Our Story
Born on Faith
Committed to Serve.
Martha’s Vineyard: The Family House offers free accommodation and lodging to out-of-town patients and families dealing with a medical crisis or hardship
Created in 2009 in honor of Martha Rouse, an amazing woman whose life ended all to soon as a result from a motorcycle accident, this ministry has been growing ever since, and today, operates as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, offering a home away from home where critical care families can come for rest, meals, support and friendship.
We are an open door for all types of families in need, regardless of religion, race, gender, circumstance or financial means. At this time, guests must be over the age of 16 to stay at the Family House. The Carriage House Units 1 & 2 are open for out-patient chemotherapy/infusion/radiation patients and/or out-patient kidney transplant patients and their caregiver.
Since 2009
2,386+
Families
40,110+
Meals
11,179+
Loads of Laundry
33,695+
Nights of Lodging
Filling a need in our community.
Altogether, our community hospitals serve over 11,000 out-of-area in-patients a year.
With no place to go, these visitors—and their families—often find themselves staying at expensive hotels for the duration of prolonged treatments, or worse yet, the hospital waiting room for critical care or intensive care emergencies. Pensacola has become a major player in quality hospital care by offering state of the art ECMO (Extra Corpeal Membrane Oxygenation) therapy, kidney transplantation, out-patient chemotherapy, and heart surgery.
Martha’s Vineyard works with hospital and hospice case managers, rehabilitation hospitals, and social workers to identify families in need. Since 2009, we’ve served a modest 1900 plus families—less than 1% of total visiting-patients and only 10% of those who needed help—and we know there’s more work to be done in order to serve more families in need. Covid has most definitely changed the total numbers of in-patient days and increased the numbers of lodging needed by their families who are staying in the area to be near their sick loved ones.
For more information on how you can stay, donate, get involved, or partner with us, please call us at 850-469-1466.
The Vine
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Our logo, established in 2017, is a symbolic reference to John 15:5. We believe that we have been called to serve Martha’s Vineyard: The Family House according to His purpose, and through that purpose, we can serve others in need.
Dennis and I have believed from the day we were married that God has directed our paths.
After raising five children while having busy careers, we decided to slow down and move to Pensacola in 2003. God had other plans for us, and in 2009 after our paths crossed with Martha and Steve Rouse, we decided to sell our garden home, find a home in a great, central location, and take in families who are in our community to care for their loved ones in times of healthcare crisis for the rest of our lives.
We purchased 111 Euclid Street in 2009, and after 14 months and more than 150 volunteers, we got the house renovated for guests. This house served us for 10 years. Just like a good restaurant grows by “word of mouth”, we did too.
We moved to 110 West Strong Street, Pensacola Florida 32501. We have at this facility 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms in the main house and 2 one-bedroom efficiencies for out-patient chemotherapy/out-patient kidney transplant patients.
What we have discovered is that people going through emotional, physical, and medical stress can feel overwhelmed. Many times, just having someone to talk to can be a support system. Today, Martha’s Vineyard: The Family House serves families both physically and emotionally during some of the most difficult days of their lives. When we see and hear from our families that they are ALL on a road to recovery—no matter what, that outcome is OUR reward.
Board of Directors
J. Nixon Daniel, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dr. Dan Doty M.D.
Bob Gowing
John Hutchinson
Dr. Bob Greene
Marty M. Tackett, President
Philip Napier
Stephen B. Shell
Allen Turner
Ron Martin