Nonprofit steps up to support food and beverage workers
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has partnered with Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation to provide hurricane disaster relief to food and beverage workers who live or work in local impacted areas.
Funds are being raised for the Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund to support individuals, families, and communities in areas of greatest need, including the local food and beverage industry workforce, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. Funding provided by Southern Smoke Foundation will be critical to their survival until government support is available. Individuals may receive up to $1,000 and families may be eligible for up to $1,200.
“We know that the local food and beverage industry was significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene and supporting our community in times of need is why we exist," Gulf Coast CEO Phillip Lanham said.
Southern Smoke, powered by current and former food and beverage workers, puts dollars directly into the pockets of food and beverage workers when it’s needed most. The nonprofit provides a simple application process and outlines requirements for funding at southernsmoke.org , assigning all applicants with a case manager. To contribute to Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund, visit gulfcoastcf.org/rapidresponsefund .
Women’s Resource Center launches new video campaign
The Women’s Resource Center has launched a new series of videos as part of its “Elevating Women’s Voices” campaign, starting with a segment encouraging more women to run for public office.
The 35-minute "Women in Government" video, developed in partnership with Manatee Educational Television, is hosted by WRC CEO Ashley Brown and includes interviews with State Rep. Fiona McFarland, Bradenton Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore, and former Sarasota County School Board candidate Dawnyelle Singleton.
“We see a huge opportunity to close the gender gap in our political landscape, where there is a significant lack of female representation within our local commissions, state legislature, and in Congress,” Brown said. “Elevating women’s voices is fundamental to addressing gender-specific issues that might otherwise be overlooked.”
To view the video, go to mywrc.org/womeninpolitics . To learn more about WRC’s "Elevating Women’s Voices" campaign, visit mywrc.org/empoweredadvocacy or call 941-256-9721.
Art Center Sarasota kicks off 2024-25 exhibition season
Art Center Sarasota’s 2024-25 exhibition season is underway with four exhibits that run through Nov. 16, including “Echoes of Belonging” by Gabriel Ramos, whose work exploring identity, community, and cultural heritage has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the U.S. and Caribbean.
Ramos' “Echoes of Belonging” showcases abstract paintings that blend Caribbean motifs, architectural elements, figures, and stylized forms. Born in 1987 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Ramos has a BFA in photography from the University of South Florida and an MFA from Cornell. An "Artist Talk" with Ramos is Oct. 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Also featured are "pouring, storing and ore-ing" by Amy Sanders; David Fithian’s "Faces & Places"; and an open juried exhibit "Euphoria!", which invites artists to explore diverse interpretations of the theme. An "Artist Talk" with Fithian is Nov. 1 from 5:30-6:30 p.m and a Juror’s Critique for "Euphoria!" is Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. with artist and designer Leslie Butterfield, who is co-founder of the Art in Common Places program in Sarasota.
All works on display are available for purchase. The exhibitions are funded in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. For information about Art Center Sarasota (707 N. Tamiami Trail), visit ArtSarasota.org or call 941-365-2032.
Around and about
· The "Paws for a Cause" fundraiser for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation is scheduled on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Twin Rivers Sports Field, 3711 Twin Rivers Trail, in Parrish. The event features pet photo booths, dog costume contests, food trucks, and more. Proceeds help fund community health initiatives. PawsForACauseFL.eventbrite.com .
· The Parrish Fall Festival is scheduled on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at Parrish United Methodist Church, 12180 U.S. Highway 301 N. Mote Marine, Sidewalk Science and JOY FM are new additions to the event, which includes games, music, treats, hayrides, a corn maze, games, pumpkin decorating, face-painting, and a photo booth. parrishumc.com .
· The Sarasota Jewish Theatre will present its season opener , “Being Somebody – Growing up Brooklyn, A Father/Daughter Tale,” on Oct. 19 (7:30 p.m.) and Oct. 20 (1:30 p.m.) at The Players Centre Studio at Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: ThePlayers.org or 941-365-2494. Info: SarasotaJewishTheatre.org .
· Vendors and organizations are invited to join the Notjusta Craft Fair on Nov. 16 at Gulf Cove United Methodist Church, 1100 S. McCall Road, in the Gulf Cove area of Port Charlotte. For more information, call 302-563-4479.
Submissions by Sharon Kunkel, Rachel Denton, Su Byron, Kim Cartano, Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman , Ethel Pawley, Kelly Flores, and Dana Hanson.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Houston nonprofit steps up to support struggling Sarasota-Manatee food & beverage workers
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