Alliance Gives Back

CONNECTING LOCAL NON-PROFITS WITH BUSINESS MEMEBERS

Giving Back to the LWR Community

Give back to local non-profits during The Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days, on Oct. 1, 2 & 3!

Now entering its ninth year, the Alliance Gives Back (AGB) initiative continues to strengthen the LWR community by connecting local businesses with non-profit organizations through meaningful volunteer service. By bridging the gap between for-profit companies and the non-profits that serve our region, AGB helps build lasting partnerships that support organizations working to improve the quality of life throughout the community.

Last year, AGB had more than 30 volunteer projects completed and over 800 volunteer hours donated by Alliance members. These projects provided valuable support to local non-profits while giving businesses and their employees the opportunity to make a tangible impact in the community.

Beyond the volunteer hours, AGB fosters stronger relationships between organizations, raises awareness of the important work being done by local non-profits, and opens the door for new volunteer opportunities that many community members may not have otherwise discovered. Together, these efforts help strengthen the non-profit sector and ensure the Lakewood Ranch community continues to thrive.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

Register as a Volunteer

Gather your friends, family, or coworkers to give back to your community by signing-up for one, or more, AGB projects!

SIGN-UPS ARE CLOSED.

DAY ONE

Thursday, October 1

Click through to see the available projects for day one.

Take Stock in Children Sarasota

Thursday, October 1 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 2250 Myrtle St Sarasota, FL 34234

Number of Volunteers Needed: 5

Family Friendly: Yes; 18 Years and Older

Activity Description: We have been so fortunate to have space at Booker Middle for over a decade. We have accumulated a lot of paper in that time. Now that we have gone digital, we would love some help in cleaning out the office.

Equipment: Comfortable clothing and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: Lifting trash bags and papers for shedding.

Contact(s): Diana Dill
Phone: 941-504-0995
Email: Diana@takestocksarasota.org

Organization's Mission:
Providing post-secondary education to low-income students in Sarasota County through mentoring, college success coaching and tuition scholarships.

HOPE Family Services

Thursday, October 1 | 8:30 am - 11:30 am & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: 1215 8th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Number of Volunteers Needed: 8

Family Friendly: Yes; Under 18 years need a parent

Activity Description: Volunteers will be sorting clothes, tagging merchandise, and organizing and maintaining merchandise on the sales floor.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and shoes

Physical Requirements: N/A

Contact(s): Lindsay Hartman
Phone: 941-747-8499
Email: lindsay.hartman@hopefamilyservice.org

Organization's Mission:
To promote safety, strength, and well-being for those affected by domestic violence in Manatee County (Florida). HOPE has had one goal; to offer high-quality, life-saving services, which are confidential and offered at no charge for victims and survivors of domestic violence. HOPE Chest is our thrift store where survivors and their children can shop free of charge for clothing, household items, furniture, and more. The store is also open to the public, with proceeds helping to fund our Emergency Safe Shelter.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County

Thursday, October 1 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location:1600 10th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; No age requirements

Activity Description:
The Club Makeover Day is a community volunteer event focused on improving and beautifying the Boys & Girls Club facility. Volunteers will work together to paint, clean, organize, landscape, and complete light improvement projects to create a more welcoming, safe, and inspiring environment for our youth.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: None

Contact(s): Jermaine Ashley
Phone: 510-508-7935
Email: jermaine.ashley@bgcmanatee.org

Organization's Mission:
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Harvest House (Harvest Tabernacle of Sarasota Inc)

Thursday, October 1 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: TBD

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; Under 18 years need a parent

Activity Description: Volunteers will be planting, watering, mulching, and doing outdoor campus beautification.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes, shoes and gloves.

Physical Requirements: Lifting and digging may be required. Consideration for heat exposure.

