Harvest House Home Again Luncheon raises over $300,000

On February 20, Harvest House, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to champion hope and transform lives through supportive housing, addiction recovery programs and food security, presented its 2025 Home Again Luncheon. The organization’s signature fundraising event, attended by approximately 270 and bolstered by a $125,000 challenge match from Jerry and Fay Bainbridge and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, raised over $303,000.

The event began with a welcome by outgoing CEO Erin Minor, who begins a new adventure at Gulf Coast Community Foundation on March 3. She spoke of Harvest House’s early days and fundraising efforts, paying tribute to the organization’s staff, board and donors as well as her parents, who founded Harvest House 33 years ago.

Kirsten Russell of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Jon Thaxton – who shared his own life struggles, including four arrests as a young adult – from Gulf Coast Community Foundation talked about Harvest House’s immense value in the community. The two foundations were the Cornerstone Presenting Partners for the luncheon.

“Second chances are for rookies,” Thaxton said. “Some of us need third, and fourth, and fifth chances; Harvest House provides those chances.”

Eight-year President Dan Minor, who assumed the dual roles of President and CEO as of February 22, noted that the luncheon marked a day of transition, gratitude and celebration, calling out his colleagues, Harvest House donors and volunteers, and every individual whose life has been changed.

“You are the hands and feet of this organization; you are the heartbeat of Harvest House,” he said. “Our work is not about programs and numbers – it’s about people.”

He then discussed his top priorities for the year, which include to increase supportive and affordable housing options to serve more low-resource households, including a new affordable housing community in north Sarasota called Lakeview Village. He also talked about offering enhanced mental health services, with a dedicated mental health wing as well as a commitment to bring mental health services to partner agencies throughout the community.

The program shone a spotlight on two inspiring stories: speaker Barb Allen, whose parents were addicts and whose father abused her, emerged from years of trauma, addiction, and incarceration. Thanks to the hope and a second chance provided at Harvest House, she rebuilt her life and reunited with her children, and now works full-time for Harvest House. After her speech, Dan Minor presented a $1,500 check to Barb to enable her to make the down payment on a home through Habitat for Humanity.

“No one should have to fight to convince anyone that they matter,” Allen said during her emotional testimonial. “Harvest House isn’t just a place – it’s a life restored. And I’m living proof.”

Farah, whose story was told through a dramatic spoken-word video retelling, suffered abuse by two ex-husbands and experienced homelessness but now has a college degree, is debt-free, and owns her own home. She calls the help and support she received through Harvest House “a spark of hope in the darkness.” At the end of the luncheon, Dan Minor announced that Farah’s daughter has always dreamed of going to Disney; donor Kathy Brown volunteered to sponsor that trip.

The paddle raise highlighted a bit of humorous sibling rivalry, as donors could choose to designate their gifts in honor of either Dan or Erin; in the end, though, the gratifying total will support Harvest House programs that serve hundreds of adults and children each year who are facing various challenges, including mental illness, substance abuse, physical illness, domestic and community violence, poverty, and insecure housing.

In 2024, Harvest House served 576 households, comprising more than 800 individuals, through its housing and community-based case management. The organization also provided an average of 50-75 pounds of groceries to families through its weekly Harvest Food Pantry; there were 22,170 visits to the pantry in 2024.

For more about Harvest House, visit harvesthousecenters.org.

About Harvest House
The mission of Harvest House is to champion hope and transform lives through supportive and affordable housing, addiction recovery programs, and food security. Founded in 1992, the organization provides 380 beds and operates multiple programs throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. It serves members of our community who are working to rebuild their lives, including families and children experiencing homelessness, and adults with a history of addiction and incarceration. Its programs improve the economic status of residents and stabilizes lives for generations to come. For more information, visit harvesthousecenters.org.