During the workweek, the staff of Quikstone Capital Solutions focuses all their efforts on a singular mission – helping provide merchants across the country with the funding needed to build and grow their businesses.
But on their own time, the Quikstone team uses their energy and commitment to help a variety of nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay area.
One of those team members is Steve Hall, Quikstone Capital’s Executive Director of Business Development.
It was more than fifteen years ago when Steve first read about the terrible overcrowding in Florida’s foster care system. So many abandoned and neglected children needed help, and the system just couldn’t keep up. But then he learned about Joshua House.
Since 1992, hundreds of children suffering from trauma and abuse have found a safe haven at Joshua House. Located in Lutz, Joshua House is a program of the Children’s Home Society of Florida. With five homes on eleven acres, Joshua House provides a stable, nurturing, therapeutic residential environment for children from age six to seventeen.
“Some kids stay at Joshua House for a few days while they wait for placement in a foster home, or are returned to their families,” Steve said. “Others stay for years.”
Providing children with a sense of belonging is a goal of the staff of Joshua House. It can take months of therapy to help children open up and deal with their emotions. The costs involved in running the residential facilities are daunting. In addition to the full-time staff of youth care workers, counselors and therapists, there are costs for food, clothing, furniture, bedding, books, supplies, and toys. While the state supplies about 60% of funding, the rest must be raised by volunteers like Steve.
Nanci March, Resource Coordinator for the Friends of Joshua House Foundation, Inc. says,
“Steve can always be counted on to volunteer on campus or to buy a last-minute gift for the holidays or needed items for the houses.” According to Nanci, “Steve is special because he really wants to know what the kids need. He brings positive energy with him whenever he helps us – and always downplays how much he helps us.”
To learn more about Joshua House, visit https://www.friendsofjoshuahouse.org/