After cutting local nonprofits' money, Sarasota County seeks their help in Debby recovery

After the historic rainfall and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby displaced hundreds of people in Sarasota, Erin Minor found herself on a conference call with the Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) to coordinate aid.

Dozens of nonprofit charity and relief organizations gathered to collaborate with Sarasota County staff. One local official asked Minor, the CEO of Harvest Tabernacle, a faith-based food bank and shelter − often referred to as Harvest House −if her she had available space.

“We were on the call and specifically asked, ‘Hey, is anyone from Harvest House on the call? We've got families who we need to get out of the evacuation shelter. Can we connect with you to see if we can move them into your emergency shelter?’” Minor said.

Minor was bemused by the request, as it came months after the Sarasota County Commission denied a potential grant of about $500,000 in funding for Harvest House. Her nonprofit was one of several that commissioners pulled prospective funding from as the board honed its upcoming fiscal year budget in meetings through the spring and summer.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2024/09/09/sarasota-county-nonprofits-hetheir-funding-was-cut-sarasota-nonprofits-help-county-with-debby-relief/75059991007/