CRESTVIEW — A year ago, when ChanDrieka Robinson received her qualification letter from Okaloosa County Habitat for Humanity, it “was the best Christmas gift ever,” she said.

Now, she is preparing to move her children — Dejah, 10, David, 9, Joelle, 7, and Jaelah, 4 — into their new Lee Avenue residence.

The Robinsons received keys to their Habitat for Humanity house on Monday. The big day followed more than 3,500 hours of labor and the efforts of 600 volunteers, including Robinson and her kids.

'IT CAME UP FAST'

Volunteers included college students in town for spring break, soldiers from the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and airmen from Hurlburt, Duke and Eglin Air Force Bases, construction manager Bob Hauge said.

“It came up fast when the college kids came down,” Hauge said.

After they helped raise walls, Hauge said he tried to release the students to let them get a little beach time in during their week off. But it was the same day the roof trusses arrived.

“They said, ‘Let us please put these things up,’” Hauge said, so he relented and the students completed framing the house.

As for the oldest volunteer, Roger Budd, 92, “We had to keep him from working up on the roof,” construction manager Bill Prescott said, joking.

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

Robinson thanked Hauge and Prescott for teaching her some of their carpentry skills. Those tip will be useful as she helps other Habitat partner families build their homes, she said.

During a brief dedication ceremony, volunteers presented the Robinsons with  housewarming gifts, including a Bible, furnishings and a hand-stitched sampler made for the family by the Sand Dunes Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America.

At the close of the dedication ceremony, the Rev. Catherine Parks, the Robinsons' pastor at Unity Pentecostal Church of God in Crestview, offered benediction. 

“We will reach out to those in need of adequate shelter with our hammers in our hands, love in our hearts and the knowledge that with God, all things are possible,” she said.

“Then we will rejoice together.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Best Christmas gift': Mother of 4 receives keys to Habitat for Humanity home (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa skilled nursing and adult congregate living patients can visit family members for the holidays at no charge.

The Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services' “Home for the Holidays” program will operate 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It offers free roundtrip transportation, on a space-available basis, to self-supporting patients.

Call 651-7150, between 8 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, to schedule transportation. All requests are due by 1 p.m. Dec. 22.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa EMS taking patients home for the holidays

CRESTVIEW — The AMVETS, Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of AMVETS and AMVETS Riders will deliver free Christmas dinners to local residents.

The groups will travel between Shoal River in the east and south, Yellow River to the west and Auburn Road to the north. 

Residents in need can call 682-8435between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., give their name, address, phone number and how many meals you will need, and state whether they can pick the dinners up themselves. Send requests by 5 p.m. Dec. 22 to ensure there's enough food.

The volunteer groups will deliver meals around noon Dec. 25.   

Dinners will include turkey and baked ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, whole kernel corn, stuffing, a roll and pie. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free Christmas meals available for North Okaloosa's needy

DESTIN — Shelter House's 4th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence raised more than $20,000, according to a spokesperson.

More than 360 runners turned out for the Dec. 6 race, which included 5k and 9k courses throughout the Indian Bayou neighborhood. The 9k distance served as a reminder that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S.

More than 2,000 luminarias represented how Shelter House and its community partners light the way to a safer place for Okaloosa and Walton's domestic and sexual violence survivors, a spokesperson said.

The event concluded with a post-race party at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and dessert courtesy of Karaboo Bakery and Sugarmill Sweets. Runners were also treated to hot cocoa, gumbo, s’mores, hot toddies and more while awards were presented.

The state-certified domestic and sexual violence center provides a 24-hour domestic violence/rape hotline, crisis counseling, advocacy, outreach, support groups, primary prevention, transitional housing and confidential shelter.

Next year's Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence will take place Dec. 5. Call Shelter House, 243-1201 or visit www.shelterhousenwfl.org, for more information on the race or sponsorships.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Run nets $20K for nonprofit serving domestic, sexual violence survivors

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa foster children will be warm and comfortable this winter following the Silver Threads Quilt Guild's recent donations to Children in Crisis.

Guild members donated 176 quilts, 112 pillowcases, 113 Christmas stockings, 67 tote bags and seven bags, each containing a Beanie Baby, to the nonprofit organization.

“Your hands did this and the children feel your love," Ken Hair, with Children in Crisis, said to guild members. He said CIC has given homes to over 500 children since 2008.

In addition, The Emerald Coast Parrot Head Club presented a $1,000 donation to help feed, clothe and care for the children living at the CIC Neighborhood. 

The neighborhood has an emergency shelter for children removed without notice from an unsafe environment, family foster homes for young children and two teen transition homes for foster children aging out of care.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 2 organizations help Children in Crisis

Editor’s note: In each Weekend Edition, the News Bulletin will provide clues to a certain North Okaloosa location. If you tell us the correct location, you could win lunch for two at Angel's Speakeasy in Crestview. We will announce the winner on crestviewbulletin.com. 

It's too late to enter last week's contest, but you can quiz yourself on North Okaloosa knowledge, just for fun! 

HINT: The Commodores sang about it, and so did Hillsong, though neither of their songs was about the kind of “Still” I’m looking at, a relic of North Okaloosa’s colorful early 20th-century history.

The old copper still I’m checking out could well have been among those that meant the difference between supper on the table or going to bed hungry for Depression-era moonshining families.

I’m rooting around a veritable county grandma’s attic of treasures in a congenial village that almost was voted the Okaloosa County seat.

Where am I?

Spoiler alert:  * * * * * * * * *

The correct answer was: Baker Block Museum!

Congratulations, Kathy Garrett Kerlin, for guessing correctly!

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: I AM WHERE? (In "Grandma's attic")

CRESTVIEW — The Friendly Thriftiettes Charity Club's annual banquet is 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Carver-Hill School Center, 461 W. School Ave., Crestview.

The banquet will feature guest speaker Evangelist Nate Moorer  of Resurrection Baptist Church.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person or two tickets for $18. You may also contact any club member.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Friendly Thriftiettes Club annual banquet is this weekend