COMMUNITY BRIEFS: Junior League; Forty Carrots; Holocaust series; EOD; Hunger Heroes

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read

High School Hunger Heroes

All Faiths Food Bank's High School Hunger Heroes contributed 3,729 volunteer hours during the 2021-22 school year to provide nutritional assistance in Sarasota County. More than 245 students from Booker, Cardinal Mooney, Lakewood Ranch, North Port, Pine View, Riverview, Sarasota and Venice high schools participated. The Peer Leadership members included, from left, Noah Suplee, Catalina Greico, Jessica Kaszubski, and Ella Smith, as well as Tyler Ruben, Sean Laureano, Leuck Williams and Bella Martinez. The program launched in January 2021. To learn more about High School Hunger Heroes, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org/volunteer.

Junior League of Sarasota
funding community projects

The Junior League of Sarasota is inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for its annual Community Projects and Community Grants program. Applications will close on Aug. 1.

The JLS has awarded more than $200,000 in grants in the past four years to over 30 nonprofit organizations that support its mission of “improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to projects that impact any of four priority categories: Children, women, families, and aging out of foster care.

Special consideration will go to organizations that were deeply impacted by the pandemic. Applications and information are available a jlsarasota.org/community.

“It’s a privilege to provide financial stability and opportunities for a variety of local organizations," Junior League president Lindsay Nock said. "I encourage all eligible nonprofits to apply for either our grant funding or community projects.”

Forty Carrots Family Center
welcomes two new  trustees

Forty Carrots Family Center recently welcomed new Board of Trustee members Valerie Dall’Acqua of Premier Sotheby's International Realty and Joleen Searles, founding partner of Searles & Gornitsky. Dall’Acqua and Searles will serve three-year terms supporting Forty Carrots' mission of nurturing healthy child and family development and preventing child abuse.

Valerie Dall’Acqua has joined Forty Carrots board of trustees.
Valerie Dall’Acqua has joined Forty Carrots board of trustees.
Joleen Searles has joined Forty Carrots board of trustees.
Joleen Searles has joined Forty Carrots board of trustees.

"I’m delighted to welcome our newest trustees to this great team," Forty Carrots chair Susan Travers said. "We are more determined than ever to provide families with the skills, support, and education they need to thrive. The need has never been greater, and we know the work of the agency is strengthening our community.”

Forty Carrots Family Center has served families in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 1993, with 95% of families receiving services free of charge. For information, visit fortycarrots.com.

Holocaust survivors speaker
series set for Temple Sinai

Temple Sinai will present a four-part series with local Holocaust survivors who will share their personal stories and experiences during that horrific period. The first presentation will be by Felicia Liban on Aug. 21.

Felicia Liban, born in 1934 in Krakow, Poland, escaped from the ghetto with her mother and was hidden with a Christian family from age 8 to 11.
Felicia Liban, born in 1934 in Krakow, Poland, escaped from the ghetto with her mother and was hidden with a Christian family from age 8 to 11.

Born in Krakow, Poland, Liban escaped from the ghetto with her mother and was hidden with a Christian family from age 8 to 11. Lora and Sigmund Tobias, who escaped Germany, will share their stories on Sept. 18; Helga Melmed, who was born in Berlin and witnessed Kristallnacht, on Nov. 13; and Rifka Glatz, who was born in Hungary, will be the presenter on Dec.11.

The programs will run from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road (enter from Proctor Road), Sarasota. For more information, contact Andrea Eiffert at aeiffert@templesinai-sarasota.org.

Embracing Our Differences
awards college scholarships

Anela Ajkic of Riverview High School, Mya Fraser of Venice High, and Megan Meese of Riverview were recently awarded $1,000 four-year renewable scholarships by Embracing Our Differences.

The students are part of an EOD scholarship initiative that grants $1,000 renewable scholarships to three students at regional high school Coexistence Clubs. Current Coexistence Club locations include Booker, North Port, Pineview, Riverview, Sarasota, Suncoast Polytech, and Venice high schools, IMG Academy and SCF Collegiate Bradenton and Venice in addition to middle school clubs at Laurel Nokomis School and Venice Middle School.

"We are thrilled to work with all the amazing Coexistence Club students, the dedicated teachers who advise and guide this student-driven initiative and our steadfast supporters who make the Coexistence Club program and scholarships possible,” EOD education director Ben Jewell-Plocher said.

Ajkic will study health science and psychology at the University of Florida. Meese plans to major in international studies and anthropology at the University of Florida. Fraser will be attending Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University. For more information, visit embracingourdifferences.org.

Around and about ...

Lido Beach Pool, 400 Ben Franklin Drive, is temporarily closed because of a broken circulation pump. It is unknown when the pool will reopen, Sarasota officials said, due to supply chain difficulties obtaining replacement parts. During the closure, Lido Beach Pool passes will be honored at Arlington Aquatic Complex, 2650 Waldemere St., which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex (Monday-Thursday from 2-5 p.m.), 1845 34th St. For information contact Emily Morris, Parks & Recreation manager, at 941-263-6732.

• The North Port Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals is hosting the second annual Back to School Bash on July 30 from noon-10 p.m. at City Center Front Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd. Food trucks, games, live entertainment. A concert will be held at 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit North Port Schools. For more information, visit NPYoungProfessionals.org.

Compiled from press releases and community submissions

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: COMMUNITY: Forty Carrots; Junior League; EOD; Holocaust speakers series