Put Your Faith Into Action
Each year, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity joins hands with the local faith community to build a safe, affordable home for a family in need. This year, our Faith Build homeowner is Karlee, whose journey of resilience and redemption is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from faith and second chances. Karlee’s home also marks an exciting new chapter in our mission; it will be the first home built in our upcoming 27-home community, Kings Cross Place.
The goal of our 2026 Faith Build is to raise $50,000 to help build Karlee and Kalea’s new Habitat home. Every gift brings us one step closer!
Join us in Building Hope
Over the years we’ve built homes with local Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Two years ago, we brought together many denominations from Manatee County for our 2023 Faith Build. That home was purchased by Teresa, who moved in with her son, Brandon.
We hope you will prayerfully consider joining us in this build in any way that is meaningful to your congregation. Financial contributions will enable us to purchase the necessary materials and volunteer support of all kinds will help us complete the task of providing an opportunity for affordable home ownership. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Church, St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church have already stepped forward to participate in this year’s campaign.
Meet Karlee and Kaylea
A lifelong Bradenton resident, Karlee grew up with big dreams and a bright future. She was a standout athlete and marching band member, ready to embrace all the milestones of senior year—college, prom, and graduation. But during the spring semester of her senior year, one basketball game changed everything. A devastating leg injury left her with four fractures, months of recovery, and dreams suddenly put on hold.
Recovery brought surgeries, rehabilitation, and emotional pain that was far harder to heal. What began as prescribed pain relief soon became addiction. Though she earned a dental assisting certification from MTI and began working in the field, she continued to struggle silently beneath the surface.
As life unraveled, Karlee entered a relationship that became abusive, both physically and emotionally. While trying to leave, she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter, Kaylea. The challenges that followed—substance use, legal trouble, and eventually separation from her daughter—brought her to her lowest point.
But God was not finished writing her story.
In 2019, determined to rebuild her life and reunite with Kaylea, Karlee entered a 24-month addiction recovery program at Prodigal Daughters Journey Home and began her journey of transformation. Through a two-year restoration program for women, she found healing, faith, and a renewed purpose: to help others overcome the same struggles she once faced.
Her perseverance paid off. Karlee regained full custody of Kaylea in 2022 and went back to college. She became a full-time director at the very program that helped her heal, began speaking publicly to inspire others, and even shared her testimony at a Kiwanis Club event—where she found herself sitting beside the very judges who had once presided over her cases. Those same judges are now her mentors, and Karlee works in their courtrooms as part of the Manatee County Clerk of Courts team.
Now, Karlee’s next chapter is unfolding. She has been accepted to law school and will begin classes soon—continuing her mission to serve and advocate for others. She leads worship at her church, has rebuilt her credit, and is creating a stable, faith-filled future for herself and Kaylea.
For Karlee, homeownership through Manatee County Habitat for Humanity’s Faith Build means more than a roof over their heads. It represents redemption, stability, and the fulfillment of God’s promise, a safe place where she and Kaylea can grow, learn, and thrive. With faith as her foundation and community by her side, Karlee is building not just a house, but a lasting legacy of hope.
Faith Build News
Thank You—We Exceeded Our Giving Tuesday Goal!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we are thrilled to share that we exceeded our Giving Tuesday goal for our 2026 Faith Build home for Karlee! After extending our matching challenge through Sunday, December 10, dozens of additional supporters...
Faith in Action: Announcing $12,500 in Matching Funds for Giving Tuesday
Just one week out from Giving Tuesday on December 2nd, we are excited to share an inspiring update that will help launch our 2026 Faith Build in a powerful way. Thanks to a heartfelt and deeply meaningful contribution, we now have $12,500 in matching funds from Faith...
Reigniting Faith: Announcing the 2026 Faith Build
After taking a year off to reimagine and refresh our Faith Build campaign, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to announce that the Faith Build is returning for 2026! This special project unites local faith communities around a shared mission—raising...
Get Involved with Your Church!
For information on participating in our faith build, please contact Emily Lane at elane@manateehabitat.org.