Making An Impact (MAI), a nonprofit group providing equitable access to community resources, recently created one of the area’s most comprehensive disaster recovery resource guides in response to those in Sarasota and Manatee counties affected by Hurricane Ian. MAI was incorporated in 2020 with a mission to reduce disparities and address unmet needs for disadvantaged people in our community. In response to a growing need for information and access to community resources, the organization quickly rallied to address the community’s more urgent and pressing informational requests.

The new MAI Disaster Recovery Resource Guide provides information in 29 categories, including emergency management, food, fraud or scams, medical care and supplies, weather updates and much more. There are over 100 listings of organizations and agencies offering services or programs most often requested following a major disaster. Access to the disaster guide is available 24/7, and printed copies of the guides, QR code wallet cards, and signage are available in limited quantities.

“Making An Impact is a small but mighty all-volunteer nonprofit focused on helping residents locate basic need services in their area. So, it just made sense that we would use our know-how and talents to respond to the recent crisis the best way we knew how. We saw the opportunity to fill the information gap for those affected, many of whom have no electricity, permanent shelter, and compromised cellphone access," said Board chair and co-founder Victoria Kasdan. “ Those impacted by Hurricane Ian are in crisis, which is where our new, Disaster Recovery Guide can help. However, since the road to recovery can be long, assistance finding additional basic needs services can be found in our other Community Connection Resource Guide, which lists over 250 organizations to address urgent and non-urgent needs. Florida has more hurricanes than any other state. With climate change increasing the number and severity, followed by unprecedented destruction, we see the need for this new Guide both now and in the future. While we proceeded with this endeavor without any additional financial commitment or support, hopefully, the community will find this to be a valued tool and show their support, so this can be a sustainable offering,” stated Kasdan. Making An Impact now has Disaster Recovery and Community Connections Resource Guides available in print and online, providing emergency and essential need services in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Making An Impact, 11161 East State Road 70, Suite 110-585, Lakewood Ranch, Email: info@Making-An-Impact.org, Phone: 941-251-5846. 

To learn more click here.

Immediately following the devastation of Hurricane Ian, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime told their customers they would accept donations for those impacted. Within the first hour, The Bazaar entrance was filled. Three days later, they had delivered more than a dozen loads to various organizations. The Bazaar is home to more than 40 local creators and curators. In 2021 the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce presented The Bazaar with the Community Impact Award. They are open Thursday - Saturday 10-3 at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota.  

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At least 19 preschools in Sarasota County saw their playground fences damaged in Hurricane Ian, which is preventing children from using the space until repairs are made. A $50,000 relief grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation–in coordination with the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County–will see that the work is done quickly. Outside play is critical for development of gross motor skills, activation of the sensory system, and behavior regulation inside the classroom. Willis A. Smith Construction of Lakewood Ranch was able to connect the foundation and coalition with Starline Multiservices, based in Odessa in Pasco County, to expedite repairs. The cost of repairs is proving to be lower than the insurance deductible for preschools, which operate with thin margins, so the foundation relief is proving to be a tremendous help to avoid out-of-pocket costs that were not anticipated. Additional efforts will be made by Barancik Foundation for the longer-term recovery. 

Pictured: Outside play will resume quickly thanks to a generous grant. Photo courtesy of the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County.

With the devastation suffered by our community during and after Hurricane Ian, JFCS of the Suncoast hopes to bring cheer and comfort to local families and seniors in need during the holidays. Since 2004, JFCS has organized its annual Adopt-a-Family campaign to help ease the burden on parents struggling to provide holiday meals and gifts to their families. Donors can also brighten the day of seniors in isolation through the Adopt-a-Senior program. JFCS has 150 seniors and more than 300 children up for adoption this season. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors, 150 seniors and 338 children were adopted in 2021. Donations totaled more than $79,000. Since its inception, more than 2,100 children from over 660 families have benefitted from the Adopt-a-Family program. Adopt-a-Family/Senior recipients are current JFCS clients who participate in a variety of human services programs. Those wishing to adopt a family should be willing to purchase a gift card from a major retailer to help the parent shop for a holiday meal. Donors will be provided with details about the families they have been paired up with so they can purchase one or more of the items on the children’s holiday wish lists, as well as clothing and shoes. People who prefer not to be matched with a specific family can choose to donate money toward the purchase of gifts, or they can donate general children’s toys and items. Those adopting a senior should fill gift bags with hard candy, stamps, notepads, pens, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, lip balm, tissues, socks, refrigerator magnets, and store gift cards. People can also donate funds toward senior gift bags. If you would like to adopt a family or senior, please email Karen Pharo at kpharo@jfcs-cares.org. Donors must register to adopt by Nov. 30. The deadline to make donations and drop off gifts is Dec. 9. Donations to the fundraiser can be made through Pay Pal by choosing Adopt-a-Family/Adopt-a-Senior in the drop-down menu. Click here to donate. 

