Harvest House, Help to Home receive support for homeless initiatives in Sarasota, Manatee
Harvest House awarded $120,000 grant to support '2Gen' programs
Harvest House has received a $120,000, three-year grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to provide classroom equipment for the organization's Life Enrichment Campus and to support its "2Gen" Home Again programs that provide supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness.
“We are excited about our partnership with Harvest House for many reasons, but especially because of their commitment to a two-generation approach,” said Kirsten Russell, vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation. “[Harvest House] meets people exactly where they are, with love rather than judgment. This approach builds accountability and unlocks potential by coordinating equitable access to housing, education, and mental health supports.”
Home Again serves 108 parents and children with multiple barriers to sustainability across three campuses. In 2022, 70% of clients served came from homelessness or institutional settings and 86% exited to stable housing. For information, visit harvesthousecenters.org or call 941-953-3154.
Help To Home Inc. receives funds for Hope Village project
Help To Home Inc. has received $30,000 in matching funds from the Manatee Community Foundation for use in building its new Hope Village community to help parents with children who are homeless or threatened by homelessness.
“This $30,000 and the matching funds we raise to go with it will help transition parents threatened with homelessness so they can have a stable living environment,” said Rod Urban, president of Help To Home. The Manatee Community Foundation's “Manatee Match” group involves individual donors dedicated to helping nonprofit service organizations.
Help to Home assists with lower-rent housing primarily for single mothers threatened with homelessness. The nonprofit is raising funds for its new Hope Village on 4.8 acres it acquired last year for a 53-home community on 30th Avenue West between 14th and 28th Streets West. For information on Help To Home and Hope Village, visit helptohome.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters launches workplace mentoring program
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast recently launched a workplace mentoring program in partnership with the Venice Police Department and Venice High School.
Called Beyond School Walls, the program allows high school students to experience work at a corporation, learn business etiquette, and identify educational requirements for professional success. Big Brothers Big Sisters has matched 17 students from Venice High School with Venice police staff members.
“Through a collaborative partnership, we have extended the education of our youths beyond their school to a law enforcement agency," Big Brothers Big Sisters president Joy Mahler said. “The skills that students will gain through this program will help guide them to the next steps in their lives and careers.”
To learn more about the program and how to get involved, call 941-488-4009, 855-501-BIGS or visit bbbssun.org.
Temple Beth Sholom, JFSMto host 'Eyewitness to Dachau'
Temple Beth Sholom and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will present “Eyewitness to Dachau” on May 2 at 3:30 p.m. with World War II veteran Chuck Palmeri, award-winning author of "Boy Soldier: Recollections of World War II."
Palmeri, 97, was a member of the 42nd Infantry and was present at the infamous Nazi concentration camp in the days immediately following its liberation.
Doors open for the event at 3 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom's Sainer Social Hall, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Bldg. 2, in Sarasota. For more information, contact the office at 941-955-8121 or info@tbssrq.org.
St. Armands Key Lutheran assists Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota recently received a $10,000 grant from the St. Armands Key Lutheran Church Foundation.
“Our staff and volunteers are grateful for the support from St Armands Key Lutheran Church Foundation. Monday-Friday, our staff and volunteers deliver 700 freshly prepared meals to residents, without our program, many would not eat that day,” executive director, Rhonda Leiberick said.
Learn more at saklc.com/st-armands-key-lutheran-church-foundation and mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org.
Around and about ...
Laurel Civic is hosting "Praise, Peace, and Positivity in the Park" on Sunday at 9 a.m. at Laurel Park, 1725 Laurel St., Sarasota, as part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days. The event, in partnership with Sarasota County Libraries, includes yoga, meditation, and painting. Info: remakelearningdays.org/suncoast.
· The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation and the History & Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County will present the 2023 Heritage Awards on May 6 from 4-8 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The event will be hosted by John McCarthy, VP of regional history for Selby Gardens. Info/tickets: PreserveSRQ.org or 941-254-3002.
· The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding an open house for its new meetinghouse in Bradenton at 3704 Lorraine Road on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The building will serve 3,600 Latter-day Saints in Manatee and Sarasota counties, including Spanish-speaking congregations.
Submissions by Clifford McDonald, Carol Whitmore, Gina Taylor, Rhonda Leiberick, Jon DeVries, Su Byron, Catherine Kerr.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 'If We All Held Hands' wins Embracing Our Differences People’s Choice Award
