Meet Gayla Jones

If you have been to Resurrection House this summer, you probably have met our new office manager, Gayla Jones. She started with us in May, and she’s readily embracing her role.

“These past three months have been amazing,” she said.

Gayla’s career path began in government, first working with the Hallandale Beach police department for 22 years, and then acting as the clerk of courts supervisor for Sarasota County.

After four years there, she decided to make a change. “I can help more in the nonprofit realm,” she thought.

Gayla spent the next few years working at an at-risk facility for young males. That led her to taking a position as director of Drug Free Manatee. While there, she learned about Turning Points, a day center for
the homeless in Bradenton.

That’s when she realized she wanted to work with the homeless, and she found her next opportunity, as
office manager here at Resurrection House.

Gayla’s day-to-day job entails making sure all the administrative duties in the office are operating smoothly. She’s not one to stay tucked away in a back office though. She likes to come out on the floor and get to know our clients’ stories, and she enjoys helping wherever she’s needed.

Gayla likes to be hands-on especially in the kitchen where she enjoys serving. “I love the grateful responses you get from the clients when all you’re doing is handing them their plate.”

Gayla recalled a time when a client asked for her by name only to thank her simply for helping him locate
his lost cell phone. “Imagine the impact I could make after I’ve been here for a while,” she wondered.

She wants everyone to discover the scope of what we do for the local homeless community. “It’s important to me that those living on the streets can come to our door and we can help them. Everybody needs a chance, I’m just trying to do my part.”