Children's Home Society of Florida, Fort Myers, FL (2026)

10/22/2026

Making a difference starts with simply showing up, answering a question, or helping a student see a possibility they hadn’t imagined before.

Will you be part of it? We’re inviting community members to volunteer as guest speakers for the Great American Teach-In on November 18, hosted at Manatee Elementary School. The Great American Teach-In gives us the opportunity to bring our community into the classroom and show students just how many possibilities their futures hold!

We’re looking for volunteers from all walks of life to spend time with students, share their knowledge, and introduce them to something new. From careers and creative hobbies to unique skills and personal experiences, your everyday expertise could be extraordinary through a child’s eyes.

Interested? Email [email protected] to get signed up TODAY!

10/14/2026

You have a story worth sharing... and we want to hear it!

Sometimes, all it takes to help a child discover a new passion is meeting someone who’s been there.

On November 18, we’re inviting community members to participate in the Great American Teach-In at Manatee Elementary School by sharing their careers, hobbies, talents, and life experiences with local students!

Whether you’re a small business owner, artist, chef, engineer, gamer, healthcare professional, or simply someone who loves what they do, you have something valuable to offer. You don’t need a lesson plan, just a willingness to show up, share your story, and spark curiosity.

Interested? Email [email protected] to get signed up TODAY!

10/08/2026

💙 A costume. A bag of candy. A moment of belonging.

Every child deserves the chance to experience the simple joys of childhood. When you support our Costumes & Candy Drive, you're helping create special moments for children and families right here in your community. And if you need a reminder of the impact, just look at these smiles from last year's celebrations.

Learn how to get involved: https://chsfl.org/get-involved/volunteer/

10/08/2026

⚠️ Hurricane Isaias Office Closure Update ⚠️

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our team members, families, and community, Children's Home Society of Florida's Pensacola and Emerald Coast offices will close today at 12:00 p.m. and remain closed through Friday as we continue to monitor Hurricane Isaias.

If you are currently receiving services through CHS and need support during this time, please contact your case manager directly.

We encourage everyone to follow local emergency guidance, make preparations as needed, and stay safe. We will share additional updates as they become available.

Our thoughts are with all those in the path of the storm. 💙

10/07/2026

5 favorite things we did in D.C. this week to advocate for kids 💙

✔️ Shared what we're seeing in communities across Florida
✔️ Elevated the voices of children and families
✔️ Highlighted programs and partnerships making a difference
✔️ Built relationships with leaders shaping the future
✔️ Continued a tradition of advocacy that's been part of CHS for nearly 125 years

As we approach our 125th anniversary, we're grateful for opportunities to educate, collaborate, and ensure the needs of children and families remain at the center of important conversations.

Thank you to Florida's congressional delegation and their staff for welcoming CHS leadership to Washington, D.C., this week.

Every child. Every dream. Every future. 💙

10/07/2026

Make a Difference This Season Without Leaving Home! ✨🍂

Looking for a meaningful way to give back this fall and holiday season? Children's Home Society of Florida has flexible, remote volunteer opportunities that allow you to support children and families from wherever you are!

Whether you're looking to volunteer as an individual, with friends, or as part of a corporate team, there's a way for you to make an impact.

Flexible, remote opportunities 💻
Support children and families in your community ❤️
Perfect for busy fall schedules 🍁
Help bring hope and joy during the holiday season 🎁

Ready to get started? Visit: https://chsfl.org/get-involved/volunteer/ to explore our current seasonal volunteer opportunities and find the perfect fit for you!

10/05/2026

The future is so, so bright! 🎓

Our Teen Outreach Program (TOP) celebrated graduating seniors during Senior Send-Off, honoring these graduates' hard work, resilience and determination as they prepare for what's next.

At CHS, our Ready to Earn impact area helps young people build the skills, confidence and support they need to pursue their goals and create brighter futures. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteers, these students received essentials to help ease their transition to college and begin this next chapter feeling empowered and prepared.

When young people are given opportunities, encouragement and a strong support system, there's no limit to what they can achieve! 🥳

10/03/2026

Behind every young person reaching for what’s next is someone reminding them just how capable they are. ❤️

For Kayla, one of our supervisors, that meant stepping up as a mentor through the Florida Youth Leadership Academy and helping Camyra build confidence, strengthen her self-advocacy skills and explore opportunities for her future.

From exploring college and earning college credits to developing leadership skills, Camyra continues to show what’s possible when young people have the right support in their corner.

That’s what our Ready to Earn impact area is all about: helping young adults build the skills, connections and confidence they need to successfully transition into adulthood and pursue their goals! 👏

Learn more at https://chsfl.org/what-we-do/ready-to-earn/

10/01/2026

It's officially the spookiest month of the year! 🎃👻

What's truly scary? A child missing out on the excitement of dressing up and celebrating Halloween.

You can help make this season a little brighter for local children and families. 🍬

Learn more and get involved here: https://chsfl.org/get-involved/volunteer/

09/30/2026

As comes to a close, we're sharing one final story from Santa Rosa County that reflects the impact of CHS' Ready to Grow impact area.

One Healthy Start mom faced pregnancy complications, a brain tumor diagnosis and other challenges while caring for her young family. With support from CHS, her own determination and a caring community, she created a brighter future for herself and her children. 💙

Stories like this remind us that when families have the support they need, children can thrive. A special thank you to our Santa Rosa Healthy Start team for making stories like this possible every day. 👏

Help create more stories like this by visiting https://brnw.ch/21x64vY to learn more!

09/29/2026

We are thankful to Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation for their generous grant of $5,000, which will go toward supporting the Be Healthy, Be Fit initiative at Mort Elementary, A UCF-Certified Community Partnership School.

