home recipients Christina Whitaker and her daughter Kaydence Bliss.

“The ground is full of roots!” said a startled Lindsay Elliot, executive director of the Flagler Habitat for Humanity, as she attempted to thrust a shovel into the wooded lot that would soon be transformed into a cozy home for the Whitaker family.

Elliot eventually gave it her all, and jumped onto the shovel head with both feet in an attempt to break the resilient forest floor. Flagler Habitat for Humanity home recipient Christina Whitaker accompanied by her 5-year-old daughter Kaydence Bliss, President of the Flagler Habitat Board of Directors Sandra McDermott, past Flagler Rotary Club President Jim Callender and current President Matt Maxwell, all attempted to scoop up the soil in the ground breaking ceremony on Friday, Mar. 4.

Christina and Kaydence are recipients of Flagler Habitat for Humanity’s 89th-home. Since the founding of the Flagler Habitat for Humanity in 1992, the program has built and revamped homes for Flagler County residents in need, ultimately affecting over 400 Flagler County residents. On the cuff of the program’s 25th year, the Whitaker’s home was dedicated to Dr. Jim Guines, one of the core founders of the Flagler Habitat for Humanity.

“Flagler Habitat for Humanity started as a dream from a small group of people, and developed into something extraordinary. The program helps to break the cycle of poverty within the community and makes an immense impact in so many people’s lives.”

LINDSAY ELLIOT, executive director of the Flagler Habitat for Humanity

Dr. Jim Guines contributions to the Flagler County community expanded well beyond that of the Flagler Habitat for Humanity. He was a Flagler County School Board member for over a decade, contributed to the African American Mentoring program, founded the Make It-Take It program and was the president of the Flagler County Rotary Club.

“Flagler Habitat for Humanity started as a dream from a small group of people, and developed into something extraordinary,” Elliot said. “The program helps to break the cycle of poverty within the community and makes an immense impact in so many people’s lives.”

Christina Whitaker plans to put in 100-hours of volunteer work towards helping to build her home alongside a team of Flagler Habitat of Humanity volunteers. The three bedroom, two bathroom home is expected to be complete by the end of July 2016.

“This has been an opportunity of a lifetime,” said a teary-eyed Christina Whitaker as she held Kaydence close. “It would not have been possible without the Flagler Habitat for Humanity’s support.”