A Compassionate Community

In my role as Interim Executive Director at Resurrection House I often get asked, “What makes Resurrection House so special?” While I think there could be many responses to that question, the one thing that truly makes us unique is the community that supports us. Our community has been by our side the entire 34 years we have been serving Sarasota’s homeless population. They make our mission possible.

The recent holiday season was a great example of the amazing outpouring of community support. The donations of clothing, blankets, toiletries, and other items seemed to be unending. The more items we brought into our center, the more donations kept showing up at our door. The generosity was incredible.

Financial donations from individuals, businesses, foundations and religious groups also continue to fuel our ability to serve our homeless clients’ needs. Since our inception, Resurrection House has not accepted funding from the city, county, state, or federal government. Monetary gifts of all sizes continue to be instrumental in funding critical services for our clients such as showers, laundry, food, clothing, and medical treatment to name a few. We are so grateful for our generous donors.

Like so many non-profit organizations, the impact of COVID took a toll on our volunteer workforce. Before the pandemic, we had over 150 volunteers serving each week at Resurrection House. When I became a staff member in July, we had around 60 dedicated volunteers, which reduced the number of days we were open from five to three days a week. Over the past couple of months, through the support of our church partners and a growing “word of mouth” network, more and more individuals have found their way to Resurrection House to volunteer. We now have over 100 volunteers, and that number continues to grow. This recent surge has allowed us to expand our operating hours back to five days a week. However, we still need more volunteers. If you are interested in serving at Resurrection House, please reach out to us. We would love for you to join our volunteer team.

Thank you to all who continue to make Resurrection House that oasis in the sea of uncertainty for those experiencing homelessness. I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it the best, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” The Resurrection House is the perfect place to start helping those around you.

All the best,
Mason Ayres
Interim Executive Director