SARASOTA (WSNN) – Some Suncoast organizations are making sure several kids who’ve been separated from their families are getting a bit of a “normal” Thanksgiving this year.
“The food insecurity in our town and so many towns is just horrific. And it’s a perfect storm when you throw the COVID-19 and what’s going on; so many parents are out of work,” Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Joy Holloway said. “The children need all the help they can get.”
24 families and 90 foster children are receiving nutrition, education, and a little bit of normalcy this Thanksgiving.
Children’s Guardian Fund hosted a Thanksgiving distribution Tuesday, with volunteers picking up Thanksgiving baskets for stay-care children administered by the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The event filling the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center parking lot.
“What’s been difficult for these families, especially at this time of year is that they’re missing their biological parents possibly, and also these families are strained with additional children in the home,” Children’s Guardian Fund’s Executive Director Svetlana Kaminsky said.
Rotary Club of Longboat Key and other Suncoast service organizations prepared more than 120 bags of food, chocolate turkeys, books, blankets, and more.
“I think in this age when we’re really all struggling about feeling good about everything, this is such a great do-good project,” Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Community Service Chair Nancy Rozance said. “And I’m so happy to be associated with Children Guardian’s Fund. I think we should all learn from this; that we can all get together and collaboratively do things in the Sarasota community to make the world a better place for people that live here.”
Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer Cathie Clark works with 20 families of about 35 children from North Port to Clearwater.
“Without the gifts and the food, I’m sure most of these families would not be able to afford a turkey or any of the trimmings so this is really special,” Clark said. “It’s a wonderful thing for them to be doing for us.”
“Our community is strong, we have a lot of good people out there, and I’m so grateful this time of year, to be seeing so much support from all of these groups that we’re working with,” Kaminsky said.
Guardian ad Litem are volunteers who work with children who’ve been removed from their biological families because of abuse, neglect, or were abandoned and placed in the state’s care.
