On December 23, the collaboration between Goodwill Manasota and the Gail Baird Foundation – which has helped to provide Thanksgiving turkeys, sides and special gifts for hundreds of area veterans and their families prior to Thanksgiving the past two years – continued, this time making a significant impact on 10 area families just days before Christmas. Thanks to a purposeful overflow of 2024 Thanksgiving turkey giveaway funds from the Gail Baird Foundation, these veterans received significant, much-needed holiday gifts.

There was just over $30,000 earmarked for this effort, which helped area veterans and their families with: AC repairs, groceries (through gift cards ranging in value from $500 to $1,000), dental work, an electric bike, and a new stove, window and children's bike for a family in need. Additionally – with significant logistical and financial support from SRQ Vets – one veteran received a much-needed vehicle to replace an old, unsafe car. 

Members of the Goodwill Manasota Veterans Services team were not only instrumental in selecting worthy candidates for the effort, they also crisscrossed the community to purchase gift cards, find and get quotes from service providers, and negotiate prices to maximize the impact of the foundation's contribution.

During the December 23 gift presentation, most of the recipients were in attendance as well as representatives from the Gail Baird Foundation, Goodwill Manasota and its Veterans Services program team, SRQ Vets, and Sarasota Ford.

For the past two years, the Gail Baird Foundation has supported Goodwill Manasota's "Turkeys for Troops" giveaway, which provides turkeys, sides and special gifts for area veterans in advance of Thanksgiving. This year, the foundation provided a total of $50,000 to not only support the turkey giveaway but also to provide meaningful gifts for a smaller group of beneficiaries at Christmas. 

“While there were so many worthy candidates for this special holiday support, our goal was to find the people for whom these gifts would make the most immediate and significant impact,” said Veterans Services program manager Todd Hughes. “The goal of our Veterans Services program is to change lives through the power of work, networking, and connections to needed social services. We are tremendously grateful to the Gail Baird Foundation for its generosity and dedication to improving the lives of local veterans and their families.”

Just a few of the recipients were: Ronda, an older part-time worker at Goodwill’s Arcadia location, also takes care of her disabled husband. Her car was nearly 30 years old and required significant repairs to be safely drivable; she received a newer-model Toyota, discounted heavily by Sarasota Ford. Joseph, an Army veteran who is a retired Manatee County Sheriffs Deputy, was gifted expensive AC repairs, provided at a significant discount by FONZ Heating and Air. Chris, a Navy veteran who has been struggling with medical issues since his retirement from the military, also received AC repairs through FONZ Heating and Air. Lannie, a disabled Air Force veteran, was gifted an electric bike, helmet, and other items to help him with more comfortable transportation. Tim, a veteran receiving treatment through Operation Warrior Resolution, received a new stove, window replacement, and a mountain bike for his son, whose former bike was stolen. Ruth, a Navy veteran married to an Army veteran, experienced damage due to Hurricane Milton; the couple received a $1,000 Publix gift card. Neil, an Army veteran, has significant dental issues that his insurance would only partially cover; Goodwill’s Veterans Services team found a dental office that works with veterans and his treatment will be fully covered through Goodwill and its partners.

For more about the Gail Baird Foundation, visit gailbairdfoundation.com. To learn more about Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services program, visit experiencegoodwill.org/veteransservices.

Photo ID: Present at the gift award event were (from l-r) Eudardo Anaya, Ronda and Shawn McMillan, Todd Hughes, Lindsay Mouhot, McKenzie Baird, Eric Baird, Tim Baldwin, and Morris Andrews

About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.