The Fresh Market announced its third annual Design Our Bag challenge, a nationwide search for a new design for its 2015 reusable bag, which will benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. The grocer donates 50 percent of the retail price of each bag sold from the annual challenge and will donate a minimum of $150,000 in 2015. Children ages 15 and under can submit a drawing that answers the question, “What is the best thing about The Fresh Market?,” here.

 

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Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s board of directors approved $3.4 million in grants at its December meeting. Approximately $2.8 million of that funding was in grants recommended by donors who have established charitable funds at the foundation. A list of grant recipients is available here.

 

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Anna Maria Oyster Bar hosted its 12th consecutive annual Teachers Dinner this month for faculty and staff from Florine J. Abel Elementary School, Sea Breeze Elementary School and Electa Lee Magnet Middle School. In addition to gifts, door prizes and dinner for the attendees, each of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s three locations selected one family from each school for its Adopt-A-Family program.

 

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The Animal Rescue Coalition will extend its spay and neutering services to outlying areas in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties with a $70,000 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase a new vehicle to implement the organization’s Transport Program, which will bring animals into the new brick-and-mortar facility near the Fruitville Library.