
Community Resources
Every Child Has the Right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education. The Schoolhouse Link Program is a partnership between the Sarasota Family YMCA and the Sarasota County School Board. The program serves as the District’s Official McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison and provides services to help families and youth that are homeless and in transition. The program’s goal is to ensure that students in transition are able to enroll, attend and succeed in school. Schoolhouse Link supports each student by helping create educational stability and by removing any barriers limiting their success.
Meanwhile, support for the whole family is provided by linking them with essential service providers and community resources. Schoolhouse Link also helps to build strong literacy skills by providing children and adults with education tutorial sessions, supplemental literacy material, and referrals.
211/ First Call for Help
Provides information on community resources and referrals.
Dial 211 or (941) 308-4357
uw211manasota.net/
American Red Cross
Provides fire and disaster related assistance
www.redcross.org
southwestflorida.redcross.org/
Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota
Provides after school care in North Port, Venice and Sarasota
www.boysandgirlsclubs.com/
Catholic Charities
Provides financial aid
www.catholiccharitiesdov.org
Children First (Head Start)
Provides school-readiness program to low-income families
www.childrenfirst.net/
Consumer Credit Counseling
Provides help in reducing dept and making budget. Also has foreclosure related services
www.cccscfl.com
Department of Children and Families
Applications for food stamps, Medicaid and Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
www.myflorida.com/accessflorida
Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County
Childcare Connection and VPK
www.earlylearningcoalitionsarasota.org
Englewood Helping Hands
Provides a variety of free services including food pantry, clothing closet and financial aid
941-474-5864
Federal Emergency Management (FEMA)
Provides disaster related services
www.fema.gov
Girls Inc.
Provides after school program in Sarasota
www.girlsincsrq.org
Goodwill
Provides employment assistance and disabled housing.
www.goodwillindustries.org
Gulf Coast Legal Services
Provides legal help for low-income persons
http://www.gulfcoastlegal.org
Housing Search
Provides a list of housing with individualized search criteria
www.floridahousingsearch.org
Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Provides counseling and financial aid through “Building Strong Families Program”
www.jfcs-cares.org
Jobs Etc.
Provides job search assistance
www.jobsetc.org
Mothers Helping Mothers
Provides free clothing in Sarasota
MothersHelpingMothers
North Port Social Services
Provides financial aid to North Port residents
www.cityofnorthport.com
Public Housing
Provides low-income housing
www.sarasotahousing.org
www.venicegov.com
www.sarasotagov.com
Salvation Army, Social Services
Provides financial aid, food pantry, and holiday assistance
Sarasota (941) 954-4673
Venice (941) 484-6227
North Port (941) 240-5108
Sarasota County Health Department
Provides low-cost health care
www.sarasotahealth.org
SCAT (Sarasota County Area Transportation)
Provides public transportation
www.scgov.net/SCAT/
Take Stock In Children
Provides mentor program and college scholarships to low-income youth
www.takestocksarasota.org

Donations can begin with a phone call to Karin Gustafson, President of the Foundation at (941) 951-1336, or online by following the link below.
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