WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – On August 29, 2024, Anchor House Ministries celebrated a significant milestone with the grand opening of Haven Home, marking 50 years of dedicated service to boys in crisis. Located in Winter Haven, this new addition was warmly introduced to the community by Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong, highlighting the ministry’s ongoing mission to provide safe environments for youth in need. John Doran, Executive Director of Charities at Publix Super Markets, presented the $150,000 check that made this project possible.
The realization of Haven Home has been a long-term goal for Anchor House, but thanks to a generous $150,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities in 2023, the ministry was able to move forward with this vital program. Dr. Davis, Executive Director of Anchor House Ministries, humbly thanked Publix Charities for “changing lives and for restoring hope, for those who seem to have no hope.” He noted that this project would not have been possible if not for their support.
Haven Home will accommodate up to five boys at a time, aged 12 to 17, who have been removed from their families due to various forms of abuse. This facility will provide a crucial transitional environment for boys who have made progress in more intensive care settings and are now ready for a home-like atmosphere.
“So, what is Anchor House?” posed Dr. Davis. “Anchor House is a haven… It is a light piercing the darkness, saying, ‘Let us help you.’ I am so proud of what we have been able to do.”
Haven Home is the second new property opened by Anchor House within the past year, underscoring the ministry’s ongoing expansion and impact in Polk County, where six of its seven properties are located. Anchor House now operates four transition homes and three under-18 campuses, offering a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of young boys and young adults alike.
As Anchor House Ministries celebrates 50 years of service, the opening of Haven Home stands as a testament to the organization’s enduring mission and its unwavering commitment to helping boys in crisis find hope, healing, and a brighter future.
In Attendance: Mayor Nathaniel J. Birdsong of Winter Haven; John Doran, Executive Director of Charities at Publix Super Markets; Kim Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer of Heartland for Children; Matt Speer from the Department of Children and Families; Ranay Willis from the Florida House of Representatives; Christ Community Church and Garden Grove Church; and many other wonderful guests.
For more information about Anchor House Ministries, visit https://www.anchor-house.org/
— provided by Anchor House Ministries