Executive Director, Mission House
Mission
Mission House is the only day facility in the Jacksonville Beaches community that helps the adult homeless survive and return to productive, independent lives.
Serving Jacksonville Beach
Since 1997.
Those served
We serve the adult homeless in the Beaches area, from Mayport to Jacksonville Beach, although we help in some way most anyone who comes to our door.
Biggest challenge
Right now our biggest challenge is obtaining jobs for our clients. Our clients have obtained more jobs recently than last year, but it still is difficult to find even basic jobs in this area. Our team has assisted 44 clients off the streets as of July compared to 43 for all of last year. “Off the street” means into permanent housing or reuniting them with family committed to helping them get back on their feet.
Biggest satisfaction
Getting our clients into housing or seeing their faces after they have been hired for a job.
Hometown
Northern California. I’ve been in Jacksonville for almost three years now after marrying John “Jay” Anderson from Ponte Vedra.
First experience with community service
My best experience was working with Make-A-Wish and children’s hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area on a project United Airlines called “Fantasy Flight.” I organized the event for a few years. It was so amazing to have major companies and hundreds of volunteers come together for a day to make these kids smile. It was an incredible event not only for the kids, but especially for all of us.
Your job before Mission House
Operations manager for St. Bartholomew Parish in San Mateo, Ca., and I was with United Airlines at San Francisco International Airport in various management jobs for 12 years.
Upcoming events
Sept. 25: Mission House will host the play/musical “Another Sign” at 7:30 p.m. at the Florida State College at Jacksonville Wilson Center at the South Campus. The performance will raise awareness about homelessness. For information, call 241-6767 or charge tickets on our website donation page, www.missionhousejax.org memo: PLAY.
Oct. 25: Our annual fundraiser, “Countdown to Kickoff” before the Florida-Georgia game. The event is poolside at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach with the live band Cloud 9. There will be a silent auction, food and an open bar, all for $85. For information, call 241-6767 or charge on our website donation page, www.missionhousejax.org and memo: October Event.
Contact information
www.missionhousejax.org
Facebook: Mission House Inc.
800 Shetter Ave.
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
241-6767
Fax: 241-7340