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Above picture is Barbara Donnelly and “Henry”. Editor’s note: Barbara Donnelly is the only Secretary the Board of Directors has ever had. The following information comes from some of the first minutes she wrote.

The original Articles of Incorporation are dated March 13, 1987, but the concept was developed over a period of time before that. It all began at a Redeemer Vestry retreat when three vestry members were appointed to a committee to research solutions to the homeless problem. Those members were Bob Kyllonen, Tom Younkman and Barbara Donnelly. After much research the idea of Resurrection House was born. The committee consulted especially with the Salvation Army to find out what needs were not being met by the Salvation Army at that time. The committee also found 5 other downtown churches who committed to being founding members.

The first Board of Directors consisted of: Robert P. Kyllonen, Rev. Jack L. Iker, (Church of the Redeemer), Rev. J. Ted Hunniford, Jr., (Grace Fellowship), Rev. Robert A. Bew (Grace Fellowship), Rev. Rick L. Cornwell, (First United Methodist Church), Billie J. Hord, Thomas D. Younkman, Tozier Brown, Barbara Donnelly and William H. Lewis. The first officers were:

• President: Rev. Jack L. Iker
• Vice President of Facilities: Thomas Younkman
• Vice President of Programs: Billie J. Hord
• Secretary: Barbara Donnelly
• Treasurer: William H. Lewis

Above is the artwork of renowned Sarasota artist Richard Capes.

When applying to the Zoning Dept., Mr. Kyllonen said that “The basic purpose of the shelter is to provide a place for the city’s homeless to rest during the day – a shelter with restroom facilities, a place to shower and shave, recreation such as books and magazines, use of a telephone for local calls, help in locating work for those so inclined, and a free laundry service.

The first physical location for Resurrection House was in the Salvation Army facility on 4th Street in downtown Sarasota. There was one room plus an outdoor space for a washer and a dryer.

On January 15, 1994, Resurrection House moved to its current location at 507 Kumquat Court. In 1925, the property started as five separate businesses and was rebuilt in the 40’s as a single stand-alone building.

Under Barbara – Barbara Donnelly and “Henry”. Under building = Artwork courtesy of rnowned Sarasota artist Richard Capes.

It was a cool winter evening in 1985, and a number of parishioners were headed into the Church of the Redeemer for a meeting. The lawn sprinkler system came on and out of the bushes came a woman named Joy. She was homeless and living on the church grounds.

The parishioners took Joy inside, helped dry her off, provided food and even took up a collection so she might spend the night in a motel. This one event got them thinking—if we have a woman living on our grounds, maybe Sarasota has a homeless problem. The subject became a vestry project and in 1989 they got together with five other downtown churches to form what eventually became Resurrection House.

It was at this point that the concept for Resurrection House went before the Sarasota City Commissioners for their approval. After hearing arguments from both sides (pros and cons), the initial vote was two in favor and two against. It took over twenty minutes of discussion before the final vote in favor of approval was given.

And So We Began………October 19, 1989

Original Mission Statement: Resurrection House is a faith-based resource center committed to the alleviation of the suffering of the homeless by offering physical, emotional and spiritual help and by serving as a bridge from despair to dignity.

For the first 18 years, Bob Kyllonen served as Executive Director. Upon his retirement, David Proch moved from Assistant Director to the top post. Development Director, Bill Wilson, followed Proch in 2016 as Executive Director.

For the past two years I have been working at the homeless shelter, Resurrection House, as a counselor. People tend to refer to “the homeless” as a group. But, they are all individuals.

The circumstances that brought them to this situation vary from financial loss, traumatic situations from which they could not seem to recover, illness…both physical and mental…and a life that disconnected them from other supportive people. Regardless, it is a hard life they have now. But, it is far from a hopeless one.

Often scorned on the outside, when they see a counselor they are frequently surprised that someone sees them as a worthwhile person and that someone cares. Like all of us, they long for dignity and respect, and when it is offered it is often life-changing. Many times someone has come to me feeling hopeless, if not worthless. They think they are seeing me to get the food or clothing or a referral that they need. And in part that is the case. (For example, a new set of clothes can make them confident in pursuing a job.) But, when they realize that someone really wants to know about them, their stories and their feelings, the dynamic changes. I cannot tell you how many times, at the end of a session, I and my fellow counselors have heard: “You listened to me!” It is a joy and privilege to gain the trust of someone who has learned to be wary. And it is touching beyond words to have someone who comes in angry or defensive turn to leave with their arms wide open asking if they can have a hug.

I expected a lot more anger than I encountered. Mostly what I see, along with resilience, is the gratitude they express for the help they are getting, for the existence of Resurrection House. I see that and the care that many of them take of each other…sharing food and watching out for the safety of the more vulnerable members. Not everyone succeeds in overcoming their homelessness, but the successes give everyone hope. To be a part of that is an honor.

