NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
68
THE SOURCE
their own communities.
One of the first cities to inquire was Palm Bay, just
30 miles north of Vero Beach. Following meetings
and presentations to city officials, plans began for
the development of the second Dignity Bus to serve
South Brevard County. A partnership was established
between The Source, the City of Palm Bay and the St.
Vincent De Paul Society of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
in Palm Bay.
The Palm Bay Dignity Bus is slightly smaller at 40
feet, with 16 secure pods and all the bells and whistles
providing 5,840 safe sleeps per year. Zorbaugh retained
the blueprints for the original bus and found a
retro-fitter in Clewiston who completed the second bus
for just $50,000.
The Source paid for the bus, insurance and hired the
staff and started operating in Palm Bay immediately.
The Palm Bay City Council gave it $8,900 to get it
started and Community Foundation for Brevard has
awarded The Source grants to help defray costs.
The arrival of the bus in January was perfect timing.
Just a few weeks earlier, a fire gutted South Brevard’s
only cold weather shelter at Truth Revealed Int’l Ministries
on Palm Bay Road. Zorbaugh and Bishop Merton
L. Clark, who oversaw the shelter, quickly worked to
redirect those seeking shelter to the Dignity Bus.
Volunteers from the St. Vincent De Paul Society of St.
Joseph’s Parish have taken over the operations of the
bus, registering guests for the night, providing them
with a nightly meal and helping them find ways to
improve their lives.
Dignity driver Kyle and The Source executive director Anthony Zorbaugh gave
Magic Johnson, center, a tour of the bus after a recent panel discussion on
achieving health equity through housing in Orlando. >>
/vero-beach-deng
