Wellen Park, homebuilders donate 12 Cottages for Kids playhouses to local families through The Salvation Army

Wellen Park’s Cottages for Kids program made the holidays brighter for select local children for The Salvation Army Sarasota County’s mission of meeting the region’s greatest needs. Created by Wellen Park in partnership with its homebuilders, the program featured 12 playhouses, adorned with front porches, picket fences, picnic tables, flowerboxes and even a two-story cottage with a slide tube.

            The one-of-a-kind playhouse cottages were displayed throughout the holiday season in the Cottages for Kids Holiday Village around Downtown Wellen’s Solis Hall. Cottages were each donated to select families in our area by The Salvation Army.

            “Cottages for Kids was a tremendous success and the beginning of our new partnership with The Salvation Army, which does so much for the area,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “These cottages will provide countless hours of play and imagination for local kids. The joy, heart and creativity of our builders are reflected in these phenomenal playhouses. At Wellen Park, we consistently strive to give back whenever possible.”

Twelve builders in Wellen Park participated in the third year of Cottages for Kids, including BB Living, David Weekley Homes, Lennar, Homes by WestBay, Lee Wetherington Homes, Mattamy Homes, M/I Homes, Neal Communities, Neal Signature Homes, Pulte Homes, Sam Rodgers Homes and Toll Brothers. Given carte blanche, they fashioned homes featuring an array of architectural styles – from modern and craftsman to beach bungalow and farmhouse with dormer windows, slanted and cantilevered roofs.

 A familiar sight and sound of the season, Salvation Army bellringers stationed in the Holiday Village collected donations during the holiday events in Downtown Wellen. The nonprofit organization raised money to support its goals of helping residents overcome poverty and combat addiction, providing shelter, helping disaster survivors and fighting human trafficking.

“As a first-year initiative, our partnership with Wellen Park has been a resounding success,” said Lt. Colonel Michele Matthews, area commander for The Salvation Army’s Sarasota County Area Command. “We were impressed by Wellen Park’s ability to rally builders to donate to this initiative. Showcasing the cottages during the week of Wellen Wonderland provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with the community, not only about this project but also about the broader range of programs and services The Salvation Army offers.”

Decorated for the holidays with lanterns, poinsettias, wreaths, garlands, twinkling lights and stuffed animals, several cottages were open for play during Downtown Wellen holiday events. They were also delivered decorated for the holidays.

“For children in families with limited resources, these cottages provide a unique opportunity for play that nurtures emotional, cognitive and social development,” said Matthews. “The dedicated space fosters creativity, imagination and physical activity. They offer a safe, enjoyable escape from daily stresses, alleviating some of the emotional burdens these children may face. The cottages also encourage interaction with other children, promoting key social skills such as sharing, teamwork and collaboration.”

Some of the cottages also found permanent homes with The Salvation Army. One cottage is now part of The Salvation Army’s Family Transitional Services program and provides a playful destination for children living in the nonprofit organization’s 12 apartment-style units for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.

“Our case manager notes that the cottage has quickly become a favorite feature with many children enjoying the safe space – a stark contrast to what they might have experienced in the past,” said Matthews. “Having access to the cottage on the playground restores a sense of normalcy, joy and childhood experiences that may have been absent due to their living conditions. It’s therapeutic – physical play helps release stress hormones and fosters emotional healing.”

Another cottage now resides in the playground at The Salvation Army’s early learning childcare location in Venice. “We just opened the childcare program and expect great things as south Sarasota County is considered a childcare desert,” said Matthews.

            “The cottages were just incredible, and we can’t wait to see what our phenomenal builders come up with for 2025,” said Severance. “Wellen Park is excited by this new partnership with The Salvation Army, and we look forward to presenting Cottages for Kids each year. The positive impact on the children and families who received the cottages gives us great joy.”

“Through this partnership, Wellen Park brought together people from across the community to build more than just homes – they built hope for children in need,” added Matthews. “We are honored to have collaborated with them on this meaningful initiative.”

For more information about The Salvation Army Sarasota County, visit www.sarasota.salvationarmyflorida.org.