COMMUNITY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS

“The first four days of operations in June (June 1 through June 6) the Community Coalition on Homelessness processed 70 requests from individuals and families desperate for assistance to either get into housing or maintain the housing they are in. The funding from the Florida Winefest enabled 10 adults with 18 children to obtain and maintain housing, one of our most basic human needs. Each of these families had to demonstrate that with the Winefest financial help, they would be able to maintain sustainability. With a stable, safe place to sleep, shower, and basically live, these children we helped have a better opportunity to be successful in all their future endeavors.”

HOPE FAMILY SERVICES

“Thanks to the generous grant from the Florida Winefest and Auction, children who reside with their mother in HOPE Family Services’ (HOPE) Emergency Safe Shelter due to domestic violence will have healthy and nutritious meals made from wholesome and fresh staples. The Florida Winefest and Auction funding contributes to HOPE’s Children’s Healthy Eating Program designed to help residents learn the value of balanced and nutritionally sound meals, while strengthening client’s ability to budget for their family’s nutritional needs. The program is also intended to spark change in the way residents view feeding their children by learning about the hidden costs in prepared and processed food.”

LAUREL CIVIC ASSOCIATION

“Our Florida Winefest grant will make it possible for the Laurel Civic Association to provide a program coordinator and liaison for the children that we serve year round. This person contacts parents and teachers daily to make sure students who need help and support, get it as needed. There are no other options for safe, supervised after-school, homework assistance and summer activities for these students. We will hire someone to cook, serve and manage the Kid’s Café Program which ensures that more than 60 students a day, K-12, receive an afterschool meal. For some, this is their last meal of the day.”

JUST FOR GIRLS

“Thanks to the Winefest grant, Just for Girls’ high-risk middle-school-aged girls will learn critical internet safety skills that could ultimately save their life. The Web Wise Girls program uses interactive, technology-based learning opportunities through which girls study actual police cases and get an up-close look of how a predator tracks their online victim. Additionally, in cooperation with the Sheriff Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Web Wise Girls educates girls and families about cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and sexting among peers, helping girls build the knowledge, awareness, and skills to use the internet and cell phones safely.”

MANATEE CHILDREN SERVICES

“Thanks to Winefest and their generous grant funding the GAP Program, The GAP program provides support to over 110 kinship providers and 175 children throughout the year. Many of these caregivers are raising these children on “fixed” incomes, and are in need of additional resources to help their new family grow and adjust to the everyday challenges. Grandparents, relative caregivers, and kinship providers receiving the services through the GAP program are provided with the resources and support needed to maintain an environment that is beneficial for these children. The grandparent support group has expanded to include a variety of supportive services which consist of parenting skill development, case management, and kinship advocacy to both grandparents and other relative caregivers. In addition, with the support of Wine fest, children’s groups have been established to provide relative children with an opportunity to enhance their social skills, address emotional challenges, and build a network of peer support.”

MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS

“The faithful support of the Florida Winefest has made a difference in the lives of literally thousands of babies in our own back yard. Because of Winefest funding,
Mothers Helping Mothers has been able to purchase more than 1,000 cribs for babies whom otherwise would not have a crib; more than 4,000 packs of diapers,
about 75 car seats, and 200 Pack n’ Plays that are used as bassinets. 126 toddler beds have been provided for very young children; many of these children have
been sleeping on the floor, and this is their first bed. We are so thankful!!”

RESURRECTION HOUSE

“The Emergency Family Shelter Program at Resurrection House is a vital part of our mission to families experiencing homelessness. The most vulnerable of all
homeless persons are the children of homeless parents. Imagine the fear and insecurity of a child waking up in the dark backseat of a car or in an abandoned building.

Thanks to the generous support received from the Florida Winefest and Auction, over one hundred families with children will be assisted with emergency shelter.
Providing a safe and clean sleeping accommodation is the first step in helping homeless families find solutions during a crisis.”

TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN

“Thanks to Florida Winefest & Auction for all it does for Take Stock in Children!
With the continued generous support of Winefest, Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. We currently work within 23 Sarasota County schools; providing more than 250 students with college scholarships, mentoring and hope!”

TEEN COURT

“Heartfelt appreciation is extended to Florida Winefest & Auction., Inc. for their generous support that provides the development of new classes called CO-OP~Communicate, Compassion, and Community. 120 youth referred to Teen Court as the result of a delinquent act have attended the classes since this award was granted. The intent of the 9 hours of group classes is to meet the needs of at-risk youth dealing with issues relating to anger management, teen dating violence, bullying, and cyber-bullying (texting/sexting). Through the utilization of cognitive, behavioral, developmental and gender specific approaches, that young people will better understand the importance of their own personal safety. Participating in group discussions facilitated by a licensed counselor will teach young people how their decisions can and will lead to a productive, law-abiding, and healthy life; will instill and/or reinforce the importance of positive actions; and will help young people come to understand that feelings of anger, fear, pain, are normal but they will be introduced to the best ways to cope with those feelings.”

THE SALVATION ARMY

“With the loss of your home – comes the loss of a person’s sense of safety, belonging and self-esteem. When homeless families come to the Emergency Family Dorm of The Salvation Army Sarasota Emergency Shelter these families are in crisis. Some come with just a few personal possessions and others with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing or carry in a small bag. Our immediate goal is to give these families a safe environment, food, shelter and clothing. The next step is to help them move to a stable situation. The Florida Winefest grants have assisted with providing “kid-friendly” furniture, educational toys and tools in the Community Room where kids can read and play. Thank you Florida Winefest for helping us provide homeless families with children have a place where they can just be kids! ”

VOLUNTEER SERVICES OF MANATEE COUNTY

“Support from Winefest instills the spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy in children as young as 8 years old as they identify and address local community needs.

Hundreds of ManaTEENs work together after school, weekends, holidays, and throughout the summer months to develop, implement and evaluate volunteer projects that benefit the community at large in the areas of animal welfare, disaster preparedness, environment, health and human service. Teenagers mentor younger
ManaTEENs as role models, encouraging them to become decision makers in their neighborhoods and schools. Thanks to Winefest, youth are considered to be
compassionate and capable neighbors rather than “the noisy kids down the street! Thank you!”