Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Scroll Top

WELCOME TO

making an impact

Making An Impact was founded in response to a growing need for information and access to community resources. We curate one of the areas most comprehensive and utilized lists of basic need services  and disaster recovery resources in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Recognizing the need for more focused and comprehensive community navigation, we accepted the challenge and created a local nonprofit offering information, direction, and hope for addressing complex needs.

NAVIGATIONAL TOOLS THAT HELP:

  • Homeless find shelter
  • Hungry find food
  • Sick find care
  • Abused find safety
  • and so much more

COMMUNITY
BASIC NEEDS
GUIDE

A guide to community resources for basic needs in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

DISASTER
RECOVERY
GUIDE

Disaster recovery guide resources to assist Sarasota and Manatee residents

PHARMACY
DISCOUNT
GUIDE

Pharmacy discount guide for Sarasota and Manatee county residents

TESTIMONIALSPARTNERS

peter-casmento-testimonial
Peter Casamento, M.A.
Laurel Civic Association
President & Executive Director

These guides have been invaluable assets to us for years. They are essential if you provide social services to assist individuals facing challenges. The wealth of information and resources included has consistently strengthened our ability to offer effective education, advocacy, and comprehensive support services.

252833932_5298892933458953_2400280105522068891_n
Megan Howell, M.S.
Second Hearts Home
Executive Director & Founder

Making An Impact is such a brilliant consolidation of important resources in our community. It’s a game changer when you are able to suggest multiple , quality resources to someone in need. We may not be able to solve every situation, but we are able to use this guide to pass on hope. Our whole team has a copy, and we even give these to our volunteers. The online version is very user-friendly!

Tom-Pfaff-MAI-Testimonial-image
Rev. Dr. Tom Pfaff
Sarasota Ministerial Association
Founder & President

At Sarasota Memorial Ministerial Association, a nonprofit group of over 100 diverse faith leaders and ministry members, we come together to discuss community concerns, explore potential solutions, and foster fellowship. In our unity, we find strength and hope for a better tomorrow.

As clergy, we often bear the burdens of our congregations and find the Basic Needs Community Connections Resource Guide by Making An Impact invaluable. This user-friendly booklet offers comprehensive contact information and assistance, proving to be an indispensable tool for our mission.

This book, and its creators, are a true blessing.

Chief-Rex-Troche--SRQ-Police-sm
Chief Rex Troche
Sarasota Police Department
Chief of Police

The Community Connections Resource Guide as been a valuable resource for our department ant the community. We are proud to support Making An Impact…so they can continue to provide this much needed guide to those in need of essential services in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

robinson
Michael A. Robinson, BS, R.Ph
Walgreens Company
Pharmacist

Join me, and BE THE ONE to make an impact on the life of someone who would tremendously benefit from the host of essential need services listed and available in the MAI Community Connections Resource Guide!

Michelle-Desveaux-McLean-sm
Michelle Desveaux McLean
Manatee Literacy Council
Executive Director

I just wanted to say thank you so much for this community guide. We often have people that need services outside of our mission, and your book is a great resource!

Jill-Luke--Mayor-&-Commissioner--sm
Jill Luke
North Port, Florida
City Commissioner

What a great resource for everyone! It’s a communication and connection that has gone unsupplied for decades. Thank you for stepping up and making these guide books, a valuable resource, available.

434078253_1187017246012616_3383573446559056031_n
Dr. Sheila Halpin
Manatee County Schools
Campaign for Grade Level Reading & Volunteer Coordinator

The Community Connections Resource Guide connects vulnerable families with health resources, advocacy organizations, and human services. There is help for most situations and the Community Connections Resource Guide empowers people to take control of their needs.

276993093_341462224686498_1475967675636351666_n
Sandi C.
Harvest House | Sarasota, FL

I just received a copy of your Resource Guide and love it! It’s SO helpful and has opened my eyes to all sorts of things I didn’t know about! Thank you so much for compiling this excellent resource!

e7eb332f-34f3-4b64-bbc3-b6db8fe2f840_medium
Rick Wells
Manatee County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff

Every day our deputies come in contact with people who have needs beyond what we as a law enforcement agency are equipped to handle. It’s great to have the ready reference guide with a list of resource programs and organizations that can provide additional services. It’s our hope that people in our community will find the help they need, and we’ll continue to do what we can to point them in the right direction.

LindaPoteat-Brown_clr_dcvo7w
Linda Poteat-Brown, MBA
Easterseals Southwest FL
VP Human Resources

The Making An Impact Community Connections Resource Guide is a phenomenal one-stop-shop guide for the Sarasota and Manatee County communities! Concise, easy to follow, content rich – this guide skillfully serves the gamut from parents, profit and nonprofit businesses…and specifically Human Resource departments!

1612795188471
Jessica Hays
Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center
President & CEO

We have been giving Making An Impact’s resource guides to our clients during their intake appointment at the Shelter, and find this to be a great tool to empower those we serve, to find resources within the community.

800f898f-bb88-47d6-94fa-24e6ccf0c141-SAR_SMHCAPACITY0104
David Stone, LMHC
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Clinical Supervisor, Behavioral Health Intervention

The Making An Impact’s Community Connections Resource Guide has been a tremendous help to me and my team with providing up-to-date resources to patients in needs.

Photos by Allan Mestel Photography

RECENT BLOGS

BECOME A SPONSOR

Your support helps continue our vision of equitable access to community resources for longer, healthier, and happier lives.