Currently serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties on Florida's West coast.

Trinity Charities Food Pantry
7225 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34243
paul@trinitycharities.org
941-355-0847

The food pantry is open to the whole community for those in need of food assistance. Pantry is open on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 3:15p-5:00p.

Google 411
1-800-466-4411

Place this number in your cell phone and you will be able to call it for free to get business phone nubers. It is just like having a telephone book with you.

Free Tax Preparation

Free Tax Preparation! Did you work in 2008? Do you have children? If YES, you could be eligible for up to $4,824 in federal earned income tax credit if you earned (if you earned less than $41,646), up to $1000 per child from the federal child tax credits if you earned more than $8,500 in 2008 and up to $2,917 in child and dependent care tax credit if you pay someone to care for your child or a dependent adult so you can work or look for work. Volunteers in both Manatee and Sarasota Counties will, help you prepare your tax return and claim your tax credits. Manatee County To view the full listing of free tax preparation sites in Manatee County, please click here. Manatee County sites will be operating from February 2, 2009 to April 15, 2009 unless otherwise noted in flyer, with sign-ups available at locations. Sarasota County United Way will be opening two Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites (note times and location below). Please be aware that the Venice VITA site will require an appointment. For scheduling in Venice, please contact Amy Paulishak at 366-2686, ext. 316. North Sarasota County United Way Building (VITA SITE) Walk-ins accepted 1445 2nd St, Sarasota, FL 34236 Wednesday and Thursday 4-8 pm Saturday 10am-2pm Start Date February 4-April 15 South Sarasota County United Way Building (VITA SITE) By appointment only, please call Amy Paulishak at 366-2686, ext. 316. 7810 South Tamiami Trail, Suite A-4 Venice, FL 34293 (in the South County Resource Center) Tuesday and Wednesday 4-8 pm Saturday 10am-2pm Start Date February 3-April 15 For detailed information about tax preparation sites and schedules please call 2-1-1 or 308-4357. You may also call the IRS Helpline at: 1-800-829-1040 or go to www.irs.gov to get information on free e-filing sites.

Health Insurance
941-751-8427

Ask for Gary Hickerson. He will be able to help you with your insurance needs. They have a plan for people with low income and also if you have poor health. It includes a prescription discount program as well, with huge discounts.

Free Cell Phone Program
1-800-977-3768

When you call this number you will need to be able to prove that you are on Disability, food stamps or another goverment program. You must also have an address for them to ship the phone to. You will get approx. 88 minutes a month for a year for free.

Physician that accepts Medicaid
941-373-7844

Dr. Doug Walsh accepts Medicaid and will see patients if they have no insurance. He has a sliding scale.

Free Housing Availability

These are a few places that have space. The website is always being updated. Available Housing Inventory Check it out! - Affordable Housing in Florida Search Link Casa San Jose of Catholic Charities provides housing to men infected with HIV/AIDS. There are currently no vacancies. To be placed on a waiting list, please contact their offices at 366-1886. Family Promise of Sarasota, Inc. has room available for a homeless family with up to three family members. Family members must be free of mental illness and substance abuse issue and can not have been convicted of a felony. The program provides shelter, meals and comprehensive case management and support services. Families are typically housed for up to 90 days to achieve self-sufficiency or to move into The Salvation Army's F.A.I.T.H. Program. For more information, please contact Lisa Hagerman at 952-1800. First Step of Sarasota, Inc. has six, 3-bedroom apartments located in Sarasota. Tenants must have successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program and be willing to abide by a sober housing agreement. Apartments are available for families or up to three unrelated individuals. The rent payment is $1,200/month or $400 per bedroom and all utilities and furnishings are included. There are currently no openings available. Contact John Caporale at 366-5333, ext. 1108 for more information. Goodwill's Beneva Oaks has two 2-bedroom units available. The apartments can house up to four individuals, and the head of household must be physically disabled and over the age of 18. Applicants may be either Manatee or Sarasota residents. The rent is calculated based on 30% of income. Please contact Mark Zeman at 365-3943 for further information. Our Mother's House of Catholic Charities currently has two openings, which they are interviewing to fill. Our Mother's House provides housing for mothers with children up to 4 years old. Please contact Joyce Scott 485-6264 for more details. Renaissance Manor offers short- and long-term housing in Sarasota, North Port and Venice with three different recovery models for men and women with substance abuse and mental health challenges. Room rentals begin at $400/month and include all utilities, cable, and telephone. Scholarships may be available to assist homeless people with program placement. There are currently offerings for six individuals. If interested, please call Brian Meadows or Whitney Lee at 426-1141. The Safe Place, Inc. currently has openings for individuals in need of housing for people who have been released from a rehabilitation/detoxification program and need to continue recovery in a safe, structured environment. Now accepting both male and females from Manatee or Sarasota Counties. Program includes drug free housing with assistance for job placement, training, and continued treatment, in a home-like environment. Please contact Scott at 713-7200, Brenda at 565-4605, or Dottie at 592-0809 for more information. The Salvation Army - Sarasota Area Command's F.A.I.T.H. Program currently has two 2-bedroom apartments available. Apartments are provided for up to a year rent-free to residents who work full-time and remain drug-free. Please call 954-4673 ext. 224, ext. 135 or ext. 136 to speak with a program assistant for more information. Transitional Resources, Inc. currently has sober housing beds available for men and women who are residents of Manatee or Sarasota County. For more information, please call Mike Peffley or Dave Morris at 755-7386. Volunteers of America of Florida (located in Tampa) has a new program with 12 beds for male veterans who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and/or a substance abuse problem. For more details, please contact Kristin Fuhrmann at (813) 321-6964 or you email her at kfuhrmann@voa-fla.org.

Free Vision Screening/and eyeglasses
2200 Ringling Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34237

Sarasota Health Dept. performs free vision screening by certified screeners on the 1st Thursday of the month from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary. You will also receive free eyeglasses if you qualify. They usually arrive within 60 days. This program is Prevent Blindness Florida 813-874-2020 ext. 105 for more information. Or call Church of the Trinity 941-355-0847.