Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Needs Volunteers for Christmas Sales

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County sells Christmas Trees for 58th Year

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County is recruiting volunteers to help out with selling Christmas trees for its annual fundraiser. The Boys & Girls Clubs will once again have their annual Christmas Tree lot in the Westgate Shopping Plaza on Jessie P. Miller school property. This is their 58th consecutive year of selling trees to the community.  “It’s a family tradition to come out and pick your fresh cut tree,” said President, Carl Weeks.  “We have families that met on the lot, got married and now bring their kids with them to pick out their family tree.” Trees will be delivered to the Christmas Tree Lot on Wednesday, Nov. 21.  Their staff and volunteers will work unloading, trimming and setting up the tree lot so that it is ready to …

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All Faiths Food Bank Faces Food Shortage Crisis

All Faiths Food Bank is in dire need of food donations following a federal cut of funding.

“Hunger has no season.” If anyone should ever question why the Suncoast needs an agency like All Faiths Food Bank, there is the answer. It is also the motto of a non-profit organization that is finding it harder and harder to help the people who need it. Federal funding has been cut for All Faiths, and in a terrible twist of fate courtesy of an economic downturn, the list of people who depend upon its services to put food on the table continues to grow in Sarasota and Manatee counties. “USDA funding has been cut back,” said Aundria Castleberry, director of development for All Faiths. “They say they have to go back to legislation and revisit the food they’re giving out across the country.” All Faiths Director of Operations Jim Swinford says…

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Weekly Tails From Southeastern Guide Dogs

We Want You! — To Volunteer.

Last week we learned all about Puppy Raising, but in case you aren’t ready for such a big a commitment, here are some other ways you can get involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs.

It takes somewhere in the neighborhood of 368 people to breed, whelp, raise and train a guide dog for Southeastern Guide Dogs.  Wonder how they do it?  Well, it is all thanks to the support of a group of very loyal volunteers.  Puppy Raisers give of themselves tirelessly for more than a year so that these wonderful dogs may one day be provided to a visually impaired individual all at no charge.  But, those aren’t the only volunteers who play an integral part in Southeastern’s mission.  Here is a snapshot of the different volunteer opportunities available at Southeastern Guide Dogs. Breeder Host Homes How would you like to give of yourself simply by just loving and caring for a dog? In order to produce the traits required for successful …

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