Valerie's House Expands With New Home in Charlotte County

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - Oct. 3, 2023 - PRLog -- Valerie's House has purchased a new home in Charlotte County, enabling the non-profit organization to expand its services to children grieving the loss of loved ones.

The new home at 233 East McKenzie Street in downtown Punta Gorda includes a 1,500 square foot house plus an additional 500 square foot detached building that will be used for teen peer grief support as well as grief counseling.  The new location will allow Valerie's House to serve the increasing number of children from both Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.

"The warm and cozy house in downtown Punta Gorda is a special place for our families to call a home away from home," said Valerie's House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  "We've been holding group counseling sessions at local churches and schools in both Charlotte and Sarasota counties for several years now.  Having a home to call our own in Charlotte County will allow us to help hundreds more children and their parents who need support and counseling after the death of a loved in in their family."

Melvin said Valerie's House will begin offering peer to peer grief support groups, grief counseling and other trainings, resource nights and activities at the new house in January.

Renovations costing $75,000 are needed to make the restroom and parking ADA compliant, install a new roof and air conditioning.  All sponsorships of $25,000 or more may be pledged over five years.  A Walkway of Remembrance also will be installed with pavers available from $500 to $1,000.

More information about the new Charlotte County home and how to get involved can be found by contacting Charlotte County Director Christine Carey at christine@valerieshouse.org.

Valerie's House is also nearing the completion of a three-year long building campaign in Lee County for its Family is Forever Home on a donated piece of land from the City of Fort Myers.  The Fort Myers home is expected to open to the public in December.

Valerie's House has provided grief support services to more than 400 children and adults in Charlotte County since expanding there in 2019.

Valerie's House was founded in Fort Myers in 2016 by Melvin, whose mother
Valerie was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987.  In addition to homes in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Valerie's House also has homes in Naples and Pensacola.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations. If you know of a family who is in need of grief support, please go to the Valerie's House website www.valerieshouse.org to find out more and enroll a family for help.