Sarasota Nonprofits Share How They’d Use $25,000 to Help Veterans
Goodwill Manasota
"We could serve more individuals, as well as be the key point of contact for career services and other programs. We also want to generate a resource guide for returning veterans to ensure that those who need assistance are not mired in unnecessary, often unproductive searches to get the services they need." — Christopher Davis, Director of Veteran Services & Yen Reed, Director of Marketing, Goodwill Manasota
All Faiths Food Bank
"We would use the money for our Veterans Appreciation Program. Having extra funding would allow us to improve the program and ensure that all [participants] have adequate nutrition and resources. We want to make sure that all veterans are given the support they need." — Nicole Double, Director of Agency Compliance and Disaster Response
Southeastern Guide Dogs
"Our veteran service dog program pairs specially trained dogs with veterans living with post-traumatic stress, and we send facility therapy dogs to major military medical facilities to encourage recovery of wounded warriors. With $25,000, we would be able to add an apprentice trainer to increase the number of dogs that could be trained." — Jennifer Bement, Media Relations Manager
State College of Florida Veterans Exchange
"We would establish an endowment fund to provide scholarships to veterans for education, hardship and living expenses [to] ensure that veterans have a stable future ahead of them." — Chris Stough, SCF Venice Veterans Exchange President
Jewish Family & Children Services
"Our Operation Military Assistance Program provides housing assis-tance to veterans and their families who are either homeless or who are about to become homeless. We would utilize the $25,000 to provide emergency assistance for special needs, and to help meet needs not covered by our VA grant, which assists with utility bills, work readiness tools and car repairs." — Chip Taylor, Director of Veterans Services