Giving initiative has raised nearly $50 million for families in crisis in the Sarasota area
This year, families in need in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties once again will find support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, thanks to Season of Sharing, the Foundation announced this week.
“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 such as those involving housing, utilities, child care and transportation, a news release explains.
“Since Season of Sharing’s inception in 2000, nearly $50 million has been raised through the fund,” the release continues, “and more than 57,000 local households have received assistance.” Further, the release notes, “Season of Sharing has received more than 60,000 gifts ranging in size from $5 to $1 million”; 100% of the donations support families in need.
The Patterson Foundation, which has been a longtime supporter of the initiative, “has contributed $10.6 million in matching funds and other contributions over the years,” the release adds. “This year, as it has in the past,” the release points out, “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,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, in the release. “The Patterson Foundation’s support catalyzes giving throughout Season of Sharing, expanding what’s possible for individuals and families in our region,” she added.
“Last year,” the release continues, “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,” it points out.
“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,” said Kirsten Russell, vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, in the release. “On top of that, families are still struggling with long-term trends like the rising cost of housing, food and utilities,” Russell added. “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.”
The United Way Suncoast’s most recent ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report shows that “a Sarasota County household of four with an infant and a toddler needs to earn more than $104,000 to afford basic needs,” the release points out. Meanwhile, the release continues, a 2025 affordable housing report commissioned by the Community Foundation, along with other funders, “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,” the release says. “Even small setbacks,” such as an auto accident, “a minor health scare or a child home sick from school, can plunge these families into financial crisis,” it adds.
So far this year, the release notes, “Season of Sharing has distributed more than $3.9 million to 2,680 households,” with approximately 91% of the spending having 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,” the release points out.
How to donate
Gifts to Season of Sharing may be made online at cfsarasota.org or by calling 941-556-2399, the release says. Donations also may be made by mailing a check addressed to Season of Sharing, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237.
How to apply for help
“To ask for assistance through Season of Sharing,” the release explains, residents are encouraged to call 211, the local hotline that connects callers to community resources and services in regard to 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,” the release adds, “that person will be referred to a nonprofit with a caseworker who will help them navigate the application process.”
After an application has been approved, the release says, “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, it points out.