On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity celebrated a major milestone in our mission as we dedicated the 2026 Faith Build home to Karlee and her daughter, Kalea.
The dedication marked more than the completion of a new home. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Habitat and our community as the very first home completed in Kings Cross Place, our 27-home community.
Habitat board members, staff, volunteers, donors, community leaders and elected officials gathered to celebrate this important moment with Karlee and her family. As the first family to receive a home in Kings Cross Place, Karlee and Kalea are helping us begin what will ultimately become a community of 27 families building brighter, more stable futures through homeownership.
Faith Coming Together to Build a Home
Karlee’s home was made possible through the generosity and partnership of Bank OZK, and a dedicated group of churches and community members who came together to help fund and support the project.
We are incredibly grateful to:
- Faith United Church of Christ
- Frank and Connie Suppe
- Trinity Lutheran ChurchUnited Presbyterian Church
- Knights of Columbus St. Peter and St. Paul
- St. Joseph Catholic Church
- Kirkwood Presbyterian Church
- Bradenton Christian Reformed Church
Their collective support demonstrates what can happen when people from across our community come together around a shared purpose. Through their generosity, volunteer efforts and commitment to Habitat’s mission, they helped make Karlee and Kalea’s dream of homeownership a reality.
A Community Celebration
We were also honored to welcome Commissioners Mike Rahn, Tal Siddique, and George Kruse, who joined us to celebrate this important milestone for Karlee, her family, and Kings Cross Place.
The dedication was made even more special through the generosity of community partners who wanted to help Karlee feel at home. Feeding Tampa Bay donated groceries to help stock Karlee’s pantry, while the Manatee Habitat ReStore provided a gift card to help her furnish her new home. These thoughtful contributions are a reminder that building a home is about more than construction. It is about building a community of support around the families we serve.