With this grant, we’re able to partner with local organizations to provide cooking and nutrition education for children and families, while also giving them the tools and resources they need to make healthy choices at home.

Together, let’s plant the seeds of a healthier future for our kids and community. 🌱 Sprouts Farmers Market

09/28/2026

Four real stories. Four real families. One powerful truth: early support changes lives! 💯

Every child deserves the chance to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. These Ready to Grow stories show what's possible when families get the support they need, when they need it most. ❤️

Learn more about our Ready to Grow impact area here: https://chsfl.org/what-we-do/ready-to-grow/

09/26/2026

Every family’s journey starts with support! 💙

Through our Healthy Start program, Riley found guidance as a first-time mom, welcomed a healthy baby boy, and discovered a new purpose along the way. Today, she’s a certified doula, ready to help other families navigate their own parenting journeys. 👶

Stories like Riley’s show the power of investing in families from the very beginning. During , we’re celebrating stories like this that help children, parents, and communities thrive through CHS’s Ready to Grow impact area.

🔗If you’d like to help create more success stories like Riley’s and her family, visit https://brnw.ch/21x5Zgp

09/25/2026

Every family faces challenges, but no family should have to face them alone. ❤️

When developmental concerns emerged for twins Luciano and Noah, their family navigated evaluations, therapies and personal hardships while remaining committed to helping their children thrive.

Stories like these are the reason CHS exists. Across Florida, we work alongside children and families to identify concerns early, connect them to the right support and help create opportunities for lifelong success. Today, both boys are reaching important milestones and building the foundation for a bright future.

This Baby Safety Month, learn more at https://brnw.ch/21x5XuD

09/24/2026

Imagine being a child walking into an unfamiliar place during one of the hardest moments of your life. Now imagine having a soft, cuddly friend waiting there just for you.

That’s the heart behind our Stuffed Animal Drive! 🧸

We’re collecting NEW stuffed animals for children and families visiting our Children’s Advocacy Center in Bartow. These cuddly companions can provide a little comfort, a little distraction, and something for a child to hold onto when they need it most.

Want to help? There are two ways to join us:

- Host a stuffed animal drive in your workplace, school, organization, or community
- Shop our Amazon Wish List and have a new stuffed animal shipped directly to us

👉 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3UKRXUEGSKYFA

It may be a small gesture, but to a child who needs a little extra comfort, it can mean everything. 💙

Email: [email protected] to get started TODAY!

09/10/2026

HELP US KEEP LITTLE ONES SAFE! ✨

It is Baby Safety Month, and there’s no better time to come together to support parents and caregivers as they create safe, healthy environments for their little ones.

Want to make a difference from home and on your own schedule?

Host a Baby Safety Supply Drive through your school, workplace, church, organization, or personal network! Collect essential items and help provide families with supplies they need to keep their babies safe and cared for.

Remote volunteer opportunity 🍼
Earn community service hours 💙
Support local babies and families 👶
Collect new, unused baby safety supplies 📦
Volunteer on your own schedule ⏰

Small acts of kindness can help create safer beginnings for little ones.

Ready to get involved? Visit our VolunteerHub page to learn more! https://brnw.ch/21x5B6e

09/08/2026

Help Us Give the Gift of Comfort🧸

For a child facing a difficult or uncertain time, a stuffed animal can be more than a toy; it can be a source of comfort, reassurance, and a friend to hold onto.

We’re collecting NEW, UNUSED stuffed animals for children and we’d love your help!

Host a Stuffed Animal Drive through your school, workplace, organization, church, or personal network.

💙 Collect new, unused stuffed animals
💙 Bring your friends, family, coworkers, or community together
💙 Help give a child something comforting to call their own

You can also shop our Amazon Wish List and have donations sent directly to us: https://brnw.ch/21x5xgp

Learn more about hosting a drive and volunteering with us at: https://brnw.ch/21x5xgo

09/04/2026

To every business, organization, and individual who has hosted a school supply drive for Children's Home Society of Florida, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 💙

Your generosity is directly strengthening our community. This summer you've helped ease the financial burden on families, have given children the confidence to walk into their classrooms with pride, and have reminded them that their community believes in them.

Because of your kindness, hundreds of students will begin the school year feeling prepared, encouraged, and ready to learn. Thank YOU!

09/03/2026

A BIG BACK-TO-SCHOOL THANK YOU! 🎒

Because of our incredible community, local children are heading back to school with more than just a backpack; they’re heading in with confidence, excitement, and the supplies they need to learn and thrive.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in our Back-to-School Backpack Drive! From businesses and community partners to families, individuals, and volunteers who collected, donated, packed, and shared our drive, you showed up in a BIG way. 🥹

09/02/2026

Big things happen when we take time to come together!

Last week, our team in Greater Tampa and Greater Fort Myers joined colleagues in Greater Lakeland for our quarterly All-Staff Meeting, and it was a wonderful opportunity to connect, celebrate, and get inspired for the work ahead!

We were honored to welcome our President & CEO, Andry Sweet, who shared CHS’s strategic direction and vision for the future. Her message reminded us of the impact we can make when we work together toward a shared mission: creating brighter futures for children and families.

And, of course, we had plenty to celebrate! Our first-ever Suncoast Region Excellence Awards gave us the opportunity to recognize some of the incredible team members who go above and beyond every day.

Emilia – Rookie of the Year, Healthy Families Fort Myers 🏆
Nicole – MVP, DCM Lakeland 🏆
Brenna – Director of the Year, Community Partnership Schools Manatee Elementary 🏆
Monica – Legacy Award, Healthy Families Marion County 🏆

Congratulations to all of our award recipients! Here’s to celebrating ALL the incredible people who make CHS what it is, and to the work we’ll continue doing together for children and families throughout the Suncoast Region! 💛

Children's Home Society of Florida

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