MasterCraft Builders Group Works With Partners To Give Back

 
MasterCraft Builder Group prides itself on being a local company that knows the community’s needs. As they like to say, they’re in this business to help shape the community they live in. With an extensive portfolio of philanthropic work, MasterCraft is the driving force behind events like Clays for a Cause and Hometown Heroes, and is heavily involved in the non-profit Builders Care. They are also active St. Johns Builders Council (SJBC) members. SJBC aims to support the building industry through education, training, advocacy, networking, and community involvement. And when the group heard about the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County (ESHC) mission, they went all in to help bring needed services to local families.
 
“The ESHC is a hand-up, not a handout organization,” says Seth Kelley, Vice President of Purchasing for MasterCraft Builder Group and SJBC Board Chairperson in 2022. “When we heard about their vision, I was just so inspired. ESHC was working to create a well-manicured campus with restored and new buildings and vital family services. They wanted to build real community ownership and pride in the project. It became a personal mission that I wanted to make sure succeeded.”
 
When the SJBC Board and Kelley heard about the project, ESHC were in the process of rehabilitating several old homes on their West Augustine campus. The group voted to “adopt” one of the homes, beginning work in October 2022. As with most home projects, the original scope changed. What started as cosmetic repairs became a full-blown rehab. The 100-year-old house, originally built to house railroad workers, needed a lot of work. The SJBC received donations of materials, labor, and expertise from suppliers, tradespeople, and parent organization, the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA). The project was completed, and the keys were returned to ESHC Executive Director Debi Redding on June 26th. The house became a home when it received its first tenants on June 28th.
 
“We couldn’t have completed this project without the support of over 36 building partners and members,” says Kelley. “If we asked, they said yes – nobody ever said no. Especially Jackie and Parker Rowland with Russell Rowland, Mitch Szymczyk with Tri-State Builders, Justin Shonk with Gleckler and Sons Construction and Building Materials, Jamie Warrington with Builders FirstSource, and Steve Brogdon with Brogdon Builders – they were all so generous. I’m extremely proud and humbled by this experience.”
 
SJBC completed over $53,000 worth of work on the property. Thanks to the work of volunteers, donated materials, and the persistence of Kelley, the actual cost was only a fraction of what it could have been. The costs were so minimal that the NEFBA and the SJBC were able to provide over $11,000 in additional funding to the ESHC to support their mission to help those in need. Read more about ESHC’s mission here.
 
ABOUT MASTERCRAFT HOMEBUILDERS GROUP: MasterCraft Builder Group is a semi-custom homebuilder and community developer in Northeast Florida. Committed to excellence, they are known for their Higher Standards and quality craftsmanship. MasterCraft builds homes in some of the finest communities, including SilverLeaf and Madeira. For more information on MasterCraft homes and their Higher Standards, visit mastercraftbuildergroup.com. Follow along on social media @MasterCraftBuilderGroup