ST. MATTHEWS HOUSE, INC.
NAPLES, FLORIDA

Our Mission To change lives in a spiritual environment that is both compassionate and disciplined as we provide housing for the homeless, food for the needy, and comfort for the addicted and suffering. To become a model agency to provide services and resources to the homeless, hungry, and addicted while seeking to expand the capacity to meet present and future needs in the most effective and efficient manner. Helpful We are called to care for “the least of these”. We are helpful by providing food, shelter, clothing, and care for the sick and by visiting those in jail. We work to provide healing words, resources, and structure to all who come to us. The homeless, addicted, mentally ill, and people wounded by life’s circumstances need the opportunity to find healing. We work to ensure this is a safe healing atmosphere for all. We strive for the best business and ministry practices in every area of the organization. In our personal lives, we are expected to live a life that is blameless and carry ourselves with integrity. The “Task Force for the Homeless” began gathering contributions of both food and clothing, establishing the mission’s food pantry. Throughout the years, community support has helped grow the small mission into a multi-faceted organization focused on spiritual change. Today, St. Matthew’s House continues to run the original Emergency/Transitional Housing and Feeding Ministry along with its Justin’s Place Recovery Program, Collier County jail chaplain service, 6 thrift stores, full-service catering company, and retreat/conference center. Company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance. Mr. Ellison’s career and calling have allowed him to counsel and care for all facets of our society. He often speaks of how grateful he is to be involved with St. Matthew’s House and to help give a home to the homeless, food to the hungry and above all, hope to the hopeless. Vann lives with his wife and four boys in Naples. He has been active with nonprofit groups to contract with NGOs in host countries to provide highly skilled workers, develop sustainable housing for the most disadvantaged areas around the world, start urban gardens in blighted areas, and help homeless families with school age children. Before moving to Southwest Florida in 2002, Mr. Brooder was the Managing Partner of Royce International, an international marketing consulting firm for fifteen years. He also served as vice president for a large statewide trade association. He is a graduate of Penn State University and earned his MBA at Gannon University. “With addiction deeply entrenched on both sides of my family, I am a firm believer in helping individuals rebuild their lives through the discipling compassion that St. Matthew’s House offers.” Prior to St. Matthew’s House, Mr. Shedden owned and operated a Naples-based Christian bookstore Heavenbound Books, Music and More from 1993-2005. During this time, he was named a Top Five Christian Bookstore Manager in the USA by Spring Arbor Distributors in 1997. Before Heavenbound, Mr. Shedden managed another Christian retail store and worked in his family’s contracting business. Please contact the St. Matthew’s House marketing department for help if you have a unique issue. “We are excited about Rachael Loukonen becoming our board chair,” said Vann Ellison, president and CEO of St. Matthew’s House. “She has served with distinction as the vice chair to advance our mission, and we are delighted to work with her to build a better future for the hurting and vulnerable in our community.” Read […] Amber’s Story “Since day one everyone has been so overwhelmingly nice, I just found a peace that I haven’t had in years. It softened my heart. I was able to receive love, and now today, I am able to give love.” – Amber With your generous gift lives like Amber’s are changed forever. Help support the […] 9am to 3pm at our Bonita Springs location only!   Join us this Saturday, January 27th, for our Super Sidewalk Saturday Sales at St. Matthew’s House thrift store in Bonita Springs. We are discounting our overstock furniture at special sale prices, so find some great deals this Saturday! Join us on Saturday, February 10 for the 14th annual Cars on 5th show! Cars on 5th provides critical financial backing for St. Matthew’s House, enabling us to help individuals escape poverty, homelessness and drug abuse. With an estimated attendance of 50,000 people, around $250,000 was collected last year thanks to the hard work of our […]   That Pivotal Moment – An Easter Meditation By Rachael S. Loukonen Why would you put your time, talent, and treasure into the mission of St. Matthew’s House when Jesus said the poor would always be with us? Since taking on the mantle [...] Thanks to the success of our social enterprises, we're able to cover all of our administrative costs. This allows for every dollar and drop-off you donate to directly help save the lives of the vulnerable population that look to us for help.