Second Heart Homes—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019—provides housing and critical services to homeless adults in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas who are committed to addressing their mental health and rebuilding their lives. 

Founder and Executive Director Megan Howell notes that homelessness and housing issues in the region have escalated dramatically. “The housing crisis is affecting people of all ages at a higher rate than ever,” she explains. “Probably half the residents in our program are over 55, and it’s so sad–you work your whole life, and maybe one unfortunate thing happens and what do you do? Home ownership is probably not an option for a lot of people in those circumstances.”

Most Second Heart Homes residents are seeking employment and trying to navigate complex systems for self-sufficiency, but face increasing bureaucratic obstacles. “We tend to think of homelessness as something for bad people or people who made mistakes,” says Howell. “Some of those things can be true but it can also come from things that are out of our power. We all have to look in ourselves personally and say, ‘what can I do to help’ and that includes sacrifice and unique solutions to solve the issues of housing insecurities.”

Second Heart Homes operates without government funding, mortgages or debt. According to Howell, its sustainability depends entirely on public support, with donors recognizing that housing—supported by care and compassion—is the foundation of lasting solutions to homelessness.

One major hurdle remains the rising cost of properties and ‘not in my backyard’ resistance. The organization addresses these challenges by listening to concerns and clarifying its mission. With support from the Barancik Foundation, Second Heart Homes uses 85 performance metrics to track residents’ progress in areas such as physical and mental health, employment, social well-being and family reunification.

To learn more, visit secondhearthomes.org/ 

Pictured: Second Heart Homes provides lasting solutions to combat homelessness. Provided photo.

The Patterson Foundation and Asolo Repertory Theatre are collaborating to present All is Calm: In Concert at Patriot Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3pm. All is Calm: In Concert at Patriot Plaza will feature highlights from Asolo Rep’s production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. This a cappella musical is based on firsthand accounts of the unofficial ceasefire that took place during Christmas in the early months of World War I. The event will be held at Patriot Plaza, Sarasota National Cemetery’s ceremonial amphitheater. The Patterson Foundation collaborated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to create Patriot Plaza, which honors the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and military families. This family-friendly program is free thanks to support from The Patterson Foundation, but registration is required and space is limited. To register, visit PatriotPlazaConcert.org. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) raised over $450,000 at the 2025 Hermitage Artful Lobster on Saturday, November 8. This annual event raises valuable funds for the Hermitage’s internationally renowned artist residency program, supporting the creative process of artists from around the world in the fields of music, theater, visual art, literature, dance, and more. This year’s event returned to the Hermitage’s historic beachfront campus on Manasota Key after being displaced by the hurricanes in 2024. Over 200 guests attended the sold-out luncheon, where Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg served as the master of ceremonies.The event featured performances from Tony Award nominated Broadway star Betsy Wolfe (Death Becomes Her; Waitress; & Juliet); Latvian guitarist and Hermitage Fellow Matīss Čudars, the 2023 recipient of the Hermitage Prize in Composition; and 2024 Hermitage Cross Arts Collaborative Fellow Raleigh Mosely II. To learn more, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org/ArtfulLobster2025. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is proud to announce that Alvin L., a 17-year-old Club member and senior at Florida Virtual School, has been honored with the Youth in Philanthropy Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southwest Florida Chapter’s National Philanthropy Day Celebration, held on November 4, 2025. The AFP National Philanthropy Day Celebration brings together nonprofit organizations, donors and community
leaders to recognize the individuals and groups making extraordinary contributions to the spirit of giving across Southwest Florida. This award recognizes outstanding contributions by youth within an organization that embody philanthropy through leadership, service and community impact. BGCSDC isthrilled to honor and recognize Alvin alongside other outstanding community leaders and organizations who make philanthropy a driving force for positive change in our community. 

To learn more, visit

Twenty-five more Sarasota County Schools educators will receive the resources to complete the educational experience of a lifetime as recipients of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s 2026 TIME Fellowship. Awarded annually, the TIME Fellowship provides public-school educators with up to $12,000 to complete intellectually stimulating projects that they design to renew them professionally and rejuvenate them personally. Ultimately, the fellowships are intended to spark new energy and creative approaches to teaching and learning in Sarasota County classrooms and schools. TIME stands for “Time to Inspire Margie’s Educators.” The fellowship program was created in 2022 in memory of Margie and Chuck Barancik.  

Last week, Harvest House held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to celebrate the official launch of its Wellness Within Reach program, with approximately 100 community, civic and philanthropic leaders in attendance. The program - which showed tremendous positive impact on participants over the course of its three-year pilot - provides free mental health therapy services delivered directly in supportive housing or home settings, lowering barriers to mental health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and/or severe trauma in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

To learn more, visit

Christopher Alan Homes recently hosted an arts and craft supply drive, supporting young patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital through creative activities that promote comfort and healing. Team members from Christopher Alan Homes collected and delivered dozens of art supplies, including markers, chalk, coloring books, stickers and other creative materials, for the hospital’s Child Life Services department, which engages children in creative and therapeutic play to help them feel more at ease while in the hospital.   As Southwest Florida’s largest privately held homebuilder, giving back is an integral part of Christopher Alan Homes’ company culture. Through partnerships with local organizations, donations and volunteer efforts, Christopher Alan Homes invests in the communities where it builds, reflecting the core values of Building Better, Creating Opportunities and Fulfilling Dreams. 

For thousands of local youth, adults, and families living with mental health conditions, the world can feel like a dark place, especially during the holidays. Fortunately, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sarasota and Manatee Counties is there to help. For more than 40 years, NAMI has provided free, peer-led support groups, education, and advocacy that bring understanding, connection, and hope to those impacted by mental health challenges. Every program NAMI offers reminds individuals and families they are not alone and that recovery begins with compassion. Yet, as CEO Colleen Thayer points out, none of that is possible without community involvement. “As a small nonprofit, we depend on community support to make our services available. When people give to NAMI, they help transform isolation into belonging, confusion into understanding, and hardship into hope.” 

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In an inspiring show of compassion and community spirit, Gulf Coast Community Foundation donors contributed $233,000 in just two days to support All Faiths Food Bank following recent cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Because of this effort, area families will have access to nutritious meals, hope, and comfort during a difficult time. Building on this momentum, Gulf Coast is launching a new challenge match of up to $150,000 for its Area of Greatest Need Fund, thanks to the generosity of two anonymous donors and the Strohl Family Foundation. Every dollar contributed through November 30 will be matched to help regional nonprofit partners combat hunger and food insecurity. Community members can support by making a gift to Gulf Coast’s Area of Greatest Need Fund online (https://www.gulfcoastcf.org/give-area-need), through their donor advised fund, or by connecting with a Philanthropic Advisor.