Hope for Families Center Celebrates 30 Years with Secret Garden Event
The Hope for Families Center will be hosting its first-ever Secret Garden event on February 28 at 6:00 p.m at Rock City Gardens. Like the secret garden in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s novel provides its main characters a haven of rejuvenation and solace, The Hope for Families Center in Vero Beach empowers homeless families by giving them a meaningful chance to rebuild their lives.
“The families who come to us are desperate. They have nothing,” says Marty Mercado, The Hope for Families Center Executive Director. “Through community support and events like this, we can give them the tools they need for long-term success.”
November 2021 marked the 30th anniversary of The Hope for Families Center. Without any state or federal funding, it relies on private donors for most of its operating budget.
Currently, there are over 2,543 people on the Treasure Coast who cannot afford safe and adequate shelter. Of those, over 690 are children. The Hope for Families Center enables its clients to re-establish self-sufficiency through structured programs and linkages to community health and human services. All families that The Hope for Families Center serves have at least one child under the age of 18. Adult residents are required to find jobs within two weeks and save 75% of their income.
“With the help of our donors, we have been able to help 271 residents and 175 children within the past year,” says Mercado. “Community support is vital for us to be able to fulfill this need.”
This special outdoor fundraising evening will feature an expertly crafted dinner catered by Michael’s on 7th, signature cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres by some of Vero Beach’s top chefs. A spirited live auction, a silent auction, and a secret box raffle will also help support homeless families.
The Secret Garden Event will be located at the idyllic Rock City Gardens, 9080 US-1, Sebastian, FL 32958. Tickets to the event are $250 per person.
Reserve tickets at www.hopeforfamiliescenter.org/events.
