Barking Up the Right Tree

Let's Meet Some Adorable Future Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs breeds, raises and delivers highly trained dogs that change lives by offering companionship, guidance, safety, support and boundless love.

03/21/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Affordable Housing

A New Affordable Housing Project Is Headed to North Tamiami Trail

New Trail Plaza in Sarasota will bring almost 100 units entirely dedicated to workforce and affordable housing tenants.

02/15/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Ora Hour

A Look at The Ora, Sarasota's Newest Events Venue

The Ora will offer fine-dining catering and top-tier tech, but it's also helping to fill the area's need for more luxury event space with lots of square footage.

01/23/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Volunteer Power

Volunteer Help Spikes During the Holidays, but Local Nonprofits Rely on It Year-Round

"Ninety-eight percent of our power relies on volunteer labor,” says Victoria Hasselbring, manager of donor stewardship at All Faiths Food Bank

11/20/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Winging It

Save Our Seabirds' New CEO Wants to Help the Organization Take Flight

Brian Walton, a veteran leader of non-profits, has taken on the effort to expand Save Our Seabirds' facilities and veterinary services for injured wildlife.

11/20/2023 By Catherine Hicks/Community News Collaborative

Helping Heroes

Sarasota’s First Affordable Housing Project for Veterans Just Broke Ground

Thanks to area nonprofits, donors and gifted land, the city’s first veteran-focused affordable housing units are slated for completion next year. 

11/01/2023 By Kim Doleatto

High Tide

A Look at the New Sarasota Youth Sailing Building That's Headed to Lido Key

Sarasota Youth Sailing, in partnership with Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sail Sarasota and Luffing Lassies, is poised to get a new educational youth sailing building to serve the growing demand for the water sport. Fundraising is currently underway.

09/27/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Grant Report

Barancik Foundation Announces $5 Million in Grants for 13 Nonprofits

The money will go toward efforts to improve education, mental health treatment, the arts, the environment and more.

08/07/2023 By Staff

High Winds

Photos: Sarasota Youth Sailing’s Annual Sailfest Regatta

This past weekend, the 35th annual regatta drew more than 250 young sailors to race off the shore of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron and Ken Thompson Park.

04/03/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Old Flame

A New Program Seeks to Save Sarasota's Historic Homes and Buildings Forever

Property owners can now apply for an easement that bars demolition in perpetuity.

01/27/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Trees, Please

Sarasota County's First Micro Forest Has Macro Impact

Local groups are fighting climate change by planting micro forests. You can see the first local one at the Celery Fields, where it doubles as an outdoor classroom.

11/29/2022 By Kim Doleatto

In the Key of Gifting

A Sarasota Grand Piano Finds a New Home in a Historic Mississippi Church

Anonymous donors gifted their mint-condition piano to the church, which hosted civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson.

10/17/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Post-Ian

Anna Maria's Wildlife Inc. Has Taken in a Flood of Animals Ravaged by Hurricane Ian

The morning after the hurricane made landfall on Florida's west coast, the center took in roughly 160 animals in need of care.

10/10/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Hurricane Ian

How to Help People in Florida Affected by Hurricane Ian

Check out this list of local and national organizations mobilizing to help those who suffered most.

10/03/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Round of A-Paws

Celebrate National Guide Dog Month at the Daiquiri Deck

Drink a Deck Diesel and support Southeastern Guide Dogs.

08/30/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Community Engagement

A Food Truck Rally Raised $10,000 For Children Who Lost Their Family In I-75 Crash

JFCS of the Suncoast, Big Top Brewing Company and local food trucks partnered to raise money for the family of the crash victims.

08/24/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Big Plans

Sarasota Activist Shannon Fortner Wants to Build an Arts Center Focused on LGBTQ+ Voices

Fortner hopes to create an arts and mental health hub where queer and trans voices can shine and thrive.

07/08/2022 By Kim Doleatto

We All Live in a Yellow Submarine

This Sarasota Duo Is Killing Invasive Lionfish in a Tiny Yellow Submarine

Scott Gonnello and Scott Cassell are finding new ways to rid the waters of this invasive species, which wreaks havoc on coral reefs.

07/07/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Winter Olympics

Rise & Nye's Is Hosting an Ice Cream Eating Contest This Weekend

How much ice cream can you eat in four minutes?

05/17/2022 By Lauren Jackson

I woof you

A Modern Renovation Helps the Sarasota County Humane Society Save More Animals

The $8.5 million dollar expansion of the no-kill shelter increased its capacity for care by 50 percent.

02/17/2022 By Kim Doleatto