VENICE – St. Mark’s, Venice has been an active supporter of Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) since 2015 when the organization first started providing housing for area children and their families facing homelessness.
Housing costs in the southern half of Sarasota County have dramatically risen in recent years, leaving many families struggling. Thanks to the generosity of dozens of grantors and hundreds of donors, FPSSC has been able to assist more than 100 families a year by providing stable housing. Some of this assistance consists of weekly sheltering provided by local churches including St. Mark’s.
With more than 450 children enrolled in south Sarasota County schools identified as homeless, the challenges and objectives were clear for St. Mark’s; more financial help was needed. Thanks to a parishioner who left a sizable bequest to St. Mark’s — to be used at its discretion, and with the clergy’s full support, Vestry voted to tithe $150,000 of the bequest to FPSSC. St. Mark’s presented the check for $150,000.00 to Family Promise of South Sarasota County during a parish dinner on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
In early 2022, FPSSC made the purchase of Parkside Cottages, ten newly built homes to provide transitional housing for shelter clients who find it nearly impossible to acquire affordable options. During the planning of adjacent home construction, some major financial support was withdrawn, threatening the project’s completion.
Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director of FPSSC, expressed gratitude to St. Mark’s for the generous grant which will significantly help the organization achieve its immediate and future goals—including the creation of attainable housing units for the general public.
In words amplifying the organization’s mission, “Family Promise of South Sarasota County provides comprehensive services with an abundance of compassion to help families become and remain self-sustaining.” Among other things, these services include emergency shelter, financial education, employment counseling, and rent and food assistance.
For more information and volunteer/donation/matching opportunities, please visit www.familypromisessc.org.