SAFE FAMILIES HOLDS FUNDRAISER

Mother’s Day brunch at the community center draws about 50 attendees

Getting food at the brunch, which was attended by about 50 people.


Stephanie Avello, Engagement Coordinatorfor Wakulla County.

By LINDA ANN McDONALD Correspondent

A Mother’s Day brunch was held at the Wakulla County Community Center on Saturday May 15, in effort to raise funds for Safe Families for Children. About 50 people attended the event.
Jennifer Brown and daughter Marissa Davis brought their singing, guitar, and flute talent to the stage. Husband and wife Alex and Bethany Wells sang Mother’s Day themed songs and shared testimonies related to the event’s cause.
Bethany Wells shared her story about growing up as a child with a single mother and having to move after a divorce. “The help we had and support during these hard times is what this mission is all about. Without that sort of support, it (moving) would not of been possible,” she said.
James Vernon sang about his mother, Laura Stephens Vernon Taylor, who was present at the event. Donny Bennett of Future Christian Athletes (FCA) shared his story of being raised by his grandmother, Karen Bennett, when Donny was 8 years old.
Tiffany Currid, a volunteer for the event said, “I hope this brings awareness to our community and it makes a huge impact for those in need.”
Safe Families for Children (SFFC) provides a secure circle of support for parents and their children who are facing a crisis in isolation.  
The mission of Safe Families is to host children and support families who have nowhere to turn when facing unmanageable circumstances.  SFFC is motivated by faith to keep children safe and families together by providing a network of support while parents get back on their feet.  The goal is to prevent children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system.
Event Manager Erin Pierce of Grace Baptist Church in Crawfordville shared, “The brunch today was such a heartwarming blessing, not just the final event, but the entire process. The relationships that were created and the lives that were touched was priceless. God was glorified through every person in there, and even the lives of those around the event. He moved in hearts, he provided the means and funds for the event, He exceeded our hopes for donations for the ministry and a beautiful foundation was created to reach out to our community and to prepare to care for families in crisis.”
Pierce added: “My hopes for today were to love on mothers in our community, to begin to build resources and funds for our SFFC ministry, to build relationships that may eventually point others to Christ and to see God glorified in it all. He exceeded all my expectations! From here, we continue to prepare our hearts, our homes, our church family, and our community for however God wants to move on this ministry. We prepare the field knowing and believing that he will bring the rain and lives will be touched.”
The event was catered by Stacy Bunch and Old South Catering. Bunch was touched by the event and tearfully said, “I was thinking about my mom, she is the reason I opened my business.”