Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, is hosting two holiday events for families in Sarasota and Manatee counties during the month of December.
On Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Better Together will host A Better Christmas Gathering luncheon for parents and families across the region. Better Together organizes luncheon programs at various locations to bring parents together for community, to support each other, and often hear from expert speakers. The luncheon will provide background-checked volunteers in addition to lunch, games and fun for children while parents attend the event. In December, both parents and children can enjoy holiday fun, Christmas crafts and food provided by local vendors. Every child who attends will also receive a Christmas gift.
The Dec. 7 luncheon will take place at Grace Community Church, located at 4080 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. N. in Lakewood Ranch. There is no cost to attend. To register, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/ChristmasGathering or call 239-470-2733.
On Dec. 20 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Better Together will host a Parents’ Night Out event in Bradenton. The program offers parents, grandparents and other caregivers access to a couple of hours of no-cost care for children from infant to 17 years old. Better Together will provide background-checked volunteers in addition to dinner and Christmas activities for children to enjoy while parents are away.
Parents’ Night Out will take place at First Baptist Bradenton, located at 1306 Manatee Ave. in Bradenton. To register, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/PNO-Registration or call 239-470-2733.
Better Together is also supporting families this year with Christmas gifts through its annual holiday toy drive. The nonprofit is now accepting donations from the community of new, unwrapped toys for children 0-17 years old. For the latest list of participating locations, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/2024-Christmas-Toy-Drive. The deadline to donate toys is Dec. 10.
Better Together helps parents who are going through a hard time to 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. To date, Better Together has helped 10,000 children and kept 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting out of foster care, while its jobs ministry has helped nearly 40,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 24 states.
To learn more about Better Together and its mission, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
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.
