Hardee County commissioners hear eight nonprofits describe services and funding needs; ranking set for Feb. 5

Hardee County commissioners heard presentations from eight local nonprofits on a range of services — from homelessness and food distribution to mentoring, mental-health care, senior services and animal rescue — and were asked to consider grants from a $20,000 budget line while staff outlined the process to rank applicants at the Feb. 5 meeting.

Highlights from the presentations included Hannah House's client testimonials and residential services, Big Brothers Big Sisters's mentoring matches and planned Resilia Youth program, Cutting Edge Ministries's food-bank operations and disaster response, Peace River Center's crisis and victim services, Hardee Help Center's pantry and disaster hub work, New Hope Elder Care's waiting lists for homemaking and personal care, and Rascal Rescues's early-stage animal-rescue activities.

Hannah House (Alpha & Omega Freedom Ministries) executive director Ms. Tibbs read testimonials from program graduates and said the organization provides housing and case work for women and children; she told the board the house currently houses about 15 residents and asked for $2,500 to support transportation, housing and utility needs. "They didn't just give me a place to stay. They gave me the tools to rebuild my life," a client excerpt read.

Big Brothers Big Sisters representatives said the Suncoast agency serves roughly 70 youth in the Hardee area (36 active matches with about 27 waiting) and is seeking support to expand classroom and resilience programming. Presenter Jamie Thompson described plans for a Resilia Youth series aimed at anxiety and emotional regulation and a Beyond School Walls career-readiness program tied to local employers.

Pastor Wendell Smith of Cutting Edge Ministries detailed a large food-distribution operation that served about 18,200 people in 2025 and provided an estimated 75,000 meals; he described warehouse expansion plans and said operating expenses were significant (a packet noted estimated expenses near $154,000). "We were the only distribution center still operating after the 2004 hurricanes," he said, emphasizing the group's disaster role.

Jessica Lawson of Peace River Center said the agency provided roughly $1.8 million in services connected to Hardee County clients and that about 846 county residents received behavioral-health services; Peace River requested $8,000 to support local service delivery and highlighted its mobile crisis response and shelter-based victim services.

Lori Fiers of the Hardee Help Center described an array of short-term assistance (utility and rental aid, a Shop-with-Dignity pantry, homeless services) and requested $7,200 to continue contracted social-media outreach that has increased donations and client engagement.

Debbie Slade of New Hope Elder Care, the lead agency for elder services, outlined a mandated Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) match requirement and asked the commission for $20,000 total: $5,852 to meet the required local match and $14,176 for extra services that would fund about 433 hours of care and reduce waiting lists (which currently include 49 clients waiting for homemaking services, 45 waiting for personal care and 31 for respite).

Tessa Graham and Mark from Rascal Rescues said the new rescue is caring for about 60 dogs and asked the commission to consider assistance for veterinary and operational costs; they described microchipping, spay/neuter and heartworm treatment needs and estimated monthly feeding costs of about $1,000.

County staff reiterated the next steps: the board will rank the eight applicants at its Feb. 5 meeting using a provided ranking sheet, then vote on funding amounts individually; the county attorney and manager will prepare a resolution and agreements specifying allowable uses and reporting requirements for any awards. The $20,000 line item is currently in the budget; commissioners may move additional funds from contingency with a budget amendment if they choose to award more.

Commissioners praised many of the programs but debated the appropriate total to make available in year one. Several members asked for more time to review applicant budgets and to consider whether to increase the charitable-contribution budget beyond the $20,000 line item.