The Heron Creek Community Foundation Services Committee lead by Marilyn Kosiorek conducted the Annual Food Fund Drive. The committee members included Kathy Boccagna, Pat Lucci, Jean Delardo, Gloria Davies, Sharon Jimenez, Kathy Malavenda and Dottie Dsupin. All Faiths Food Bank requested monetary donations rather than food items as their bulk buying power allows for purchase of a large amount of needed food. A total of $15, 340 was collected during the drive and given to All Faiths. A big “Thank You” to the committee, the neighborhood volunteers and all the donors who together help those struggling to get sufficient food.
Board Directors Maria Rinaldo and Mary Bowersock visited the Child Protection Center’s new location near Sumter and US-41. The mission of the CPC is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. The Center was able to purchase an entire building and is in the process of renovating it to meet their specialized needs.
The CPC is a 2021- and five-time Foundation grant recipient, having applied for and received $5000 to cover the cost of mental health treatment for children and families. In addition to the counseling services the new center will offer comfortable areas for abused children undergoing forensic examinations and specialized interviews, a safe location for supervised visitation, sex abuse treatments well as other therapy services.
The CPC has an extensive array of services in support of their mission. More about the CPC and ways to support them is available on their website at www.CPCSarasota.org. On the site is their wish list that includes art supplies for therapy, office supplies, gas cards, smiley face and star stickers, child size weighted blankets among other items, should you wish to support them.
The Heron Creek Community Foundation Board hosted a “New Residents” reception in March. New residents were welcomed to the community and given the history, structure, and background of the Foundation. The Executive Director of First Tee Sarasota/Manatee, Lexi McKenney, was also in attendance. She thanked the Foundation for the $25,000 grant to bring the program to North Port children.
