Others of Destin » About Us

About Us

Director:

Laurel

Laurel Vermillion

Laurel Vermillion has been an active leader for over 20 years in many forms of outreach and ministry. In addition to founding a leadership program for teenagers, Laurel has served those experiencing homelessness through The Blue Door program in Destin. Since autumn 2015, Laurel has also been the director of Others of Destin. She strives to be an ally and advocate for people facing poverty and hopes that her work will assist people in living full lives of love, security, and faith.

Laurel, her husband Dale, and their four children moved from Chicago to the Emerald Coast in 2007 to found 24/7 at the Beach, a teen leadership program. Laurel and Dale, married 23 years, work also together to support and serve for a global ministry in the Andhra Pradesh region of central India called, India Rural Evangelical Fellowship (http://irefusa.org/).

Board of Directors:

Dick Christensen – Board Chairman

Profession/affiliation – Retired, Vice President Ashland Petroleum

City of Residence – Destin, Florida

Years Served – 4 years

Barry Carpenter

Profession/affiliation – Pastor of Destin United Methodist Church

City of Residence – Miramar Beach, Florida

Years Served – 4 years

Bert McCollum – Treasurer

Profession/affiliation – Business Owner, BnT Inc., Retired Military and Retired DOD Civil Service

City of Residence – Destin, Florida

Years Served -4 years

Matt Parenzan

Profession/affiliation – Business Owner, Corestruction

City of Residence – Destin, Florida

Years Served – 4 years

Mel Ponder

Profession/affiliation – Florida House of Representatives, District 4, President of Business Empowered, Real Estate Agent

City of Residence – Destin, Florida

Years Served – 4 years

Cindy Wilson – Secretary

Profession/affiliation – Founder of Shepard’s Walk Foundation, Retired, COO of Telwares, Inc.

City of Residence – Destin, Florida

Years Served – 4 years

Mission Statement:

OTHERS of Destin, Inc. establishes collaborative partnerships between churches, businesses, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations for the greater purpose of empowering underserved members of the community. By tailoring services to meet the needs and preferences of those served, OTHERS provides holistic programming directed towards self-sufficiency that is rooted in love of family, commitment to community, and faith in God.

Purpose:

a. The advancement of educational, charitable (benevolent) purposes, and any other related or corresponding purposes by the distribution of its funds generated for such purposes.

b. To operate exclusively in any other manner for such religious and charitable purposes will qualify it as an exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Recommendations

Hope Medical Clinic enjoys working with OTHERS of Destin, Inc. in cases where reciprocal needs of the underserved are met through working together to achieve the best outcome for our mutual client.

Tim Roberts, Director, Hope Medical Clinic

We look forward to partnering with OTHERS of Destin because they customize etheir approach to fit the unique circumstances and needs of those they serve!

Walt Chisney, St. Andrews Bicycle Ministry

I am grateful to OTHERS for the support they provided to my family. As a single parent with severe diabetes, I had given up hope of finding the help I needed. OTHERS renewed my hope in a system that I had considered to be broken.

Felicia L., Client of OTHERS of Destin, Inc.