The Vern & Sandy Buchanan Children’s Center opens this week in Sarasota, expanding the One More Child nonprofit’s regional footprint as demand for family support services grows.
The faith-based nonprofit will celebrate the grand opening of the Vern & Sandy Buchanan Children’s Center at Palm Garden Village on Wednesday. The center is designed to connect families with housing support, food assistance and other critical services.
It aims to serve as a centralized hub for single mothers, children and families, connecting them with support, encouragement and practical resources. The center is meant to help strengthen family stability and support mothers who are working to build a safe, independent future for themselves and their children.
“This center is about more than a building — it is a promise,” Buchanan Foundation CEO Sandy Buchanan said in a statement. “A promise that when a child is hungry, a family is overwhelmed, or a brave single mom is rebuilding her life, they will not be alone. We are honored to partner with One More Child to create a place where compassion meets action, and where families can find real hope and a fresh start.”
The new facility is part of a broader expansion by One More Child in the region. The nonprofit is bringing key services together to meet urgent community needs, including support for single moms, foster families, children facing hunger, and survivors of trafficking. Last year, One More Child served 271,193 children and reached 100,692 more through advocacy, training, awareness and volunteering.
Sandy and her husband, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, contributed $1 million to the project. The Buchanan Foundation has been active in supporting other community initiatives across Southwest Florida — including a $1 million contribution last year toward a new public library on Longboat Key.
The Buchanans have also supported causes and institutions including the Boys and Girls Club, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Ringling Museum of Art through their philanthropy.
The grand opening event will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by public tours starting at 11 a.m. of the Children’s Center and surrounding campus.
