VERO BEACH — With temperatures soaring Sunday afternoon it didn’t feel the least bit like December, but that certainly didn’t discourage the Homeless Family Center residents, staff and supporters who were thoroughly enjoying a festive Christmas in July event.
“We have hundreds of people wanting to donate during the holiday season; it’s a wonderful, giving community,” said Roger Sobkowiak, who co-chaired the event with Robi Robinson. “But families at the Homeless Family Center generally only stay here about six months, and if they’re not here in December they don’t get the benefit of that generosity.”
The planning committee enlisted the support of the Fiasco Brother’s Motorcycle Club, who donated and cooked up a seemingly bottomless number of pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and hot-dogs on their enormous grill. They also took charge of the field games, including a strenuous tug of war, and a cooling water balloon toss, and they supplied two bounce houses for the little ones.
Additionally, the club gave a check for $1,500 toward the Homeless Family Center’s general needs.
“We’re a group of working class men. We know we could be one paycheck away from any of these families,” said Joe Perry. “This is our neighborhood; we live and ride in this area.”
A DJ had young and old literally sweating to the oldies, including dances such as the Electric Slide and the Chicken Dance. But everyone got a chance to cool off later when the ice-cream truck pulled up, with tempting icy treats.
Women from Spanish Lakes Fairways were coming later in the afternoon to cook up a Christmas dinner for the residents, complete with turkey and all the fixings.
“We’re going to have Santa’s Helper give out the presents; not Santa which we thought might confuse the kids,” explained Robinson.
“We’ve had a number of really generous people donate checks and volunteer,” added Sobkowiak.
The center currently houses 23 adults and 32 children, and there are generally between 25 to 40 families on the wait list.
“Everyone comes in under the header of emergency to get evaluated. The typical person has about $40 in their pocket, one suitcase or trash bag with clothes, and they’re about $2,000 in debt,” Sobkowiak said. “The first thing to do is to find them a job so they can start saving to make a down payment on a place to live. Case managers coordinate something different for each family; it depends on their needs.”
“In order to make this place work, you need gifted and talented people on call to come here regularly,” added Robinson.
Residents, many who have never been to a dentist, receive care from local dentists who volunteer their time, bankers assist with their first bank accounts, and tutors come to help the children. Training is all geared towards enabling residents to become self-sufficient so they can manage their own homes.
“There are rules and structure; some can’t tolerate that and leave within a couple of weeks,” said Sobkowiak.
“The ones that do stay and go through the program; we become so attached to them,” added Lydia Reed, the children’s program coordinator.
Latoria Rogers, currently in her final year as a student at the Culinary Institute at Indian River State College, is one of their star residents.
“After I get my AA I want to work in a restaurant to get some experience,” said Rogers. “Soon after, I want to open up my own restaurant – southern style soul food. You can’t find that around here. I do love to cook; it relaxes me.”
2011 is the 20th anniversary of the organization and to close out the year organizers are planning the Homeless Family Center Sixth Annual Dinner with a Birthday Party themed celebration.
Cindy Goetz is chairing the event, scheduled for the November 7 at the Orchid Island Beach Club, and promises that it will be all about birthday cakes, birthday presents and birthday wishes.
Looking forward to the next 20 years, Coyle said, “I’d like to tell you that we’re going to stop homelessness, but unfortunately with this economy we’re going to need to expand. We change lives one family at a time; that’s our mission. Every single family here paid taxes last year. Our job is to get them back on their feet through employment counseling, education and job placement. When they come in, they often look like whipped puppies; when they leave, they look proud.”