We opened our doors for the first time on April 2, 2015 to serve as a comprehensive emergency service center for people experiencing homelessness or economic hardship. Since that day, we have served 12,582 people, housed 646 clients, and provided 33,307 services!

You may recognize the chandelier that hangs in our foyer photographed above. The colorful panels were designed to represent doors to opportunity, housing, and independence, and to symbolize a client’s unique journey into a new chapter of their life. We have our board members, staff, volunteers, donors, community partners, and supporters to thank for helping community members in need access the resources and assistance they need to stabilize their lives and become self-sufficient.

Mark moved into housing!

Determined to get back on his feet and waste no time, Mark took full advantage of our services. He obtained a new I.D., secured food benefits, sorted out personal tax issues, received medical care, and got prescription glasses with the assistance of staff and our wonderful partner agencies. Mark secured a part-time job, which led him to full-time employment with benefits and opened the door to housing opportunities.

When asked about his journey to housing, Mark shared, “Kesi, my case manager, was very involved in my housing. She encouraged me when I was hesitant or doubtful. She had my back and treated me like family. All of the staff have been a blessing to me. It became clear right away that the staff really cared about helping others get back on their feet. But one has to do the footwork. Not be carried.”

Kayla graduated from the CNA program

Congratulations to Kayla on graduating from the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program through Goodwill Prosperity Center! After moving into housing at the end of last year, Kayla had her sights set on becoming a CNA. With her unwavering optimism and resilience, it's no surprise she succeeded in the program. Our team was honored to join Kayla at her graduation ceremony to celebrate her incredible accomplishments.

Thanks to our donors, Kayla had the support system she needed to overcome homelessness and take steps toward a bright future.

Want to grow your home garden? Purchase flower and produce seeds for as little as $3 and all of the proceeds will help provide a new software to manage and grow our volunteer program.

Please note: The deadline to purchase seeds is May 1st. Deliveries can be expected in May after the campaign ends.

Red Elephant Share It Night

20% of all sales will be donated when you dine-in or take-out for lunch or dinner at Red Elephant. Don't forget to tell your server you are there to support The Kearney Center!

Monday, April 17th at 11 a.m - 9 p.m.

Red Elephant Pizza & Grill

2910 Kerry Forest Pwky, C-3, Tallahassee, FL

Happy Hour Benefit

The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section is hosting a happy hour fundraiser for The Kearney Center. Join in on the fun and support our mission to eradicate homelessness!

Thursday, April 27th at 5:30 p.m.

Miller's Ale House Patio

722 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL

Sign Up to Serve a Meal

Volunteers play an integral role in preparing and serving three meals a day to over 300 clients daily. There are plenty of opportunities to serve a meal in April and it's easy to sign-up for the shift of your choice!

Volunteer Spotlight

This week was Nancy’s first time volunteering at The Kearney Center! She was introduced to our mission through her husband, who is making an animated series about one of the clients he met while volunteering. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated back to the center. Nanci loves to help where she can and finds importance in giving back when you’re in the position to do so.

Welcome to our family of volunteers, Nancy!

Gabriel’s “why” for serving the homeless population is rooted in his belief that, “we are all in this together and that it is the absolute responsibility of those of us with shelter, security, and food to show up for those of us without it. They are like the rest of us, just with more challenges and usually less support. None of us exist in a vacuum. We ALL need other humans to survive.”

Gabriel served two combat deployments as an infantryman in the Army before medically retiring. He understands the tremendous effort and support it can take for one to get back on their feet. “Once I got myself together after the Army (with a ton of help), I decided to continue serving my country and community. I felt the pull to get somewhere that had great need, and somewhere that I was going to be working on the front lines. Working in a non-profit emergency shelter sounded like exactly where I needed to be,” Gabriel shared.

Gabriel takes pride in being a part of a client’s journey by helping them get housed or obtain the necessary documentation to meaningfully interact with society (IDs, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards).

Our unsheltered community members need someone to care for them the way that Gabriel does, with honesty and compassion. When asked how he helps clients see the light at the end of the tunnel, Gabriel responded, “I do not lie to them or ask them to set unattainable goals. I show up, show them love, and ask them to treat themselves as if they were someone worth caring for. I try to show them through my actions that they are not forgotten or discarded.”

Gabriel is coming up on his one-year anniversary as the first Outreach Specialist at The Kearney Center. We are grateful to have his perspective and kind heart on our team!

We are proud to recognize Chavelle as our April 2023 Employee of the Month! Chavelle goes above and beyond expectations to support her team and clients at The Kearney Center. She has developed trust with our clients by leading with empathy and compassion. We are lucky to have her on our team!

Join our team!

We're hiring for the following positions:

Bookkeeper

Direct Care Specialist

Marketing intern