PORT TOWNSEND –When Jean Camfield, a founder of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, opened an envelope from The Seattle Foundation on Tuesday, she flipped.
Inside she found a $100,000 check sent by an anonymous donor to support the nonprofit organization that builds homes for low-income families in Jefferson County.
“The volunteers handed it over to me and then were scraping me off the ceiling,” said Camfield.
“It’s so wonderful to have this kind of validation.”
A philanthropist, who wished to remain anonymous, asked that the money be used to pay off a portion of the mortgage for a new 10,500-square-foot building acquired by Habitat for Humanity in April.
Designated as a furniture store and located at a highly visible spot at 2001 Sims Way, the new building attracts customers shopping for secondhand furnishings.
“This store is the reason why we can build in Jefferson County,” said Camfield.
The building’s cost is about $541,000, including remodeling and mortgage expenses, said Nora Porter, Habitat’s capital campaign co-chair.
The donation will bring its outstanding balance down to about $200,000, Camfield said.