Contact(s): Jill Santorelli
Phone: 941-404-5880
Email:jsantorelli@harvesthousecenters.com

Organization's Mission:
Champion hope and transform lives through supportive and affordable housing, addiction recovery programs, and food security.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Thursday, October 1 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 4780 (&4740) Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; 15 years and older

Activity Description: Volunteers will help beautify our outdoor property facilities. Trimming, raking, planting, watering, and mulching. Gloves will be provided to all volunteers.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and must wear close-toed shoes

Physical Requirements: Lifting and digging

Contact(s): Alisa Peters
Phone: 941-302-4642
Email: petersa@gsgcf.org

Organization's Mission:
To build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Parenting Matters

Thursday, October 1 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location:602 3rd St. E, Bradenton, FL 34208

Number of Volunteers Needed: 3

Family Friendly: No; 18 Years and Older

Activity Description: Volunteers will hand-address envelopes that will be mailed to supporters throughout our community. This simple but essential task helps create a more personal connection with our donors while allowing more resources to be directed toward programs that strengthen families. No experience is necessary. All materials will be provided. Your time and attention will help ensure our Annual Appeal reaches supporters and continues to advance the lives of children, together with their parents.

Equipment: None

Physical Requirements: Clear and neat handwriting

Contact(s): Rebekah Prieto
Phone: 941-756-3007
Email: rprieto@ParentingMattersFL.org

Organization's Mission:

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's

Thursday, October 1 | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: 722 Apex Road, Suite A , Sarasota, FL 34340

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; 13 Years and Older

Activity Description: Volunteers will be assisting with administrative tasks in the air conditioned office. Tasks include assembling packets of information which will be stuffed into envelopes, counting promo items and storing them, readying bags for future programs, writing notes, and things of this nature.

Equipment: Volunteers will work in the conference room and/or storage space in our office- a light layer might make them more comfortable going from AC to storage. Please wear comfortable clothing (with range of motion) and comfy shoes.

Physical Requirements: Volunteers should have enough mobility to maneuver around a table and the flexibility to grab individual pieces of paper. Light lifting of boxes.

Contact(s): Donita Pace
Phone: 941-926-6413
Email:office@neurochallenge.org

Organization's Mission:
Neuro Challenge for Parkinson's has a mission to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers-TODAY. We provide resources as well as educational, therapeutic, and support programs at no charge and work to empower them to be members of an inclusive, caring, supportive community where they can live their best lives with determination and hope.

Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County

Thursday, October 1 | 10:00 am -12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location: 1750 17th St, Building L, Sarasota, FL 34234 & 6005 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34238

Number of Volunteers Needed: 4 Per Shift

Family Friendly: No; 16 Years and Older

Activity Description: Assist with organization, scanning, document removal, packing, breakdown of bookshelves and garbage removal.

Equipment: Comfortable clothing and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: Carrying of heavy boxes, removal of bookshelves, bending, lifting

Contact(s): Alison Fraga
Phone: 813-205-6205
Email: afraga@elcsarasota.org

Organization's Mission:
We work to ensure every child in our community has access to safe, high-quality early childhood education, and that families have clear, practical support as they navigate child care providers and financial assistance.

Children First

Thursday, October 1 | 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location: 1723 North Orange Ave, Sarasota FL 34202

Number of Volunteers Needed: 2

Family Friendly: No; 18 Years and Older

Activity Description: Help our team prepare for incoming staff by organizing new hire materials and assisting with general administrative tasks. Volunteers may help sort and organize new hire shirts, assemble onboarding packets, scan and organize files, and assist with other light office projects as needed.

Equipment: Comfortable clothing and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: None

Contact(s): Carolina Bartolomei
Phone: 941-299-1704
Email: cbartolomei@childrenfirst.org

Organization's Mission:
Strengthening children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being

Manatee Habitat for Humanity

Thursday, October 1 | 7:45 am - 11:00 am

Location: Bradenton, FL 34203 (Map link to development will be provided)

Number of Volunteers Needed: 12

Family Friendly: Yes; 16 Years and Older

Activity Description: Join us for a hands-on day of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity! Build Days bring volunteers together at a local construction site to work alongside Habitat staff and other volunteers. No construction experience is required—volunteers will be assigned tasks based on the needs of the build and their comfort level. Come ready to work, learn something new, meet other volunteers, and help build a safe, affordable home for a local family. Every skill level and helping hand makes a difference!

