Sunnyside Village

The need for housing and health care for older persons was a concern of Will Overholt. As a result, he purchased property on Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota, Florida and built Sunnyside Rest Home. This 49-bed facility began operating in 1968 under the direction of the Sunnyside Beachy Amish Mennonite Church, the church Mr. Overholt attended. A voluntary service program of the church was the source of a large part of the staff at Sunnyside Rest Home. The room rates were the lowest in town. When Sunnyside Beachy Amish Mennonite Church was faced with the challenges of organizational and operational expansion, a group of local Mennonites assisted in the process. As a result, there was a change of ownership.