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Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's (NCF) welcomes Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz as the new Development Director. Bushinger-Ortiz will develop and implement NCF's strategic plan to raise funds vital to NCF's programs and operation. NCF helps people with Parkinsons (PWP) and their caregivers navigate the complexities of managing the disease by providing individualized support, services, programs, and community resource referrals. Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz, originally from the metropolitan Manhattan area, has an eclectic background with over 15 years in professional theatre in the performing, administrative, and educational arenas. She performed in two national children's theatre tours, directed Off- Broadway, and wrote/directed two original pieces for the United Nations World Religion Conference and the United Nation/National Global Organization's International Commission on the Status of Women Summit. Her expertise expanded to marketing and public relations work with Cirque du Soleil, Street Meet Promotions, Big Apple Circus, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. After relocating to Venice, FL nearly six years ago, she served as the former vice president of philanthropy for the Loveland Center before settling into her new role as the development director for Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's. She is a proud member of the American Fundraising Professionals (AFP) serving on its programming and diversity, equity and inclusion committees, graduate of the Inaugural. Leadership Class of Venice 2019 and Gulf Coast Leadership Institute Class of 2022.

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinsons, 722 Apex Road, Suite A, Sarasota, FL 34240 • 941-926-6413 • www.neurochallenge.org 

A library is more than shelves holding book collections. A library is a place for children to develop life-long learning habits. A library is a community gathering place. A library provides resources and tools for education. A library is the backbone to a prosperous community. Libraries make a difference. Libraries are for everyone. Manatee County is building the seventh library branch at 16410 Rangeland Pkwy in Lakewood Ranch. The library is on-track to be complete in the fall of 2023. The County is funding the cost of construction, $17.3 million, and budgeted $580,000 for collections. Throughout the construction process, additional shelving was incorporated into the plans, allowing for a larger opening day collection, now anticipated to cost $990,000. The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library accepted a challenge to raise $410,000. The Fill the Shelves Campaign will bridge the gap to purchase the opening day collection. Donations received will be used to purchase toddler board books, children’s young readers, young adult books, large print materials along with multicultural and bilingual books to serve the entire Manatee County library system. The Library Foundation, Inc. voted unanimously to support the opening day collection with a $200,000 match opportunity to support the Fill the Shelves campaign. “Every board member was pleased to step forward to contribute to this most worthwhile need and we felt fulfillment of duty,” says A. Donald Janezic, Jr., Library Foundation board chair. 

Matter Brothers Furniture and Florida Leather Gallery are partnering with local United Way chapters to lend a helping hand to the communities affected by Hurricane Ian. The family-owned company is opening donation centers at ten of its locations throughout Southwest Florida to collect much-needed, everyday items to assist with ongoing hurricane relief efforts. Matter Brothers Furniture is a furniture retailer based in Fort Myers with five stores and over 250 employees throughout the region. The company is working directly with United Way of South Sarasota County and United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties on these relief efforts. Anyone able to donate basic needs items is encouraged to drop off donations, between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at any of the open Matters Brothers Furniture locations listed here: Naples Showroom: 7200 Trail Blvd, Naples, FL; Pinellas Park Showroom: 7801 US Hwy 19 N, Pinellas Park, FL; Tarpon Springs Showroom: 40528 US Hwy 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL; Sarasota Showroom: 4675 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233; Fort Myers Showroom: 11750 S Cleveland Avenue Fort Myers, FL; Distribution Center: 11920 Metro Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL; Florida Leather Gallery is taking part in this effort by accepting donations at five of its locations between 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Bonita Showroom: 28701 South Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL; Clearwater: 30209 U.S 19 North, Clearwater, FL; Fort Myers: 11016 South Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL; Sarasota: 7766 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL; Tampa: 6206 North Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL.   For years, Matter Brother Furniture has partnered with United Way in ongoing efforts to provide furniture to those in need and has plans to extend these efforts as part of its hurricane relief assistance. 

For more information click here.

PGT Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in premium windows and doors, including impact-resistant products and products designed to unify indoor/outdoor living spaces, today announced it has acquired Martin Door Holdings, Inc. (“Martin”) for a purchase price of approximately $185 million. Martin, manufacturer of the “World’s finest, safest garage doors”, is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, and is a leading custom manufacturer of premium overhead garage doors and hardware serving the Western U.S. residential and commercial markets. This transaction is consistent with PGT Innovations’ continuing move into adjacent building product categories that complement its current robust portfolio of strong window and door brands. The expansion of product categories, along with the breadth of markets currently served by Martin, supports PGT Innovations’ strategic plan to scale its business and grow in desirable markets and geographies. The addition of Martin’s established brand also further strengthens the Company’s market presence across the growing Western region, an area currently served by two of PGT Innovations’ window and door brands – Western Window Systems and Anlin Windows & Doors.  

To learn more click here.

CAPTURING THE ORCHID SHOW | Fine art orchid photography.

See more of Selby Gardens’ outstanding orchid collection through this link, on our social media, or in the October edition of SRQ Magazine! 

Read Here!