Strawberry Festival women distribute $125,000
Seven area charities will share $125,000 in proceeds raised by the United Women in Faith (UWF) organization at the annual Strawberry Festival. UWF, formerly known as the United Methodist Women, is affiliated with the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in Boca Grande.
“We grateful for the enthusiastic participation of Boca Grande and neighboring communities and help from hundreds of volunteers and donors,” said Amy Mitchell, co-chair of the 2024 festival. “We are already looking forward to next year’s Strawberry Festival at the Boca Grande Community Center grounds on Saturday March 1. Mark your calendars.”
Monies will go to the following organizations:
The Englewood Community Care Clinic; providing no-cost medical services to the under-served residents of Englewood and surrounding communities.
The Charlotte County Homeless Coalition; working to prevent hunger and homelessness since 1989.
C.A.R.E.; providing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes in Charlotte County.
Links2Success in Arcadia; working to ensure that youth in DeSoto County graduate from high school with the education and life skills needed to access post-secondary educational opportunities.
Kids Needs; a volunteer organization collecting donations for needy families. Their hope is that through this kindness of neighbors helping neighbors they can encourage young people to stay in school and out of harm’s way.
Englewood Young Life; dedicated to introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith through shared experiences of hope and enjoying life.
Englewood Helping Hand; a community-supported human service agency providing food, utility, and other assistance to its clients as well as referral services to other agencies in both Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. Their goal is to work to prevent homelessness.
“Each of these organizations speaks to our longstanding mission of helping women and children in need,” said Leslie McGeehen, who co-chaired this year’s festival. “I’m proud that our proceeds will be put to such good use.”
McGeehen and Mitchell, who will return to chair the festival in 2025, stressed that despite the planned renovation of the Community Center and surrounding buildings, they have been assured that the Strawberry Festival can continue as planned, with only a few seamless modifications.