Most of us who volunteer are in much better situations than our clients. We have homes to go back to and people who care for us. But, we carry them in our hearts when we leave. These are real people with something to offer and who are responsive to the affection we develop for them. I try to remind each person of something I see in them…whether it is their smile, their courage or what they have accomplished. And there is almost always something. I care about providing for their practical needs and for giving them the tools and coping responses to improve their situations, but most of all I remember what one of my teachers taught me: “You cannot heal someone, you can only sit with them and see the beauty that they have forgotten”. We as fellow human beings can be the mirror they can look into to see their own good and worthiness.

Resurrection House does an extraordinary job of offering the services the homeless need. I am ever grateful to them for allowing me the privilege of working there.

Lorene Bauck, Biology Instructor at the Sarasota Military Academy, recently contacted Resurrection House about her “Connecting Hand project. Lorene has started a club that would involve the Cadets in making sandwiches each week in November and finish it off with tote bags filled with “travel sized” toiletries for Christmas gifts.

She felt their efforts would best benefit the homeless and give the Cadets an opportunity to help those less fortunate.

“It has been a real learning experience for all those concerned,” commented Joe Lucero, Volunteer Coordinator at Resurrection House. “The Cadets have shown compassion and caring in their efforts, and all our homeless clients have enjoyed knowing a group of young individuals that care about their plights in life,” Lucero concluded.

I have always had a feeling of honor and gratitude each time I am invited to address a church congregation on Sunday morning. Such was the case in late October at Northminster Presbyterian Church. Being the recipient of their mission offering for the fourth quarter, a Resurrection House representative was invited to speak.

Upon arriving, I noticed in the program that my talk was to follow the sermon and precede the offering. The title of my talk was to be “Minute for the Mission”.

When my turn came, I gazed at the many faces in the congregation. My thoughts had already turned to trying to make what Resurrection House does relevant to those seated before me. My opening statement hopefully had the proper impact. “Each of you has something in common with the homeless individuals that we serve on a daily basis,” I began. “When your feet first hit the floor in the morning you have four basic human needs—a restroom, shower, food and clothes. Fortunately, each of you has a roof over your head to tend to these needs,” I continued.

While our homeless have the same needs, they lack their own facility to meet them. Resurrection House meets these needs with four showers, four restrooms, breakfast and lunch, and volunteers to wash, dry and fold 60 bags of clothes per day.

The Northminster Presbyterian bulletin did a good job of listing the other services available at Resurrection House. I highlighted the medical facility with a doctor and nurse two days a week, an attorney on Tuesday morning and a barber one day a week.

Other brief points included celebrating the start of our 28th year of operation on October 19. And I always mention that Resurrection House has never taken a penny from city, county, state, or federal governments.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not tell of the overwhelming feeling of gratitude and pleasure derived from helping our clients on a daily basis. My final remark is that in helping them, they do more for me than I can ever do for them.

The homeless will always be among us and I hope there will always be a Resurrection House there to meet their needs. All said in a “Minute for the Mission”.

During the 2016 Giving Challenge run by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, he obligated himself to ride 600 miles on the Legacy Trail over a 13 day period. He actually rode a total of 651 miles!

This effort by volunteer Roland Levy helped raise additional funds for Resurrection House during the Giving Challenge. Although the next Giving Challenge will not be held until 2018, Levy had decided to once again test his stamina by riding another 600 miles.

As an endurance cyclist, I plan to cover the 600 miles between October 31 and November 13,” Levy states. “This is a true labor of love for me and a way to demonstrate to others my commitment to the work accomplished by Resurrection House,” Roland continued.

Having years of training dealing with individuals with chronic mental illness, and alcohol and drug dependency, Roland was a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. In 2015, he published his first book titled, “What Keeps Us Sober”. In addition, Roland serves on the Board of Directors for the Secular Organizations for Sobriety.

Click here to download Ridin’ for the Rez Donation Pledge Form

Even before she joined The Florida Bar, Michele Stephan understood the value of pro bono service. Stephen went to the Stetson University College of Law on a Public Service Fellowship from The Florida Bar Foundation and, while there, developed a program to providelegal services to the poor and volunteered at legal clinics. She was awarded the college’s Pro Bono Service Award in 1996, the year she earned her J.D.

Now, after 20 years of legal practice, she has left a Sarasota personal-injury firm and starteda solo practice, Legal on Your Own, P.A., to offer unbundled legal services to pro se litigantsand others who can’t afford a lawyer.

For six years, Stephan has single-handedly run a weekly legal counseling clinic for the homeless clients at Resurrection House. During that time, she has donated more than 500 hours of pro bono service. “Michele continues to be a forceful and caring voice for our clients needing legal representation,” comments Acting Executive Director Bill Wilson.

Examples of the variety of legal issues Stephan has resolved include:

She has helped numerous clients obtain birth certificates which enable them to obtain Florida identification card or driver’s license and get back to work.

She has assisted numerous clients in applying for and going through the Social Security Benefit process; assisted clients with modification of child support proceedings; assisted an indigent father obtain State appointed counsel in a termination of parental rights action; assisted clients in obtaining divorces and other family law issues.

