Season of Sharing Returns With Continued Support From The Patterson Foundation

Community donors have given more than $54 million to families in crisis in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties since 2000 through the initiative.

Season of Sharing, the annual campaign providing temporary financial assistance to families and individuals in crisis in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, returns for its 27th year. Created by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the campaign helps residents cover basic expenses such as housing, utilities, childcare, and transportation.

The Patterson Foundation will continue to support community giving throughout Season of Sharing, contributing $100,000 for every $500,000 raised by the community through Jan. 31, 2027. The Foundation has given more than $11 million in matching funds and other contributions to Season of Sharing since 2010, including $700,000 during last year’s campaign, which raised $4.2 million.

“Often, the greatest opportunity to create positive change is right here, in the communities we call home,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Season of Sharing is how our region takes care of its own. When a family can stay in their home and keep the lights on, they retain their dignity, safety, and hope—all of which strengthens people with the affirmation that others care, and they can move forward showing others that they care. Investing in the stability of our neighbors is an investment in the well-being of our entire region.”

Established in 2000, Season of Sharing has raised more than $54 million and assisted more than 57,000 households across the four-county region. The campaign has received more than 60,000 donations total, ranging in size from $5 to $1 million, and 100 pecent of every gift goes directly to local families and individuals.

For households with little financial cushion, a single unexpected expense, such as a medical bill, a car repair, or a reduction in work hours, can quickly become a crisis. In addition to professionals working in the restaurant industry, education, and other essential fields, older residents are among those Season of Sharing supports each year. Many planned for retirement only to find that their savings and fixed incomes have not kept pace with rising costs. Assistance that keeps an older adult housed also eases the financial pressure on adult children who are often supporting families of their own.

“At the heart of Season of Sharing is the idea that timely assistance to a household facing a financial setback can prevent that temporary challenge from escalating into a lasting crisis,” said Jessica Muroff, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “For 27 years, Season of Sharing has helped individuals and families in our community regain their footing and avoid homelessness. These are people who are working hard, raising children, caring for loved ones, and doing their best to build stable lives. A small setback should not erase that effort.”

The number of households receiving assistance through Season of Sharing so far this year is up 7.6 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Changes to other emergency funding programs have contributed to the increase. Additionally, rising costs for housing, utilities, insurance, healthcare, childcare, food, and fuel continue to strain household budgets across the region. The situation is further influenced by the unique realities and circumstances in each of the four counties, from local housing markets and wages to access to transportation and support services.

One in three households in the region is considered “cost burdened,” spending 30 percent or more of its income on housing. Families who find affordable housing often live farther from work or school, increasing transportation costs. In 2025, roughly 91 percent of Season of Sharing assistance went toward rent and mortgage payments, helping to stabilize families across the region.

Human service agencies are central to how Season of Sharing works. It utilizes a network of local agencies across the region, whose caseworkers meet with residents, confirm that other available resources have been exhausted, and prepare and submit Season of Sharing applications on their clients’ behalf. Local fiscal agents then review applications and send payments directly to the landlord, utility company, childcare provider, or other entity owed. The agencies pass through the funds with no overhead allocation, ensuring that all Season of Sharing donations go directly toward supporting local households.

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How to Donate: Gifts to Season of Sharing can be made online at cfsarasota.org or by calling (941) 556-2399. Donations can also be made by mailing a check addressed to Season of Sharing, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237.

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How to Apply for Help: To ask for assistance through Season of Sharing, residents are encouraged to call 211, the local hotline that connects callers to community resources and services for needs such as housing, food, health care and more. If it is determined that someone may be eligible for Season of Sharing support, that person will be referred to a nonprofit with a caseworker who will help them navigate the application process. Once an application is approved, the money is sent directly to the applicant’s landlord, mortgage lender, utility company or other provider, depending on the applicant’s need. The Community Foundation does not issue checks directly to individuals.

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About The Patterson Foundation

The Patterson Foundation is a fully endowed charitable entity strengthening people, organizations, and communities in ways that foster wide participation around shared quality-of-life aspirations. For more information, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org.