TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A home of one's own. For many it signifies the American Dream, and for a single Tallahassee mother, that dream just came true.
Jessica and her two children got the surprise of a lifetime on Tuesday.
She did, through Habitat for Humanity, she showed up at the house with her two teenage children and her brother. She had been told that they were shooting a commercial for Habitat for Humanity and they wanted her to be a part of it, but that wasn't the case.
She helped build the house with her own two hands, working side by side with other volunteers. Jessica bought her first home through Habitat for Humanity on Tuesday, a dream come true for her, but then it got even better.
She received a $5,000 down payment on the house and a fully furnished home.
The family saw their new home for the first time as part of former NFL running back and Florida State University alumni, Warrick Dunn's Home for the Holidays program. Warrick Dunn Charities worked in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of the Big Bend and Aaron's to make Jessica's dream a reality.
"Hollywood couldn't write a script or a movie about this. I'm just blessed and thankful and it feels good, it feels good," said Jessica.
Dunn says he is inspired to help others because of his mother, who was never able to own a home of her own.
"My mom couldn't save for a down payment and if she could, she didn't have the money to furnish the home," said Dunn. "So I wanted to create an environment to help single parents have a true fresh start to home ownership."
Jessica credits her son and daughter for giving her the motivation to strive for a better life and says she hopes to inspire others to want more and to better themselves so they too can have home ownership.
This is the 170th home presentation by Warrick Dunn Charities.
