Foxwynd Foundation grant will help shelter upgrade aging computers and internet service for staff and guests
SANFORD, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2026) — When someone experiencing homelessness comes to Rescue Outreach Mission looking for a place to sleep, staff must first run a background screening for serious crimes and enter all the guest's information.
It's a quick process, but it requires a working computer and reliable internet service. When either goes down, admitting someone to the shelter can become a challenge, especially at 2 a.m. when finding tech support is nearly impossible.
Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Foxwynd Foundation, Rescue Outreach Mission will upgrade computers, internet service, and other technology across its two-building campus in Sanford.
"We take people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and sometimes someone shows up at two in the morning just needing a place to sleep," says Chris Ham, executive director of Rescue Outreach Mission. "The safety of our other guests is paramount, so we need equipment we can depend on so we can get people inside and help them."
The grant will help pay for improvements to the shelter's internet and phone service, electrical and data wiring, computers and networking equipment. Once completed, Rescue Outreach Mission expects the upgrades to reduce technology-related disruptions by 75 percent.
The improvements will also give shelter guests better access to computers and the internet, something that has become almost a necessity for anyone looking for a job or a place to live.
Many people experiencing homelessness don't have their own computers, but are still expected to apply for jobs, submit housing applications, access government benefits and complete other paperwork online. For those staying at Rescue Outreach Mission, the shelter's computers are essential.
Plus, after the immediate needs for admitting a guest, staff depend on technology to admit new guests, maintain records, coordinate services and help individuals and families find permanent housing.
"We ask our guests to work with us on a plan to get back into housing, and so much of what they need to do requires a computer," Ham says. "At the same time, our staff needs reliable equipment to help them through that process. This grant will make a difference on both sides, and we're grateful to the Foxwynd Foundation for helping us get this done."
Rescue Outreach Mission operates Seminole County's only homeless shelter for anyone, providing temporary housing and services for men, women and children. In 2025, the organization helped nearly 250 people find permanent housing.
The Bentley family established the Foxwynd Foundation to support organizations tackling housing, health care, and environmental needs. While based in Pennsylvania, the foundation also supports nonprofits in communities across the country where family members have strong ties, including Florida. In its first year, the foundation awarded nearly $5 million in grants to more than 100 organizations.
“Homeless shelters welcome individuals and families facing a wide range of difficult circumstances, each with unique needs,” Said Pamela Villagra, executive director, Foxwynd Foundation. “At Foxwynd Foundation, we believe these facilities must have the necessary resources and reliable technology to provide a safe environment and respond effectively to those needs.
“Supporting improvements that strengthen safety and enhance the quality of services is an important part of our commitment to addressing housing insecurity,” she added.
The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation's generous donation to Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida.
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About Rescue Outreach Mission: In 1986, Mother Blanche Bell Weaver, pastor of the Rescue Church of God, saw desperate people in her community living without essentials. With the support of her church and members, she was determined to help those in need. She founded Rescue Outreach Mission to provide safety, support and a healing environment for her community. Though ROM has since become an independent nonprofit with no religious affiliation, it remains rooted in her commitment to serving neighbors in need.
Located in Sanford, Rescue Outreach Mission continues to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout Central Florida, helping them find stability and permanent housing.
For more information, visit Rescue Outreach Mission's website or contact Alan Byrd, 407-415-8470, alan@byrdconnections.com.
