We are living through extraordinary times. Step Up Suncoast has adjusted and retooled to continue to provide services to families in Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. As COIVID-19 resources become available, Step Up Suncoast will play an important part in helping families return to their normal lives, along with helping our community’s economy strengthen.
In 2019, over 12,000 services were provided to clients through Step Up Suncoast programs. In 2020, we remain dedicated to our mission as we continue to grow our many services and programs for the families who will need us.
Step Up Suncoast continues to be committed to breaking the cycle of poverty at the front end through our early childhood programs and services.
The Head Start program delivers outstanding school readiness scores in all its centers, and the staff remains engaged and eager to help our children prepare academically, socially, and emotionally for kindergarten.
Step Up Suncoast offers four home visiting programs. These programs provide creative, quality services delivered in the home to families with children aged six-weeks to five years.
We also continue to provide emergency direct client services to residents in need of utility, rental, mortgage, and food assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Season of Sharing funding. The Family Self-Sufficiency program provides the support necessary for clients to obtain careers that pay a living wage.
As we look forward to another year of service, we are inspired by the families we serve. Their strength, motivation and dedication to changing their lives are the reasons we have been successful for over 50 years.
Thank you for your support,
Barbara Patten
President and CEO of Step Up Suncoast