Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, will host a special Coffee & Conversations information session on Wednesday, Aug. 23 in Sarasota for prospective volunteers to learn more about the organization and how to get involved.
Better Together is made up of Better Families and Better Jobs, two programs that work to keep families together, aid children and help job seekers find employment. Through assistance from church communities and hundreds of volunteers, Better Together helps families cope with difficulties such as job loss, substance abuse, jail or homelessness. The program makes sure that the children of affected parents are cared for in a safe home until the family can be whole again.
With roots in Southwest Florida, Better Together serves families in 21 counties across Florida. To date, the program has served over 5,900 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping nearly 39,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 22 states. The nonprofit has served nearly 400 children across Sarasota and Manatee counties alone.
“There is a growing need for our services in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and this volunteer informational session offers a no-pressure opportunity to learn more about our work to strengthen families in the local community. No commitment is required,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Whether you are hosting a child in your home, mentoring a parent through life’s challenges or volunteering at a job fair or Parents’ Night Out event, each of our volunteers play a key role in the success and quality of Better Together’s programs, so we are always eager to welcome more volunteers to our family.”
The Coffee & Conversations event will take place on Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to noon at Norman Love Confections in University Town Center at 192 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 7 in Sarasota. Registration is not required.
There are several ways to get involved with Better Together, which include serving as a host family, a job coach or a family advocate. There are also opportunities for churches to partner with Better Together, and many ways for businesses and organizations to contribute to Better Together’s mission.
To learn more about Better Together and volunteer opportunities, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/Better-Families/Volunteer.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
