Chuck Cunningham, Sue Scully and Marty Mercado. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

A sizable table sat in the open field next to the Hope for Families Center, awaiting donors to sit and break bread over their shared goal of building a foundation of hope for homeless families.

“The longest table is significant, representing homeless families, because our families don’t get to sit at a table and eat dinner with their family in the privacy of their own home,” said Marty Mercado, HFC executive director.

“So, we’re representing what we want our families to be able to achieve in the future. A long table in their dining room, where they can break bread with their families.”

During a VIP cocktail reception and tapas-style dinner, donors, board members, volunteers and staff were recognized for their support. Raising a glass in a toast, Chuck Cunningham, HFC board president, thanked them all for rising to the challenge to meet the continual demand, but stressed that there is a critical need to expand the facility.

“We have about 180 people on our waiting list that need to be receiving our help,” said Cunningham.

As the need for assistance has surpassed the shelter’s capacity, the HFC is in the process of a $5.5 million capital campaign to be able to accommodate those families.

Vignettes nearby depicted the living conditions many homeless families must endure, such as tents, couch surfing or living in a car.

“The face of homelessness is probably not what you think it is. It’s people that you see every day. It’s your cashier at Publix. It’s your waiter at your club. It’s somebody that is working at CVS,” said Mercado.

“Here at the Hope for Families Center, our mission is to provide them with hope. Hope, in essence, is the foundation for believing that something positive can happen. By offering hope to our families, we empower them with the determination and means to transform their lives and achieve self-sustainability,” said Andrew Welter-Frost, HFC development manager.

“It’s through the generosity and philanthropic spirit of individuals like yourselves, gathered here tonight, that we can provide the necessary resources to enhance the well-being of our families. Your investment in our cause enables us to offer families the skills and pathways they need to overcome the deep-seated challenges that often accompany generational poverty,” added Welter-Frost, before unveiling the butterfly logo of their capital campaign.

“These butterflies symbolize the transformative journey that our families are undertaking as they reimagine and nurture hope for a brighter future,” said Welter-Frost.

HFC has already raised $4.2 million toward the project, which includes construction of nine transformational apartment units. Plans also call for a 20-room expansion to the emergency shelter, and additional funding to support the increased programming, training, education, staffing and workspace that will be needed to support the additional participants.

For more information, visit HopeForFamiliesCenter.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis