Florida's Circuit 12 (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties) was recently recognized with the “2023 Community of the Year Award” for its successful implementation of the CarePortal platform–an online tool that connects churches with the needs of vulnerable children and families through local child welfare agencies. In Circuit 12, one of those agencies is the lead community based care organization, Safe Children Coalition (SCC) whose case managers help with careful vetting and online entry of needs.

Local nonprofit Bridge a Life uses the CarePortal platform to connect caring church members with urgent social service needs in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Denise Grimes, the CarePortal Regional Manager for Bridge a Life shares that typical requests addressed through CarePortal are for beds, furniture, formula, diapers, clothes and food. Through the CarePortal technology, agency workers find a family in need and put in a request for help from churches that are within a certain proximity to that family. “Our churches will get the request and try to meet the needs of that family by helping them build community and by serving them in many different ways–ways that are unique to every family,” explains Grimes. According to the CarePortal website, more than half of the requests entered into CarePortal receive a response in fewer than 48 hours.

Just before the holidays last year, a request came in from a family in need. “It was a simple request,” recalls Grimes. “At first they just needed a couple beds. Once the church was able to go into the home, they realized the family needed a lot more than just beds so they decided to really wrap around this family and provide Christmas presents. They then helped them prepare for the holidays with meals and other things that they needed. After the holidays, they've continued to meet with the family, helping them with bunk beds for the many children in the home. A few months later, they came back to paint the entire home and help the family truly have a fresh new start.”

The pilot program began in our region thanks to a former SCC vice president, Kathleen Cowan, who started the conversation about bringing CarePortal to our community. In July of 2021, CarePortal was activated within SCC’s Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) – this team provides and coordinates services for families who are at high risk for entering the child welfare system. The goal of the ERAT team is to ensure children's safety and well-being within the home, to help avoid the unnecessary removal of children. The goal of all the partners involved is to keep kids in their homes; by filling urgent needs, CarePortal helps to do just that.

To learn about ways to help families in need, Grimes suggests visiting the Bridge A Life and/or CarePortal websites. For more about SCC, visit sccfl.org. 

Pictured: L-R -Kathy Cornwell (church responder), Michelle Allen (church responder and Bridge A Life board member), Courtney Ross, (CarePortal), Denise Grimes and SCC team members Sierra Ebersole and Sarah Hawk. Photo provided by Bridge A Life.

To learn more about Bridge A Life, visit.

Chiles Hospitality has awarded scholarships to nine eligible employees from Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Beach House Waterfront Restaurant through its scholarship fund with Manatee Community Foundation. Established by Ed Chiles in 2010, the fund provides scholarships for qualified individuals who are employees or children of employees of Chiles Hospitality in support of their pursuit of higher education at accredited institutions. Chiles Hospitality owns and operates three waterfront restaurants, a scratch-artisan bakery and an organic-certified farm in Manatee County. The Chiles Hospitality Scholarship Fund has awarded over 70 scholarships since its inception. Manatee Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee reviews the applications and selects the recipients based on their grades, volunteer service and leadership ability. For more information on Chiles Hospitality, visit www.chileshospitality.com. 

Pictured: 2024 Chiles Hospitality Scholarship recipients. Photo courtesy of Chiles Hospitality.

Last week leaders and team members from All Faiths Food Bank and the American Red Cross came together to celebrate the ARC's recent financial support - awarded through its Community Adaptation Program - designated toward the purchase of equipment that will improve AFFB's ability to respond during a disaster, increase critical capacity, and pursue its mission of providing healthy solutions to end hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto counties ... and beyond. An assessment of disaster activities in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian (2022) concluded that additional freezer/refrigeration was needed to strengthen disaster recovery efforts and increase capacity. AFFB’s most significant, immediate needs were freezer and cooler capacity; AFFB also requested additional material handling equipment to support the safe and timely transport of food within its warehouse, from receiving to shipping. AFFB leaders are grateful to the ARC for its many years of collaboration in times of disaster, to help our neighbors in need, through the present. 

Sarah Wertheimer, executive director of Embracing Our Differences (EOD), recently announced the addition of Jeff Spalter to the organization's board of directors. Spalter served for 36 years as a senior financial executive at ExxonMobil. In addition to overseeing controllership for the global fuels and lubricants business, Spalter led the global finance inclusion and diversity team. These roles enabled him to develop extensive expertise in marketing, strategic planning, controls, and personnel development. Since retiring and relocating to Longboat Key with his wife, Joanie, in 2019, he has been actively involved in community efforts. 

To learn more, visit.

More than 3,000 trauma survivors, first responders, and helping professionals will benefit this year through Resilient Retreat’s free, confidential, evidence-based programming, thanks in part to a recent $4,500 grant from the Church of the Redeemer/Episcopal Thrift House. “Philanthropic generosity is why Resilient Retreat’s in-person and online programs are available without cost to participants,” explains Executive Director Lisa Intagliata. “We are especially grateful to grant-makers like Church of the Redeemer/Episcopal Thrift House who recognize the urgency of supporting local mental health and wellness organizations like ours.” Headquartered on 84 acres of conservation land in east Sarasota County, Resilient Retreat helps those impacted by trauma through free, confidential, evidence-based programs and trainings that enhance the well-being of body, mind, and spirit. Equine-assisted learning, nutrition for wellness, neurofeedback, yoga, and support groups are just a few of more than 35 programs provided in-person and online every month. A Kind Line (941-343-0039) is also available for those in need of real-time support while navigating trauma in their home and/or workplace. Click these links to learn more about Church of the Redeemer and Episcopal Thrift House.