On December 17, Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton hosted the inaugural Holly Jolly Trolley Christmas Parade bringing holiday cheer, festive joy and heartfelt moments to seniors across Manatee County. With Santa at the helm of the trolley, the event honored the invaluable contributions of seniors while highlighting the power of connection and community during the holiday season.

Residents, staff and volunteers came together to sing carols, dance and reminisce, filling the air with laughter and warmth. Each stop was made even more festive by the sound of joyful bells, and, Santa's arrival on the trolley sparked unforgettable moments of smiles and happiness. One volunteer at the event, Terra Roark, was especially grateful for her time spent with the seniors: “By letting me volunteer for this event, you’ve given me the greatest Christmas present ever. I had so much fun, and there were moments that made me cry happy tears.”

This special day was made possible by the generosity of local organizations that sponsored and participated in the event, including: My Care Finders, WeCare Senior Relocation Services, Still Alive Inside and The Windsor of Bradenton (who helped bring Santa to life!)

The six communities that embraced the spirit of the parade and brightened their days with the magical visit from Santa included Surrey Place, Brookdale Pointe West, Heritage Park Care & Rehabilitation Center, The Windsor of Bradenton, Inspired Living at Hidden Lakes, Water's Edge of Bradenton. "Thank you for making this the most special time of the year," said John Coley, a resident at Inspired Living at Hidden Lakes. "I truly believe my wife, watching from heaven, was smiling down upon us that day."

"My favorite moment was at The Windsor of Bradenton when we asked the residents about their favorite Christmas memory," shares Sissy Ramos of Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton. "Ruth, one of the residents, shared that she hadn’t cried in a long time but felt like crying with us there. She fondly remembered her childhood in Germany, where her father would sing 'Silent Night' to her in German. It was such a heartfelt and touching moment."

The Holly Jolly Trolley not only brought joy to residents but also lit up the entire Manatee County community. People along the route waved, sang and joined in the festive spirit, making this inaugural event a magical occasion that will be cherished for years to come. 

Photo courtesy of Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast) Board awarded All Faiths Food Bank $30,000 from the Gould Family Trust Foundation to support the 2025 Campaign Against Summer Hunger. Since 2014, together with its donors, Gulf Coast has provided over $2.7 million in support of the Campaign Against Summer Hunger. "Gulf Coast’s pivotal partnership with All Faiths Food Bank has transformed the way nutritious meals are provided to our region’s children in the summer months,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. "With enhanced summer feeding programs, creating a collaborative distribution to reach children where they are, and steadfast donor support, the Campaign Against Summer Hunger shows the value of an effective collaboration between a community foundation and a non-profit organization.” 

Pictured: Through generous community support, All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger provides food for local children experiencing or at risk of hunger. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital volunteer, Jenny Conley, recently distributed over 200 crocheted blankets to patients for the holidays. Conley has been a volunteer at the hospital for fourteen years and has distributed blankets around the holidays for many of those years. “Jenny is a compassionate, wonderful volunteer and we are lucky to have her in our Fawcett family,” said Kelly Carr, volunteer manager at Fawcett Hospital. “Patients light up when receiving a blanket and we appreciate her devotion and her gift of time.” For more information on HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital’s volunteer program, visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com or call 941-624-8007. 

More than 1,500 local children, families, teachers, and school staff enjoyed complimentary access to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Lights in Bloom® holiday light show this season thanks to a partnership between Selby Gardens and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Through the Family Togetherness program, which is funded by the Community Foundation, Selby Gardens offered a complimentary evening for children and families from Title 1 schools and local youth-serving organizations who otherwise might not have been able to see the award-winning light show. This marked the seventh year that families experienced this exclusive opportunity to attend Lights in Bloom® through support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

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The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, a student-led board comprised of alumni from Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties’ STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Leadership Training program, hosted its annual Superintendent’s School Forum on Tuesday, December 3, at Suncoast Technical College.The event brought together more than 75 teens from seven local high schools for an open dialogue with Sarasota County School District officials. These discussions centered on key educational topics, fostering collaboration and generating actionable ideas to enhance the future of Sarasota County Schools.  

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