Playhouses donated as part of Habitat's "Cottages for Kids" program
WELLEN PARK — Several families aided by Habitat for Humanity were gifted playhouses on Monday for their kids through the charity's partnership with Wellen Park.
Wellen Park also presented Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County with a $15,000 donation to support the organization's overall mission.
Christine Masney, the company's vice present of marketing, said that Wellen Park was proud to be working with Habitat's "Cottages for Kids" program.
"This project gave Wellen Park development partners a chance to come together to support a worthy organization, while also celebrating the next chapter of our community,” Masney said.
The "cottages" had been on display in Downtown Wellen Park since February, where they were unveiled as part of the Model Home Showcase event.
Th 6-by-6-foot playhouses — all designed by Wellen Park and its commercial and residential development partners — were made with "different styles, paint colors and unique details that would make them feel like home and stand out," according to a company press release.
Wellen Park built two playhouses: one with a "cute seating area inside and outside painted with bright blue and yellow colors," and a second one with designed to look like a barn, with "bundles of wood, fruits and vegetables, and stuffed animals such as a chicken."
One of the developers, Mattamy Homes, also built two playhouses: the first with different murals painted on every side of the playhouse, including "a beach scene" and another barn-style "cottage" with painted images of a dog and a car.
Other entries included Ryan Companies — who created a playhouse styled after modern buildings with large floor-to-ceiling windows — and "Sam's Coffee Cafe," a faux-cafe built by Sam Rodgers Homes, complete with a menu, a kitchen, and seating area.
Another one of the developers, PulteGroup, went with a "nontraditional route," according to the press release; instead of building a playhouse, the PulteGroup team created "a swing set with a slide and rock-climbing wall" for kids to enjoy.
All of the playhouses on display were picked up by selected Habitat for Humanity client families during the check presentation ceremony on Monday.
Christina McCauley, CEO of Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, expressed her gratitude to Wellen Park and the participating developers for both the monetary donation and the work that went into playhouse construction.
“Without solid community partners like Wellen Park, we could not accomplish our mission of providing safe, affordable forever homes to hard working families and individuals in our community," McCauley said at the event. "We look forward to future collaborations and growing our partnership.”
Wellen Park is planning another Cottages for Kids buildout later this year. The next round of cottages will also be on display in Downtown Wellen as a part of Wellen Park’s holiday series.
The next event will extend participation to Wellen Park neighborhoods and residents.
An auction to support the Cottages for Kids program is currently scheduled for December, to both raise awareness and fundraise for Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County.
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