A Drug-Free Future – Meet Warehouse of Venice

For years, two women have been hard at work changing teen’s lives for the better right here in Venice with the support of Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast).

The Warehouse of Venice opened its doors in 2007 for Venice High School students. They provide a safe and positive space for middle and high school students to connect, engage, and make good choices so they are set up for future success. They offer young adult’s events and increased community service opportunities to engage with the greater Venice community. Individuals make friends, build skills, and discover talents all in a safe and supportive community that highlights the benefits of being drug-free, alcohol-free, and nicotine-free. Linda Banister, executive director, and Debbie Eaton, president of the board of directors, co-founded the program with Linda’s son.

Gulf Coast believes in supporting meaningful opportunities and futures for teens. We recently awarded the nonprofit a $5,000 grant from the Elva Brant and Donald Dirr Charitable Foundation Fund and Venice Endowment Fund for technology updates to continue to connect youth to the community. Warehouse of Venice is helping young people to make healthy choices and connect over positive social opportunities, not drugs and alcohol.

Banister and Eaton also run the Venice D-Fy (Drug-Free Youth) Rewards Program which encourages Venice area youth, ages 11-18, to be and stay drug-free. Members receive a D-Fy photo ID, free giveaways, invitations to members-only events, and drug-free rewards and discounts with local businesses. This is a fun and powerful way to emphasize the importance of making healthy choices. Their website reads, “We believe every teen should have a safe space and positive community – somewhere they feel they belong.”

Warehouse of Venice has shaped a community system where families in the program, from the past and today, bond and share their lives with Banister and Eaton, creating long-lasting relationships.

One teen by the name of Devin shared with the organization that he became addicted to drugs in middle school. He attended a D-Fy event and knew he wanted a change. Devin shares, “And today, several years later, I tell everyone who will listen that I am certain I would not be alive today if I hadn’t joined and remained a D-Fy member.”

We sat down with Linda Banister and Debbie Eaton of Warehouse of Venice to learn more.

Q: Can you describe how Warehouse of Venice has become a community system?

Banister: “I moved here in 2001 with my son and we often heard there was nothing to do in Venice for teens. Someone in the community offered part of their warehouse and that’s where our name came from. Furniture was donated to us and we created a living room space with ping pong tables and activities. Venice Warehouse is a student’s way of getting help. We are still friends with the kids from the very beginning. One young man was in middle school, reluctant to join, and he is now a leader, on our board of directors, and in recovery ever since he came to the program.”

Q: How has Gulf Coast’s philanthropy enabled you to reach and help more youth?

Eaton: “I am almost certain that Gulf Coast Community Foundation gave us our first grant. For us, it has always been about this community. Since we started outreach, I think we’ve partnered with over 200 organizations and businesses. We’ve built relationships and they have supported us and the teens. Those relationships became philanthropic.”

Q: Gulf Coast’s recent grant will help you with out-of-date computer equipment and software, as you use social media and your website 90% of the time for your communication to teens. How will this grant help you transform your work?

Eaton: “For every social media post we make, it takes Linda at least an hour to prepare the post because of the software and the speed of the hardware. The technology updates we are investing in with the help of Gulf Coast and others will bring all equipment and software to current level to take advantage of today’s technology versus the outdated equipment we have. This will allow us to be more effective because we can promote more of the programs.”

Q: Why is it so important to offer a resource to teens at this age?

Banister: “Every adult has been a teenager and knows how hard it can be. Teens who aren’t involved with anything extra-curricular are the ones falling through the cracks. Teens who go through our programs are going to college, coming back here, and working. We teach them life skills through volunteering with organizations, as well. Everything we do is about relationships. We are always there for the kids.”