Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
April 19, 2016 8:20 a.m.
In 2014, one of real estate broker Eric Eppley’s sales agents at Watson Realty brought a letter to his attention. A young girl was asking for help to fix up her parents’ dilapidated home. They met with the family, raised $20,000, and fixed up the home. Bright Beginnings Nassau was born for Amber’s Light and Eric realized that this was a mission worthy of more of his and his wife, Angel’s attention.
He left Watson, where he was at the top of a very successful real estate career, both as a top producing salesman in Jacksonville and broker on Amelia Island to join his wife’s brokerage Diamond Realty Group of Amelia Inc., and devote more time to the new 501c3 non-profit. Currently they and the board, made up from local Christians are working to fix up another home, Reba’s Project. A local grandmother who is raising her 5 grandchildren while she works part time.
$19,000 had been raised and a replacement mobile home located for the family, when a fire broke out recently and destroyed the home they had been living in. Now the task is larger, because fire destroyed items they were going to use in the replacement home. So the group estimates another $7,000 will be needed as soon as possible.
The Red Cross and a local landlord have helped the family to find temporary shelter and help, but obviously this is now a high priority and Bright Beginnings appealed for help through local Facebook posts. Eric said the group is working with Angie McCullen, the Homeless liason for the Nassau County school system and board member, to locate candidates for this service. She estimates that approximately 500 children are either homeless or living in similar situations in Nassau County.
Bright Beginnings Nassau also tries to help the families with Christian education and partners with “Young Life,” for young children. Just looking at these letters from children points to how important a good home can be in their lives and Realtors like Eric and Angel have certainly discovered a worthy cause in this endeavor.
You can go to their Facebook page and check out the website for details or call Diamond Realty at 904-277-9700 to speak to Eric or Angel.
Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.
I am so happy to hear that you all are helping Reba. I worked with her almost twenty years ago at a local hotel, (remember SHONEY’S). She was a wonderful and helpful lady back then and , it sounds like Karma has come back to her.I know of a couple really great families that could use some help too, as we all know it is difficult to raise a child and more so raise your grandchild, add three more and you have my friend Kaye. She has had a very hard life of loss and abuse and tragedy. She was granted custody of three grandchildren because of the poor choices someone else made. She is over 50, and has not been able to hold a steady job because of having to help all the others. She needs a decent place to live, she was able to finally get a vehicle and helps pay rent at daughters house. They don’t even have a stove! I wish I had it to give them, but I don’t. There are many local families that NEED our help. We are the only one’s they can rely on for basic food and care necessities. Please help our own first, with donations and assistance of any kind you can afford. Thank you to Bright Beginnings Nassau Inc. for all you are doing. What wonderful people Erin and Angel are to set an example.