A Season for Lifting One Another

Season of Sharing: Charlotte County

By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer

As this season of gratitude begins, I see powerful ways of how much this community pours into one another, especially in the hardest seasons. This generosity of spirit is the same resilience I see in families who are working full-time, raising children, caring for aging parents, and still living just one unexpected expense away from crisis. It is something I carry with me every day.

This year, we have been blessed with calm weather and no hurricanes. I am grateful for that. But even without storms, many of our neighbors continue to face personal storms of their own. Rising costs, medical emergencies, reduced work hours, and unexpected bills can place unimaginable stress on hardworking families who are simply trying to stay afloat. And when I see that struggle, I also see just how essential Season of Sharing is to our community.

For 25 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, along with The Patterson Foundation, has made Season of Sharing a beacon of hope. What I love most about this initiative is how deeply it reflects the heart of our community: neighbors helping neighbors.

Season of Sharing provides one-time financial assistance for life’s most essential needs, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, at the exact moment someone needs it most. There is no painstaking process or judgment, just immediate help delivered with dignity.

As the fiscal agent for Charlotte County, United Way Charlotte County (UWCC) works closely with local agencies to ensure this support reaches people quickly. I have seen firsthand how a single act of assistance can change the entire trajectory of a family’s life.

From October 2024 through September 2025, here in Charlotte County:
•    $793,927 was invested directly into households
•    474 households were assisted
•    1 in 4 households supported were homeowners, many struggling with rising insurance and property taxes

When I read these numbers, I don’t just see data, I see faces. I see the mother who told me she finally slept through the night after we helped her avoid eviction. I see the elderly couple who cried with relief when their utility bill was paid. I see families who just needed someone to believe in them long enough for them to regain stability.

Every day in this work, I am reminded that stability is fragile, but compassion is powerful. Season of Sharing is not a handout, instead it is a lifeline for hardworking people who want nothing more than to stand on their own two feet.

And thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, significant support has been made possible for Charlotte County over the years. I am deeply grateful for their leadership, and equally grateful for every individual who chooses to give.

At this time of year, I’m reminded of how powerful it can be when we share the spirit of gratitude with others. When you support Season of Sharing, your generosity keeps families in their homes, keeps the lights on, and restores hope during some of life’s most difficult moments. Every gift—no matter the size—truly changes a life.

From my heart to yours, thank you for caring and for standing with our community when it needs you most. Donate by mail: Make your check payable to Community Foundation of Sarasota County (please indicate “Season of Sharing: Charlotte County”) and mail it to Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237, or call their office at 941-556-2399 for assistance. To support the Season of Sharing Fund for Charlotte County online, please visit unitedwayccfl.org/Season.

For more information about United Way Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.