• Goodwill Manasota has released its program numbers for 2021: The data shows a record-breaking impact of $91,039,000 – an increase of $10 million over last year for the nonprofit organization, which serves Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties.

Goodwill’s impact is determined through gross receipts for goods and services generated in the economy through all of the organization’s activities, including job placements through its Job Connection program, total wage and salary payments – including benefits – that Goodwill Manasota employees earn and pump back into local economies, and construction on and capital improvements to new and existing facilities.

The data was collected through a third-party independent study, conducted by Elliott D. Pollack & Company, of the business operations of Goodwill Manasota, along with Goodwill agencies throughout Florida.

Goodwill Manasota provides meaningful, long-term career services and employment opportunities to people who may be struggling to find work or are looking to find better jobs. Last year, Goodwill Manasota served 5,346 people, placing 170 in jobs throughout the region, assisting 381 veterans, diverting 57.4 million pounds of goods from area landfills, providing 102,608 hours in education and training for its team members, and collecting 212,436 pounds of food for local food banks.

• First responders and hospital staff in the North Port community and surrounding areas may receive free dental services May 25 at Price Creek Dentistry, 1500 Price Creek Way, North Port.

Cleanings and fillings will be provided from 8 a.m. to noon, by appointment only.

Dr. Timothy Lee and his team at Price Creek Dentistry will partner with Dr. Abelardo Heredia from Pine Island Road Dental Care in Cape Coral to honor and support local first responders and hospital staff as part of Free Dentistry Day, a day dedicated to providing free dental care to the growing number of individuals without dental insurance.

Bring a valid form of employment verification or identification.

For more information, please call 941-200-5094 or visit http://FreeDentistryDay.org.

• The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center held its fourth Collaboration Celebration in March, honoring Christina Russi, community fiscal agent and liaison for 211 and Season of Sharing. The event raised a net total of $68,000 for the center’s nonprofits.

The luncheon also featured three nonprofit honorees from Glasser/Schoenbaum’s five-acre campus: Literacy Council of Sarasota, Parenting Matters and UnidosNow.

With a presenting sponsorship from Community Foundation of Sarasota County, more than 50 staff members from the center’s Campus of Caring were able to join donors and partners at Michael’s On East.

A matching challenge gift of $7,500 from board member Renee Hamad and an anonymous donor was met and surpassed at the event.

• Elite Home Watchers has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association.

The NHWA was formed in 2009 to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for home watch and absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada.

Tom and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick own Elite Home Watchers. Both have earned the designation of Certified Home Watch Professional and have graduated from the NHWA's Home Watch Boot Camp. The CHWP designation and the boot camp training show their commitment to providing excellent service to their clients.

Elite Home Watchers serves Sarasota, South Sarasota, Braden River and Bradenton, specializing in Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Bird Key and Siesta Key.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: A record year for Goodwill Manasota, free dental care May 25