CLEARWATER, Fla. ---Clearwater Police Department’s SWAT team picked up a paintbrush to help build more than just homes.
“Today we’re getting our hands dirty doing physical labor to physically make our community better,” said Officer Eric Mitchell, SWAT member.
“There’s 25 SWAT members out here and they’re kicking butt on three of our houses,” added Kriti Thum with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas.
Officer Eric Mitchell and the team members volunteered on the site of 12 Habitat for Humanity homes going up off Spruce Avenue as part of the department’s community policing.
“That develops relationships and trust and that’s so important for us as officers who a community on a regular basis. We know the folks who live in our neighborhood and they know us have a bond that’s invaluable,” explained Mitchell.
Among the volunteers are future homeowners like Ana Garcia. She’s putting in 350 to 450 hours of sweat equity before moving in.
“I’m very excited, it’s a nice opportunity for a single mom like me. My kids are excited too,” said Garcia.
Helping families out is personal for Officer Mitchell.
“As a child I was homeless. Here in the City of Clearwater, there were some local resources that helped me and my family get out of homelessness," he said. "I went on to become a police officer in the community."
Habitat for Humanity has built 452 new homes in Pinellas and repaired 50.
Thum said, “Just knowing they have a place to call home, a place built with quality and lots of love.”
“We want families to move into these homes to know they have a police community that cares deeply about them and we’re here to serve them any way we can,” said Mitchell.
Habitat builds homes in seven weeks and expects this dozen to be completed by the end of March.
