GOOD DEEDS: Lighthouse finds shelter at Goodwill after the storm
When Hurricane Ian roared through Florida, the storm left much devastation in its wake. While Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center was happy that its staff, volunteers and clients were safe, its building on North Tamiami Trail wasn’t so fortunate.
The high winds caused damage that brought in a tremendous amount of rain, resulting in water crashing through the second-level floors and flooding its main floor.
The Lighthouse team was grateful to numerous community partners who offered space for its classes, which enabled the organization to continue supporting its clients with vision loss in the months following the storm.
To assist Lighthouse for the longer term, Goodwill Manasota has provided free classroom space in the Community Room at its Mecca Goodwill location on the North Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota, to provide training to maintain independence for people who are blind or who have visual impairments.Additionally, the organizations have signed a lease on Goodwill’s Bayshore Gardens Parkway location, in Bradenton, for use as an administrative office and additional meeting space. The lease runs through October, giving Lighthouse some time to repair its headquarters.
Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center CEO Lisa Howard notes that her organization has partnered with Goodwill in many ways over the decades, through the Lighthouse Employment Services and Young Adult programs.---
Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County Inc., for the seventh consecutive year, received a $5,000 grant from State Farm to help build affordable homes in South Sarasota County.
Habitat and State Farm have built a partnership with the common goal to build safer, stronger, better educated communities.
Through community development grants and volunteerism, State Farm reinvests in the communities it serves as a way of giving back and helping to strengthen neighborhoods.
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Making An Impact, a community-focused nonprofit dedicated to making a positive change by empowering those in need with information on local resources, has received a grant of $3,825 from Doers of the Word, a faith-based giving circle.
The funds will be used to reprint copies of the Spanish-translated 2023 Making An Impact Community Connections Resource Guides, which have been in high demand since the March release.
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The first annual North River Ranch Trail Run, benefitting the Parrish Firefighters Association, was a success, with 139 runners participating in the 5K Race and the 1 Mile Fun Run.
The family-friendly race, hosted by North River Ranch, was held in March to coincide with the opening of the new Fort Hamer Road extension, improving the region’s connectivity and access. North River Ranch is a master-planned community in Parrish developed by local land developer Neal Land & Neighborhoods.
Neal Land & Neighborhoods presented the fire department with a $2,500 check on April 28.
Sponsors of the race included Fit2Run, The Runner’s Superstore and home builders at North River Ranch: Cardel Homes, David Weekley Homes, Homes by WestBay, Neal Communities, Park Square Homes and Pulte Homes.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Goodwill provides shelter to Lighthouse after the storm