She assisted a client involved in a hit and run accident recover uninsured motorist benefits and obtain benefits through the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation in order to obtain a much needed operation.

Another client was living in a decrepit motel, even though she had an inheritance. Stephan helped establish a guardianship which provided oversight over the inheritance and the client is now living in suitable housing, getting three meals a day and doing well.

Because of her untiring efforts at Resurrection House, Michele received the “Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award” in January 2017.

Other recognitions include:

• Sarasota Country Bar Association “Distinguished Community Service Award” September 2014
• Legal Aid of Manasota “Outstanding Service to the Community Award” June 2015
• News Channel 9 “Everyday Heroes” April 2017
• SNN—Sarasota News Network—”People You Should Know” 2017
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers “2017 Leaders in the Law” award June 2017

“Michele Stephan is a shining example of the work ethic and dedication that volunteers bring to work every day.” concludes Wilson.

When you were in your teen years, odds are you participated in a car wash to raise money for your school or organization’s fundraising project.

A car wash was just what the students who were part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County’s STAR Leadership Training Program chose to make an impact on Sarasota’s homeless population.

Leadership Program Specialist, Patricia McGraw, stated, “the car wash allowed the students to raise money to pay for the backpacks filled with toiletries to distribute to the homeless.” “I would just like to say that this experience empowered our club members to flourish on their path toward achieving their full potentials as leaders in our community,” McGraw concluded.

“Our clients are always very appreciative of any group that will come to Resurrection House and demonstrate that they care,” said Acting Executive Director, Bill Wilson.

It was a simple change. When a homeless individual comes to Resurrection House for the first time, more than just the completion of an intake form should happen.

Always before, the new client would answer the questions on the intake form and then disappear into the general population of our homeless clients. This simple change is for them to meet with a case manager who will try to direct them on a path to a better living situation.

During the first week of implementing the change, two new clients, both under the age of 24, met with Volunteer Coordinator, Joe Lucero, and Sherree Brown, Senior Clinical Case Manager for the Sarasota Police Department.

When both new clients indicated they had no place to spend the night, REACH Master Case Manager for the YMCA, Dawn Sakes, was called. Dawn heads a new program for youths ages 16 to 24 who are considered unaccompanied adults. Dawn was able to find over-night shelter for both and that was just the start on their journey to a better living outcome.

Just less than three months into her new job, Dawn states that, “Just starting a conversation with this age group is the first step.” “Next is to identify the needs of each individual and try to help them successfully meet the basic need for shelter. I have 16 active cases in just the short time since I started,” she concluded.

WHAT ARE YOUR WISHES/HOPES FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

• To have a place to live and not be on the street.
• I hope to spend time with my children when they return from college.
• Good Holidays.
• To get through it a little healthier and happier.
• My wish is to see as many people as possible get into the Salvation Army program to find housing. I hope to be in contact with my family over the holidays so that I won’t have to feel so all alone like so many others.
• Peace on Earth.
• To have a nice, safe holiday, to be able to give my mom a Christmas gift, and to be able to spend it with friends and family.
• To still be alive and well, so I can go back to Indiana for the summer.
• I wish for a safe holiday.
• A life free from hate in our community. Peace.
• I wish you a Merry Christmas.
• I hope to have a wonderful day with my daughter.

WHAT IS YOUR WISH FOR OTHERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

• I hope others can find happiness and contentment at least through the holidays.
• To get through it like me—a little happier and healthier.
• That they may be with family and enjoy the holidays.
• For whatever dreams and hopes they have to come true, and health for all.
• Just love. Live life the way God wants you to.
• I hope the quality of their life changes for the better.
• That all may find peace in their hearts no matter how tough life is.
• I wish for others to have a safe and happy holiday.
• I wish that everyone starts a journey to find themselves, and to never end their search.
• My wish for others during the holidays is to be safe and have a happy holiday.
• Health, shelter and peace.

WHAT DOES RESURRECTION HOUSE MEAN TO YOU?

• Resurrection House is a reliable resource center for many needs. I rely on the mail, laundry and medical clinic.
• When the help is needed, it’s really nice to know it is here when needed, whether you need a friend or counseling.
• The Resurrection House has been just that for me—it has helped to resurrect me physically, mentally, and spiritually. It has helped to completely restore me with hope.
• It means for me a place to be able to clean up and do my laundry.
• The Resurrection House is a place of hope in helping our community.
• I’m very thankful to the people who volunteer their time here. What would we do without them for food, laundry and showers?
• Faith, hope, and love. A step to help for the future.
• All the services, from coffee to counselors, are very helpful.
• It’s a place to come for help. If there was no Resurrection House, I don’t know what I would do.
• It means a lot to me. I can get help with the doctors and nurses.
• A place of hope and help. The people here cannot be more helpful. Thank you very much.

From all of us to all of you – 
Wishing you a joyous holiday season!