Venice, FL – September 21, 2022– Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) is excited to have received $2,500 from Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation to be used for the purchase of a washing machine and dryer for our Day Center. The “Day Center” located in Venice, FL, provides a safe place for families during the day while the organization’s partnership with area churches provides overnight shelter and food. “We provide shelter, meals, basic needs (clothing, toiletries, personal items), case management and resources to families in transition”, said Jennifer Fagenbaum, FPSSC’s Executive Director. “During the day, families have access to our Day Center which is a hub for the organization. This center provides the ability to shower, do laundry, and serves as a permanent address for families, training, and case management services. All adults meet for employment consultation and financial counseling”.
Area churches, known as “Host Congregations,” provide their facility for one week at a time—approximately once every three months. Families arrive at 5pm for dinner and stay overnight. During the day, kids go to daycare or school and parents go to work. On Sundays, the families move to the next host congregation site. Support congregations provide volunteer and financial support to host congregations.
There are over 450 children in South Sarasota County schools who have been identified as homeless. Children experiencing housing instability have five times higher risk for developmental challenges and poor health and functioning. They are also five times more likely to miss school, nine times more likely to repeat a grade, and four times more likely to not graduate. In 2021, Family Promise of South Sarasota County helped 283 families with a total of 432 children in need. For more information about how to support Family Promise of South Sarasota County, contact Jennifer Fagenbaum at (941) 497-9881 ext.106 or
jenniferfagenbaum@familypromisessc.org
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About Family Promise of South Sarasota County
Family Promise is a national non-profit agency with 202 local affiliates in 42 states. Our local affiliate, Family Promise of South Sarasota County, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, seeks to help families with minor children who are in temporary need of housing. We provide shelter, meals, basic needs (clothing, toiletries, and personal items), case management, referrals, and resources to families in transition. Our mission is to provide housing support to children and their families in South Sarasota County and it is our vision to provide comprehensive services to ensure children and their families achieve lasting self-sufficiency.
About the Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation:
The Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation is located in Sarasota, Florida. The Foundation primarily gives for programs and capital projects in the arts, community, education for children and youth, the environment, human services for families and seniors, and science. Scholarships are also provided for local students with limited financial means so that they may pursue a higher education with the goal of not only achieving a meaningful career, but also helping their community.