Community Update

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 4, 2013

The Gulf Coast Arbor Steps Up With Gifts for

Teens in the Safe Children’s Coalition

BRADENTON – Each year
Vivian Quinones rounds up gift cards and cash from her friends and colleagues
in The Gulf Coast Arbor service club to help teens have a happier holiday.  The group presented $750 to its 2013 Samaritan
Beneficiary, Manatee Glens. Gulf Coast Arbor’s goal is to make sure that every
teen in the Safe Children’s Coalition receives a gift card over the holidays. The
Safe Children’s Coalition, a collaboration between the Sarasota Family YMCA and
Manatee Glens, provides services for children who have been abused, neglected
or abandoned—many are in the foster care system.

            “I have been an advocate for Manatee Glens for seven
years, so I encouraged our club to vote to support this project,” said
Quinones.  We chose to give to teens
because they are often overlooked and miss out at the holidays. It’s hard to
shop for teens, so they use the cash to buy gift cards for them.”

The Gulf Coast Arbor club is part of the fraternal
side of Gleaners, an insurance company. There are about 25 members of the
group. Each member presents an organization he or she thinks is worthy of their
support, and then the members choose recipients. Manatee Glens was pleased to
be chosen again.

            This year there are about 100 teens who are under the
care of Manatee Glens/Safe Children Coalition. “For most, these are the only
gifts they’ll receive at the Holidays,” said Manatee Glens/Safe Children
Coalition Director of Child Welfare, Stefanie Babb. “These teens are so
grateful for gifts that help them feel like ‘a typical kid.’”

            Those in the community who would like to give are
encouraged to purchase mall gift cards or gift cards to stores such as Walmart
or Target. They can be dropped off at the Safe Children Coalition at 5729
Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209 or email Amanda Gerber, agerber@
thesarasotay.org

Manatee
Glens is a specialty hospital and outpatient practice in the Tampa Bay area

treating
mental health and addictions in youth, adults and seniors.