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St. Matthew’s House President and CEO Vann Ellison is pleased to announce that St. Matthew’s House has received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County. These funds will help to support St. Matthew’s House in the organization’s COVID-19 response efforts by supplying food for the mobile pantry and soup kitchen, shelter and transitional housing for the homeless, and addiction recovery and job training for at-risk individuals. According to St. Matthew’s House President and CEO Vann Ellison, “We are deeply grateful to the Community Foundation for this greatly needed support of our mission to help our neighbors in need. Sadly, the numbers of those seeking help to provide for the most basic needs of food and shelter is growing exponentially at this time as a result of loss of jobs and other economic impacts of COVID-19. We currently are providing food relief to between 1,300 and 1,400 individuals and families weekly with our two food drives, and sheltering more than 300 men, women and children every night in our homeless shelter.” The Community Foundation of Collier County awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Changing Needs Fund. This fund is made up of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify and grant to the community’s most current needs. For 32 years, St. Matthew’s House has provided food, shelter and comfort to those struggling with poverty, food insecurity and homelessness. St. Matthew’s House is the only emergency homeless shelter in Collier County, sheltering more than 300 men, women and children every night, and providing more than 500,000 meals each year to those in need. Since 2010, 591 men and women have graduated from the St. Matthew’s House Justin’s Place Recovery Program. St. Matthew’s House also provides a women’s residential addiction recovery program at Jill’s Place Retreat Center in Alva. The significant success rate of the St. Matthew’s House recovery program has drawn national attention with 85% of those completing the program still maintaining sobriety two years after graduation. St. Matthew’s House is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that does not solicit government funding. For information or to make a donation, visit STmatthewshouse.org or call (239) 774-0500.