Grace Epperly, Development Coordinator with Wesley House Family Services joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the organization.
Wesley House is the child welfare nonprofit in Monroe County.
Epperly said, “We provide foster care placement, foster parenting licensing. We have a prevention, strengthening families side of our programs that works with families on a short term basis. If they’ve been brought to the attention of DCF, Department of Children and Families, then we work with that family to address whatever issues brought them to DCF’s attention, to connect them with community resources and then become autonomous once again and strengthening the family. Then we also have the Healthy Families Monroe program. That’s a free, voluntary program. Anyone who is pregnant or their children are three months or less are eligible to join. It’s a wonderful support program, especially for new parents, very education focused. We focus on parent/child relationships and parent and child development. In Key West, how Wesley House got started, is the Inez Martin Child Development Center. That is our preschool for ages two to five.”
The Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride is coming up on December 5 at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
Epperly said, “It’s 5 to 9 at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Friday, December 5. It is our fifth annual Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride. We are so excited about this event. It is all about the kids. We really work hard to turn the amphitheater into a true holiday village. We’re going to have 10 amusement style rides this year, there will be just about 20 community booths. We have food trucks, pony rides, complimentary photos with Santa on the grand stage. Then we’re going to have some community performances. It’s just so much fun. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season with your family. Bring the kids just watch them, watch their faces light up when they see the magic. It’s just an a nominal entry fee of $20 that gets you unlimited rides and everything I just discussed, a complimentary photo to download from Santa. Then the bike ride, the famous BeLighted Bike Ride begins at eight o’clock that will travel Duval Street and Whitehead Street, and then end at our official after party, which is Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon. We also want to give them a shout out, because they are the official bike ride sponsor as well. It’s just a lot a lot of fun. Actually, the tickets are live, so you can go ahead and purchase your ticket. We do still have some sponsorship opportunities available. The mistletoe magic is 500 and if you want to be on Santa’s nice list, that is 250 and we can still get you in for advertising at the event.”
The Valentine’s Gala will be in Key Largo on February 14.
Epperly said, “We have moved our annual Key West Valentine’s Gala after 42 years. We actually made the change a couple years ago, and we’ve now moved it up to Key Largo, going to take place at our our Key Largo office event grounds, Saturday, February 14. We are currently seeking sponsors for that, so we also have that information on our website, and it’s just going to be a really nice time for the community to come out and support Wesley House, and just share the love with us. That transitions into our Share the Love online Keys wide online auction that will run from February 4 through the 14th, and we are currently seeking donations throughout the Keys. Our bidders love, this is a very heavy artwork our auction. We’re very well known for the art. So if you are even a private individual and you want to downsize, please contact us, because we would love to take a look at any of the art that you have, or any excellent condition home decor items, we can also take those for the online auction as well. But our bidders love restaurant gift certificates, hotel stays, spas, boutiques, anything like that. We draw bidders all from all over the country. So this is a great opportunity to showcase your business in a small way and support in a huge way.”
Turkeys are also needed in the Upper Keys for Thanksgiving.
Epperly said, “If there’s an organization that might want to commit to donating a dozen turkeys that would really help us out and assist our clients to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Wesley House is a county wide agency, and we have had a presence in the Upper Keys since 2005 and then now, recently, in the last year, we have our own physical location that we now own, and that’s really nice to have a permanent home up there. If there is a group out there that would like to help us with Thanksgiving turkeys and meals, please reach out to me. You can give me a call, 305-809-5000.”
Sponsors really help Wesley House.
Epperly said, “It’s going to be a good Christmas for our clients, and we’re very grateful for all of the sponsors and individuals and businesses and organizations who sponsored a family. We’re currently working on matching families and donors together and get that information out to them in the next week or so.”
Foster parents are always needed.
Epperly said, “Tonight, actually, we’re going to be at the Key West artisan market Trunk or Treat. So if anybody wants to bring their kids to the Key West artisan market, it’ll be at the Truman Waterfront. Wesley House will be there, and you can pick up a few pieces of candy. So just want to give a shout out to everybody who also donated candy.”
For more information, click here: https://www.wesleyhouse.org/