Habitat for Humanity East Bay

Concord Rehab Dedication

Clarice Garrison’s last wish was that her home be transformed to provide a deserving low income family with a new home that they could call their own. Clarice was a longtime donor of Habitat East Bay. She lived in a two-bedroom home in Concord, California, with her beloved dog, Ellie. Although she had no family of her own, she was deeply touched by the work Habitat for Humanity East Bay was engaged in, both in the local community and throughout the world.  

Clarice decided just five months before her death, that she would leave her home that meant so much to her during her lifetime to a future Habitat family. In this way, she was able to make a lasting gift that will continue to improve her community by providing affordable housing to a deserving family. Last Saturday, March 20th, Clarice’s two-bedroom home at 2742 Bonifacio Street in Concord was turned over to the Padilla family, who will now being a new life thanks to Garrison’s gift and the work of a unique group of Habitat volunteers—the All Women’s Crew. Miriam Padilla and her brother Armando, have worked side by side with the All Women’s Crew to rehab Clarice’s home and put it in near-new condition.

The members of the Women’s Crew are the sponsor of the renovation of this Habitat home, having raised over $50,000 to rehabilitate the home through a variety of fundraising activities.  The Women’s Crew celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and their work on the Garrison home represents their seventh home sponsorship for Habitat East Bay. The women’s crew described their dedication to the home as a “labor of love” that they will never forget. Clarice’s legacy will continue to live on through the Padilla family. As one of the Women’s Crew leaders, Diane Agnone stated, “We are creating the world we want to see. If you volunteer with Habitat you can make that happen.”