Nana's House: Gated Community Has Helped Hundreds of Children Heal
Nana’s House is a gated community like no other: an all-volunteer, all-donation community of foster families dedicated to giving children a caring, Christian environment in which to heal and grow.
“Our mission is to provide a safe, secure, loving home where neglected, abused, needy or abandoned children can come and experience God’s love and healing,” said president and founder Kim Frodge. “When children come into our care, we love them like they are our own, and we teach them that God loves them and has a purpose for them. We hope to break the cycle of neglect and abuse.”
The gated community includes eight homes that house families, each with a foster father and mother caring for five children. There also are facilities, including a community center, pavilion, fire pit, and a “stop-and-shop” store that has anything the families might need, from car seats to clothing. Families in the community receive free housing, transportation, utilities, and whatever the children need to have a healthy and stable environment where they can grow.
Nana’s House is completely supported by volunteers and donations.
“We don’t receive any state funding,” Froge explained. “I love the fact that we’re a good old-fashioned charity that the community comes together to help.”
Even the homes were built almost exclusively with volunteers and donations, she said. Now, they manage everything through donations, volunteer work, and proceeds from the Nana’s House Babcock Store in Melbourne.
Nana’s House was, quite literally, a dream for Froge. She said that she had recurring dreams about creating this community. After being unable to secure the land, they started with a single refurbished home and one foster family in 2009. Later, in 2014, she and her husband secured land in West Melbourne.
“Not only did we get the land, but it was developed: roads, electrical, and sewer were already laid out — just like they had been in my dream. The owners said they felt like they were meant to be keepers of the land for us. It was a total God thing!” she said.
Now Nana’s House has allied with One More Child to include foster homes in Brevard.
“That’s how we’ve been able to grow so much. One More Child has monthly classes for certifying families. They can license the home even outside the (gated) community. Families outside the community can be more flexible in how many kids they can take,” Froge said.
Since its inception, Nana’s House has helped hundreds of children. Many have been adopted, and more reunited with families who received help to make them better able to care for their own children. People from out of state come to Froge wanting to recreate her model in their communities.
Even so, it’s not enough.
“We need more foster families. There is still a huge shortage of beds in Brevard County,” Froge said.
Froge speaks at community organizations and churches about her mission and is always glad to give tours of the facility to anyone interested. In the meantime, anyone can help with donations, visiting the thrift store, or contacting Froge about becoming a foster family.
Visit the Store
Nana’s House Babcock Store
4490 South Babcock St., Melbourne, FL 32901
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Learn More
nanaschildrenshome.com/babcock-store
321-724-5111
Facebook: /NanasHouseBrevard
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