Fund announced for deputy house

The Boca Grande Disaster Fund is announcing the fundraising for a new home to be built for deputies working in Boca Grande. After Hurricane Milton, the existing 1920s Florida Cracker home located at 305 Wheeler Road was completely destroyed and condemned.

The critical need is to have Lee County deputies living on the island as opposed to living 15 to 20 minutes off island in rented housing. A number of possible options have been evaluated, and the most economical and functional home for Lee County Deputies that rotate for island security is a home to be assembled and built by Island Life Building Company for an Affinity Homes model.

Firm bids from the AIM Engineering Company to provide survey and engineering for the project and the home built by Affinity Homes total $720,000. It is very important that this project get under way ASAP, in order to have our deputies housed in Boca Grande.

In working with the Boca Grande Disaster Fund, we will be able to raise funds to build this new home, and have donations be 100 percent tax deductible for the donors.

All funds should be sent to the Boca Grande Disaster Fund, which is administered by the Lighthouse United Methodist Church. The fund is managed by Larry Hannah, Mary O’Bannon, Stephanie Newman and Sharon Cross. Local resident Dick Brown will be assisting in this effort to better protect our local community. A contribution of $50,000 from friends and families has already been made, and the balance of $670,000 hopefully will be raised through the generosity of the local residents of Boca Grande.

Time is of the essence to achieve this goal.

All contributions should be sent to:

Lighthouse United Methodist Church

P. O. Box 524

Boca Grande, FL  33921