Sarasota County church postpones cease-and-desist order, resumes full homeless outreach services

A Sarasota County church has resumed its full homeless outreach services, operating four days a week after a cease-and-desist order was postponed until December 2. The Remnant Church, led by Pastor Frank Burns, announced on October 4 that the Remnant Cafe outreach program—formerly limited to Wednesday Bible study and Saturday worship services—will now resume full operations beginning October 5.

The outreach initiative, which includes free meals, coffee, hot showers, and clean clothes, had been curtailed following a determination by Sarasota County Code Enforcement that the program was operating as a social service facility on land zoned for single-family residential use. The church had previously operated out of locations in Sarasota, but faced challenges in securing space closer to the city due to concerns from landlords.

Tammy Burns, a church member, explained that the relocation to the current site was a practical solution. “Nobody will rent to me in downtown or north of downtown because they know who I am, they don’t want them,” she said, referring to the homeless community. The church now provides transportation via a bus service from the Breeze Transit depot in downtown Sarasota, allowing participants to access services at the church located six miles northwest.

The Remnant Cafe has been a vital resource for the homeless in the area since the church merged with Ashton Mennonite Church in 2017. Before the merger, the Burnses operated outreach efforts in Sarasota, but the new location offers a more accessible option for those in need. The program also includes laundry services and showers for attendees.

Currently, the Salvation Army Center of Hope offers homeless outreach in the city, but few other organizations provide services similar to the Remnant Cafe. The church’s efforts align with a biblical call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which urges believers to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The Remnant Cafe will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with Bible study at 1:30 p.m. and bus transportation for the return trip beginning at 2:15 p.m. On Saturdays, fellowship and lunch begin at noon, followed by a church service at 4 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m.

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