Equipment: Comfortable clothing for heat and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: Ability to walk on uneven surfaces. Waivers will be required on site before work starts.

Contact(s): Sarah Powell
Phone: 941-465-1159
Email: spowell@manateehabitat.org

Organization's Mission:
Bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.

DAY TWO

Friday, October 2

Click through to see the available projects for day two.

HOPE Family Services

Friday, October 2 | 9:00 am - 11:30 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location: 1215 8th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Number of Volunteers Needed: 4

Family Friendly: Yes; Under 18 years need a parent

Activity Description: Volunteers will be sorting clothes, tagging merchandise, and organizing and maintaining merchandise on the sales floor.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and shoes.

Physical Requirements: N/A

Contact(s): Lindsay Hartman
Phone: 941-747-8499
Email: lindsay.hartman@hopefamilyservice.org

Harvest House

Friday, October 2 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: TBD

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; Under 18 years need a parent

Activity Description: Volunteers will be planting, watering, mulching, and doing outdoor campus beautification.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes, shoes and gloves.

Physical Requirements: Lifting and digging may be required. Consideration for heat exposure.

Contact(s): Jill Santorelli
Phone: 941-404-5880
Email:jsantorelli@harvesthousecenters.com

Organization's Mission:
Champion hope and transform lives through supportive and affordable housing, addiction recovery programs, and food security.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Friday, October 2 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 4780 (&4740) Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

Number of Volunteers Needed: 20

Family Friendly: Yes; 15 years and older

Activity Description: Volunteers will help beautify our outdoor property facilities. Trimming, raking, planting, watering, and mulching. Gloves will be provided to all volunteers.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and must wear close-toed shoes

Physical Requirements: Lifting and digging

Contact(s): Alisa Peters
Phone: 941-302-4642
Email: petersa@gsgcf.org

Organization's Mission:
To build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County

Friday, October 2 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 5236 30th Street W Bradenton, FL 34207

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; No age requirements

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: None

Contact(s): Jermaine Ashley
Phone: 510-508-7935
Email: jermaine.ashley@bgcmanatee.org

Organization's Mission:
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Inc.

Friday, October 2 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location: 240B S Tuttle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237

Number of Volunteers Needed: 8

Family Friendly: No; 18 years and older

Activity Description: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sarasota and Manatee Counties invites volunteers to join us for a special Viva La Mexico lunch celebration at our YANA Center on Tuttle Avenue, where volunteers will prepare, cook, and serve a fun, fiesta-style luncheon for our members. NAMI's two YANA (You Are Not Alone) Wellness Drop-In Centers receive more than 7,000 check-ins each year from adults living with mental health challenges. Most of our members live in group homes or with family members who work during the day, but at YANA they have a place where they can socialize; enjoy group meals together; take part in support groups and educational programs; and enjoy art, gardening, music, and meditation classes. All are provided free of charge by NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Volunteers for our Viva La Mexico lunch celebration will provide members with a special occasion that will bring smiles and lasting memories to everyone involved, including the volunteers themselves.

Equipment: No special equipment required. Fun festive attire is encouraged.

Physical Requirements: Light physical work including food preparation, use of kitchen utensils, setting tables, serving food, washing dishes. Standing and walking, but no heavy lifting.

Contact(s): Jake Hartvigsen
Phone: 941-650-6043
Email: jake@namisarasotamanatee.org

Organization's Mission:
NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Inc. improves the lives of individuals, families and caregivers on their journey to mental wellness.

The Twig

Friday, October 2 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: 822 Pinebrook Rd, Venice, FL 34285

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; 12 years and older

Activity Description: We will be adding stickers to all of our items in the store so we can rotate inventory that may have sat on the shelves for over a certain period of time in order to keep our inventory fresh and new for our Twig kids.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes

Physical Requirements: None

Contact(s): Kim Adams
Phone: 941-220-7958
Email: kima@thetwigcares.com

Organization's Mission:
To inspire and encourage foster families by meeting their needs

Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota

Friday, October 2 | 10:00 am -12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location: 1750 17th St, Building L, Sarasota, FL 34234 & 6005 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34238

Number of Volunteers Needed: 4 Per Shift

Family Friendly: No; 16 Years and Older

Activity Description: Assist with organization, scanning, document removal, packing, breakdown of bookshelves and garbage removal.

