Families in need in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties will once again find support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County this year thanks to Season of Sharing. The initiative, which relaunched on Nov. 1, provides a community-wide safety net for families and adults in crisis, allowing neighbors to help neighbors cover basic expenses like housing, utilities, childcare and transportation. Since Season of Sharing’s inception in 2000, nearly $50 million has been raised through the fund and more than 57,000 local households have received assistance.

Created in partnership with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Season of Sharing has received more than 60,000 gifts ranging in size from $5 to $1 million, and 100 percent of the donations support families in need. The Patterson Foundation has been a longtime supporter of the initiative and has contributed $10.6 million in matching funds and other contributions over the years. This year, as it has in the past, The Patterson Foundation will strengthen Season of Sharing by donating $100,000 for every $500,000 raised by the community through the end of the campaign on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.

“Season of Sharing reflects the best of our community, as generous givers come together each year to restore dignity and hope to their neighbors,” says Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “The Patterson Foundation’s support catalyzes giving throughout Season of Sharing, expanding what’s possible for individuals and families in our region.”     

Last year, the Community Foundation activated Season of Sharing early to provide extra assistance to families affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, resulting in nearly $7.2 million in donations, a record. While this year’s storm season has provided some respite from direct threats, many families are still reeling from the after-effects of 2024 and are facing deep financial insecurity.

“This year, we’re hearing from more and more families who are experiencing escalating home insurance costs, reduced hours and earnings from jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors and other lingering effects from last year’s storms,” says Kirsten Russell, vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “On top of that, families are still struggling with long-term trends like the rising cost of housing, food and utilities. These are the teachers at your child’s school, the servers at your favorite restaurant, the technicians who keep your car running—hardworking people who suddenly find themselves struggling to make ends meet.”

According to United Way Suncoast’s most recent ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report, a Sarasota County household of four with an infant and a toddler needs to earn more than $104,000 to afford basic needs. A 2025 affordable housing report commissioned by the Community Foundation along with other funders, meanwhile, found that out of the 10 most common occupations in Sarasota County, only two pay a median wage high enough for people to afford a two-bedroom rental unit. That means that many of the county’s most essential workers—construction laborers, home health aides, childcare providers and more—earn wages that classify them as low-income. Even small setbacks, like an auto accident, a minor health scare or a child home sick from school, can plunge these families into financial crisis.

So far in 2025, Season of Sharing has distributed more than $3.9 million to 2,680 households, and roughly 91 percent of the spending has gone toward rent and mortgage payments, helping prevent homelessness and stabilizing families across the region. Since June 1, requests for assistance have surged when compared to the same time period last year despite no major hurricane yet striking our area, signaling deepening financial strain in our community.

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How to Donate: Gifts to Season of Sharing can be made online at cfsarasota.org or by calling 941-556-2399. Donations can also be made by mailing a check addressed to Season of Sharing, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237.

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How to Apply for Help: To ask for assistance through Season of Sharing, residents are encouraged to call 211, the local hotline that connects callers to community resources and services for things like housing, food, mental health and substance abuse support, health care and more. If it is determined that someone may be eligible for Season of Sharing support, that person will be referred to a nonprofit with a caseworker who will help them navigate the application process. Once an application is approved, the money is sent directly to the applicant’s landlord, mortgage lender, utility company or other party, depending on the applicant’s need. The foundation does not issue checks directly to individuals.

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About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $544 million in nearly 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $56 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $500 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit cfsrasota.org or call 941-955-3000.