Margie is a true angel. She has spent years helping others less fortunate with food, clothing and many other needs. At one time I worked with her making pillows for homeless and foster children. She now has become one of the less fortunate with the death of her husband and her inability to work due to several debilitating autoimmune diseases. Margie deserves this leg up more than anyone I know right now. I hope you will consider her for this great project.

Margie Woodegeard 

Margie is a true angel. She has spent years helping others less fortunate with food, clothing  and many other needs. At one time I worked with her mak

Hi everyone, we are Pauline and Jorge, along with our beautiful daughters and son, Callista (Calli), her bubby Anthony and her big sister DeeAnna. To say the last several years have been tough would be an understatement. It’s hard not to get emotional just thinking about it. We were saving up to do some repairs around our home when the Covid-19 pandemic happened. I lost my employment as a dental assistant due to the pandemic, and unfortunately couldn’t go back to work due to my pregnancy. As a parent, all you want is for your children to be happy and healthy. To provide them with a safe and loving home. To protect them from the elements and harm. When things happen that are beyond your control, your world turns upside down. When Calli was born almost four years ago, we had no idea the challenges we would face together as a family. She was diagnosed with Down syndrome during pregnancy, but we were unaware of the other challenges our perfect little girl would have to battle. She spent five days in the NICU, and we were elated when she was healthy enough to come home. Three months later we left terrified, frantic, and heartbroken. She had holes in her heart that needed immediate repair. Thankfully, the open-heartsurgery was successful. She was even able to put on some much-needed weight. For six months our family thought things were getting better, but the universe had other plans. Calli was diagnosed with Leukemia and our world was shattered again. Calli and I spent the next eleven months living on the seventh floor of All Children’s Hospital, isolated from the rest of our family and friends. Innocently oblivious to what was being endured mentally, financially, and emotionally, Calli remained upbeat and sweet throughout our entire stay. Now chemo-free and thriving in EPK she remains curious about her world. Calli has thirteen different specialists, including speech, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, to name a few. Every day since her birth, Calli has required one to two specialist visits every single day, which has made it impossible for me to return to my career and support my family financially. My husband Jorge works tirelessly for our family but can only do so much. Her big sister DeeAnna helps us as much as she can but is putting herself through nursing school, which is a huge challenge as well. Due to the trials our family has faced the last four years, we are unable to afford the repairs to our roof and home that are desperately needed. The last hurricane caused further damage to an already worn roof. My husband Jorge tried to repair what he could but lacked the materials and expertise necessary. I am a wife and mother who is out of options. I don’t believe in handouts but unfortunately am forced to ask for a hand up. All I want for my family is a safe and happy home; a home where my children don’t have to worry about the outside elements coming in. We call our little girl Callista the Warrior because that’s what she is. Being considered for this once in a lifetime giveaway would give us the chance to focus on Calli’s health and relieve the overwhelming burden of trying to keep up with costly repairs to the roof above our heads. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to read about our family and considering us as potential recipients of the giveaway.&nbsp;

Pauline and Jorge Gomez

Hi everyone, we are Pauline and Jorge, along with our beautiful daughters and son, Callista (Calli), her bubby Anthony and her big sister DeeAnna. To 

My mom, Judy Baker, recently lost her husband of 57 years, Kerwin Anthony Baker, on December 4, 2023. My dad owned and operated a local painting contracting company, Spectrum Painting, for 40 years in Sarasota before retiring in 2010. He also coached basketball and football in Sarasota for nearly 50 years, primarily at St.Martha's and Cardinal Mooney High School. Over the Thanksgiving Holiday (November of 2023) the Sarasota Herald Tribune wrote a feature article on his coaching legacy in Sarasota and highlighted that he helped over 200 of his student athletes earn athletic scholarships in their respective sports over the years. Both he and my mom devoted countless hours and years to helping young student athletes in the Sarasota community and surrounding areas expecting nothing in return. My mom has lost her soul mate, now lives alone and is struggling with his passing. She has now been thrust into taking care of the house that they have owned for over 45 years and the house is in need of a new roof. She has been retired for the last 12 years and is surviving on social security and savings. The prospect of replacing and paying for the new roof is overwhelming to her financially and she is concerned that she cannot afford to replace it. For a family that has given so much to the Sarasota community over the years, I believe my mom is an ideal candidate for the Curry Cares project and very deserving of a new roof. Thank you in advance for considering my mom, Judy Baker, for the Curry Cares project. Kind regards, Steve Baker

Judy Baker

My mom, Judy Baker, recently lost her husband of 57 years, Kerwin Anthony Baker, on December 4, 2023. My dad owned and operated a local painting contr

Hello, We moved into the neighborhood a few yrs ago. We have noticed a house down the street in DESPERATE need of a roof. He has concrete blocks all over the roof. A large portion of the shingles are gone. When hurricane Ian was coming this older gentleman was on his roof adding more concrete blocks! I was worried about him falling! I spoke to him after the hurricane and asked about the roof. He said he could not afford to repair it. And he had not been able to get help from anywhere to get it fixed. I suggested the blue roof program that he could inquire about. He continues to keep adding concrete blocks! The entire back of the roof is completely covered with blocks scattered about 18 inches apart. I have included photos of the front &amp; back of his roof. No older gentleman should have to haul concrete blocks onto his roof to try to keep flooding from occurring. He is at great risk of falling and getting severely hurt! Please please help this older gentleman get his roof replaced. I do not know if the home has flooding inside as I have not entered the home. Based on the condition of the exterior of the roof I would be very concerned that flooding indeed is happening. We feel so sad for this poor gentleman so I am reaching out to try to find help for him. If you take one look at his roof you would have a broken heart that this older gentleman has to live in these conditions. I could not bear to think of my father having to haul blocks onto a roof &amp; risk his life to try to stop roof leaks. I pray you will find compassion in your heart to help our neighbor. Thank you for your consideration.&nbsp;

Bruce J Scott 

Hello,  We moved into the neighborhood a few yrs ago. We have noticed a house down the street in DESPERATE need of a roof. He has concrete blocks all 

Vote for a Finalist