SMDP Outreach

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

Two years ago, we asked YOU and The Gannett “A Community Thrives” Program to help us RAISE THE ROOF on our building and YOU DID!  Last year, again with the help of the “A Community Thrives” campaign, Window of Opportunity, we asked YOU to take up the next critical structural issue - hurricane resistant windows and doors and AGAIN, YOU DID!!

This year we have a different kind of urgent need.  

In October we will again provide daily homework, tutoring and ESL support to children and adults. Collaborating with the local schools we understand the negative impact, especially intense in marginalized/isolated areas like Tice, that Covid has had on these children and, how we can best support them in regaining the lost ground of the past two years.  Our program and this campaign will support their recommendations of how to best assist in enhancing the learning process BUT….  In these two years, the Food Pantry demand dramatically grew, the pre-COVID learning space was taken over by the much increased needs of the Food Pantry.  This is the urgently needed space our campaign and grant request is planning to re-establish.

Once again, The Gannett “A Community Thrives” program is our platform to raise $15,000, roughly a third of the cost of a 700 sqft, fully completed steel building that will be placed on a permanent site on our property. It will be the center of our learning and language (ESL) program and will be ready when school opens in August. We are hopeful for the remaining funds to come through “A Community Thrives” grant.   This can only happen if WE ALL GIVE TOGETHER!  

 Our window of opportunity for this CHALLENGE GRANT from Gannett is short!  Reaching our donor goal in the limited program period, from noon, July 18th, 2022 through 9PM August 12th, 2022 is critical and enhances the possibility of a grant from “A Community Thrives.”  ONLY DONATIONS MADE AT THIS SITE between noon, July 18th, 2022 and 9PM, August 12th, 2022 are eligible. If you have any questions contact Leslie Robertson at cdr609@aol.com  or 239-560-5617

Remember, the goal we must reach from you, our donors, for this campaign is $15,000.  Exceeding our goal can enable us to be considered for further grants that Gannett is making available nationally and locally.

We know it’s a lot to ask, but PLEASE, think of this as a “downpayment” that helps these kids: FOCUS ON THEIR FUTURE!