Gulf Coast's Rapid Response Fund was launched to support the community and our partners when a natural disaster impacts our service area. Our staff will work with local organizations following the disaster to gather boots-on-the-ground intelligence which will inform the deployment of these funds to the areas of greatest need as quickly as possible. The needs can and will evolve depending on the circumstances of each disaster. Our promise to you is that your gifts will be used to provide life-sustaining support to those most impacted.
The rapid deployment of assistance when disaster strikes gives people hope in a time when their lives have been devastated. Gulf Coast's commitment to standing alongside our boots-on-the-ground partners empowers them to get to work as soon as it is safe to do so.
To date, over $1 million has been awarded to over 40 nonprofit partners to support rapid response efforts. This life-sustaining support is essential for families and community members as many rebuild their homes and lives. We truly are stronger, together.
Grants to Support Rapid Response Efforts:
American Cancer Society, Inc - $10,000 for life-sustaining needs for cancer patients in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Longboat Key, and Lakewood Ranch) who were affected by the recent hurricanes.
Awaken Outreach Center - $15,000 for food, cleanup, and other immediate needs.
Better Together - $15,000 to support door-to-door handout of gift cards and post-Hurricane Milton necessities for families in need in Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Longboat Key, and Lakewood Ranch.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast - $20,000 to assist families impacted by recent hurricanes including grocery and gas gift cards, bus transportation, mental health services, and temporary housing in Gulf Coast’s service area.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County - $20,100 to support free after school care and dinner for Englewood Club children for three months.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County - $33,500 for free after school care and dinner for Englewood Club children for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year.
CASL - $25,000 to provide immediate mental health support and life-sustaining services, including housing, to residents in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Center of Hope of South County, Inc. - $20,000 to provide food, bus passes, housing and utility assistance to individuals impacted by three recent hurricanes.
Centerstone of Florida, Inc. - $10,000 for the Brighter Future Fund to assist employees impacted by recent hurricanes, particularly those who live or work in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Children First, Inc. - $40,000 to assist families impacted by recent hurricanes with gift cards for food and gas as well as crisis relief.
Crossing Ministries Inc - $15,000 to provide safe housing, food, and wrap around services to individuals in recovery impacted by Hurricane Milton in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Disaster Aid USA - $7,500 for additional equipment to provide muck and gut services for residents of Gulf Coast’s service area affected by three recent hurricanes.
Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Heartland - $25,000 to replace educational materials and equipment lost in recent hurricanes to enable early learning classrooms to reopen to empower Charlotte County families.
EPIC Resource Center, Inc. - $50,000 to provide case management and mental health counseling to individuals impacted by recent hurricanes.
EqualSRQ, Inc. - $9,292 to provide peer support, navigation, and life-sustaining services to individuals in recovery in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Florida Gulf Coast Paralyzed Veterans of America - $8,000 to assist Paralyzed Veterans impacted by recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key.
Girls Inc of Sarasota County - $10,000 to provide essential items to children and their families impacted by Hurricane Milton and residing in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services - $15,000 to provide food, transportation assistance, and essential supplies and services to individuals impacted by recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Gulf Coast Partnership, Inc. - $30,000 to assist the COAD in providing for immediate humanitarian needs following Hurricane Milton.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota, Inc. - $20,000 for Critical Home Repair in response to Hurricane Milton.
Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County - $50,000 to provide muck and gut/repair services, replacement furniture, and other essential support to individuals hardest hit by Hurricane Milton.
Harvest House - $50,000 to provide safe housing, essential supplies, and wrap around services to families impacted by Hurricane Milton.
Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota - $5,000 to aid clients in purchasing essentials post-Hurricane Milton.
Lift Church - $25,000 for immediate shelter and basic needs to residents and recovery workers in our service area post-Hurricane Milton.
Margwine Organization, Inc. - $2,500 to assist individuals impacted by recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key)
Mothers Helping Mothers - $15,000 to provide essential baby supplies to those impacted by recent hurricanes.
Multicultural Health Institute - $32,600 to provide life-sustaining support to Sarasota County residents impacted by three recent hurricanes.
One More Child - $5,000 to distribute essential supplies to families with children impacted by three recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service area of Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Longboat Key, and Lakewood Ranch.
Operation Warrior Resolution - $15,000 for immediate, life-sustaining assistance and mental health support to local veterans post-Hurricane Milton.
Parenting Matters - $2,000 to provide critical support and essential supplies to families impacted by the recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service area of Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Longboat Key, and Lakewood Ranch.
Praying Pelican Missions - $20,000 to provide muck and gut services, tarping, and debris removal to households severely impacted by recent hurricanes within Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Reach Out America - $5,000 for a trailer for disaster recovery in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay - $40,000 to purchase of a box truck to support disaster response across Charlotte, DeSoto, and Sarasota Counties.
Resilient Retreat - $15,000 to provide support groups for residents impacted by recent hurricanes as well as respond to requests from nonprofits for post-disaster assistance in Gulf Coast’s service area.
Resilient Retreat - $46,900 to support residents impacted by the trauma of multiple natural disasters.
Safe Children Coalition - $20,000 for critical needs gift cards for case managers and families impacted by Hurricane Milton and residing in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast - $10,000 to provide immediate and accessible mental health counseling to individuals impacted by three recent hurricanes in Gulf Coast’s service area (Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties, as well as Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key).
Sarasota County NAACP - $5,000 for food and generators to help preserve food for Sarasota County residents.
Second Chance, Last Opportunity - $15,000 for emergency food distribution, case management support, counseling, and other critical services to Sarasota County residents post-Hurricane Milton.
Second Heart Homes - $15,000 for immediate assistance to their residents.
Southern Smoke Foundation - $75,000 to support Florida Gulf Coast food and beverage workers living or working in Charlotte, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties, Boca Grande, Longboat Key, or Lakewood Ranch who were affected by Hurricane Milton.
St. David's Jubilee Center of Englewood - $10,000 to provide food, hygiene products, and utility assistance to residents impacted by recent hurricanes.
State College of Florida Foundation - $20,000 to provide disaster assistance funding to students in need following the recent hurricanes.
Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County - $25,000 for life-sustaining support for families with children who are under resourced and impacted by recent hurricanes.
UnidosNow, Inc. - $40,000 to assist families impacted by recent hurricanes with food replacement costs, housing, and service navigation.
United Way of South Sarasota County - $102, 235 for post-Hurricane Milton life-sustaining support in partnership with identified local agencies.
United Way of South Sarasota County - $73,320 for housing and Emergency Services Navigator to aid local residents post-Hurricane Milton.
Venice Nokomis Rotary Foundation - $5,000 to provide for immediate needs and home repair for individuals impacted by recent hurricanes.
YMCA of Southwest Florida - $40,000 for Community Relief Camp and to provide additional scholarships for families severely impacted by recent hurricanes.