Equipment: Comfortable clothing and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: Carrying of heavy boxes, removal of bookshelves, bending, lifting

Contact(s): Alison Fraga
Phone: 813-205-6205
Email: afraga@elcsarasota.org

Easterseals Southwest Florida, Inc.

Friday, October 2 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Location: 350 Braden Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34243

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; 18 years and older

Activity Description: Reading Pods: Building Early Literacy Through One-on-One Reading. Reading Pods is an early literacy initiative designed to give our VPK preschool students the opportunity to experience the joy of reading through meaningful, one-on-one interactions with caring adult guests. The program will bring community guests into the Multi-purpose Room, where each guest will be paired with a VPK student(s). Guests will spend dedicated time reading a book together, creating a positive and encouraging reading experience for each child.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes.

Physical Requirements: You may need to sit on the floor with the children.

Contact(s): Terri Watson
Phone: 941-355-7637
Email: twatson@easterseals-swfl.org

Organization's Mission:

We empower individuals and families to shine. Since 1946, Easterseals Southwest Florida has supported individuals with disabilities to live their best lives and be engaged in their communities. On day one, the people of our compassionate, caring nonprofit have offered help and hope to children and adults with disabilities, working to ensure all abilities of all ages have the opportunity to shine.

DAY THREE

Saturday, October 3

Click through to see the available projects for day three.

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Suncoast Office

Saturday, October 3 | 6:00 am - 11:00 am

Location: 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle Sarasota, FL 34235

Number of Volunteers Needed: 20

Family Friendly: Yes; 16 years and older

Activity Description: Walk For Wishes Suncoast is a family-friendly community event benefiting Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and helping grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The walk brings together wish families, volunteers, local businesses, and supporters for a morning of inspiration, hope, and fun while raising funds to make more wishes come true. Every step taken helps bring joy and strength to children facing serious medical challenges. We are looking for volunteers to assist with set up, break down, cheering on walkers, assisting with table activations, etc.

We encourage family and friends to register for the walk as well if they would like to be a part of the event.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and must wear close toed shoes.

Physical Requirements: If able, help with setting up some tents and moving tables around.

Contact(s): Emily Rickerson
Phone: 941-378-9474
Email: erickerson@sfla.wish.org

Organization's Mission:
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Harvest House

Saturday, October 3 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: TBD

Number of Volunteers Needed: 20

Family Friendly: Yes; Under 18 years need a parent

Activity Description: Volunteers will be planting, watering, mulching, and doing outdoor campus beautification.

Equipment: Comfortable clothes, shoes and gloves.

Physical Requirements: Lifting and digging may be required. Consideration for heat exposure.

Contact(s): Jill Santorelli
Phone: 941-404-5880
Email:jsantorelli@harvesthousecenters.com

Organization's Mission:
Champion hope and transform lives through supportive and affordable housing, addiction recovery programs, and food security.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

Saturday, October 3 | 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location: 5731 Rosin Way, Sarasota FL 34233

Number of Volunteers Needed: 10

Family Friendly: Yes; 18 years and older

Activity Description: Volunteers will get to be a "Big" for the day and volunteer alongside "Littles" between the ages of 6-18 for a rock painting art project. Volunteers will learn about the mission of BBBS and see that it truly takes little to be BIG- for the day!

Equipment: Comfortable clothes and paintbrushes

Physical Requirements: N/A

Contact(s): Lindsey Schroeder
Phone: 941-413-5220
Email: Lschroeder@bbbssun.org

Organization's Mission:
We create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that IGNITE the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast provides one-to-one mentoring relationships to children ages 6-18 years old throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties.