Jubilee REACH holds its annual service day each August where volunteers prepare classrooms for teachers, stapling, collating, organizing for the coming school year. A lesser known aspect of this day is where volunteers also assist neighbors with home maintenance projects they are unable to take on themselves: painting, yard work, small carpentry projects and general cleanup.

This year, Jubilee has expanded this program and taken on a new partner – MN Custom Homes – with Reach the Need, a program designed to help fund Jubilee’s many outreach efforts through proceeds from the sale of a new MN home. The groundbreaking for the first such home took place Wednesday, Aug. 1.

This first home, located in East Bellevue at 15125 SE 40th Place, is one that gave back twice, first when elderly neighbor Emrys Williams (Em), who had a heart for youth and was a frequent volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club, bequeathed the property to fellow neighbors Mary and Doug Roberts who had cared for him in his declining years when no one else would. Now, the Roberts have sold the property to MN Custom Homes and their initiative to pay it forward through Reach the Need.

“Doug and I met with several Eastside builders,” Mary Roberts said in a press release. “We chose to work with MN Custom Homes because we felt comfortable working with Erik Olberg and knew they were exactly what we were looking for. We didn’t know that Emyrs’ home was going to benefit kids in schools and families through Jubilee REACH. I was so happy it brought tears to my eyes. We’re so happy his legacy will live on through this project.”

MN Custom Homes first reached out to Jubilee following last year’s Festival of Trees event. MN said they wanted to give back to the community and were thinking of doing so by donating the profits from a newly built home, and they were interested in Jubilee being the beneficiary.

“We have a strong desire to invest our Eastside community that we live and work in,” Shaun Mcfadden said in a press release. “We have a heart for improving schools and impacting families in need and found the perfect partner in Jubilee REACH. JR not only shared our values, but was already established in Bellevue Schools and providing families the assistance they need. Our goal is to assist JR’s service days through employee volunteer opportunities as well as contribute financially through our special project, Reach the Need. It’s a bonus if through our involvement, we can increase awareness of the great work that Jubilee REACH is doing in our community.”

Not only is MN doing this new project, but the company’s employees are also participating in Jubilee’s annual service day on Aug. 25.

“This is an incredible story about people that are committed to loving their neighbor,” Jubilee REACH Executive Director Randy Eng, said in a press release. “Jubilee REACH is humbled and honored by MN Custom Homes and their generosity in supporting Bellevue students and the community by donating the proceeds of this home to the work of Jubilee REACH.”