Each charitable gift truly makes a difference during season of sharing

I have never felt the anxiety of wondering if I might lose the roof over my head.

My husband and I both have dependable, satisfying jobs. Should I ever find myself in a desperate situation, I have parents and relatives who are still living and who have resources that could help. I have a support system of friends and colleagues around me. I have connections and advantages.

During my years in the philanthropic sector, I have seen things change on a dime for people like me who are now among those served by social-service agencies.

These are those who once had a savings account. Those who could afford to donate a little something around the holidays. They never had to choose between paying the mortgage and paying for groceries or medicine. Now they do.

Many families in our community have always lived in the margins. Despite generation upon generation of working hard, a financial crisis is always looming. Poverty is cyclical.

The reality is the same for all of us. Life can change in unexpected ways. A long-term medical emergency, unforeseen job loss, mental health issue, domestic violence incident or theft can trigger a series of cascading challenges that can remove all safety nets. Every year, thousands of people in our region are one short step from losing their homes.

Thankfully, more than 20,000 local individuals and families have been spared the trauma of becoming homeless during the past 16 years because of an annual campaign called Season of Sharing.

Season of Sharing is fueled by everyday citizens who make donations in all sizes, based on what they can afford to give. Funds are distributed through reputable human services agencies – Turning Points and Manatee Community Action Agency in our community. Their case workers expertly attend to each client’s situation. And every penny contributed to Season of Sharing goes directly to pay for rent, transportation, utility bills and other immediate needs.

As you can imagine, there is a cost to running this campaign. In addition to the number of people who give, it’s the extraordinary efforts and in-kind contributions of media and foundation partners that make Season of Sharing remarkable.

Our friends at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County donate all staff hours for administration and oversight. The Bradenton Herald and other media partners provide creative services, print advertising and share stories of those who have been helped. Program delivery is managed by local organizations that make sure each gift truly makes a difference. And for every $500,000 the community raises for Season of Sharing, The Patterson Foundation is contributing $100,000.

Through the Manatee Community Foundation, I have the opportunity to work with some of the most generous people in our community and to see some of the most challenging needs in our community. Each donation made to Season of Sharing gives us two good stories to tell: the story of the family that will stay at home and the story of the caring person who made it possible.

This campaign asks us to put ourselves in the shoes of others who quietly face homelessness – neighbors, colleagues, servers at the restaurants we frequent. Imagine for a moment that you or a loved one is vulnerable and faced with living in a car or a shelter. Now imagine how good you can feel about giving.

Make a tax-deductible gift to Season of Sharing by visiting cfsarasota.org. You can designate your gift to Manatee County. I also invite you to call me at 941-556-5444 any time to talk about how the Manatee Community Foundation makes a difference in our community.

This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Each charitable gift truly makes a difference during season of sharing."