In the Florida Keys, fundraisers fill our calendars for good reason. Our island chain boasts an abundance of organizations committed to the Keys community and the people and animals that call them home.
Dozens of nonprofit organizations are facing acute financial challenges for the coming year, following a decision by county leaders to eliminate half of the funding the county provides to Keys nonprofits.
But donations don’t have to be financial and plenty of the worthy organizations below depend on volunteers who give their time and talent to help people, animals and the environment.
CHILDREN
• Bahama Village Music Program has inspired the musical aspirations of hundreds of kids in Key West over the past two decades by providing instruments, education and performance opportunities. bvmpkw.com/donations
• Florida Keys Children’s Shelter is a haven for children in need as well as counseling services for youth. keysshelter.kindful.com
• Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition aims to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women, children and their families in Monroe County. keyshealthystart.org
• Florida Keys Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys throughout the holiday season for less fortunate children. Visit Florida Keys Toys for Tots on Facebook.
• Take Stock in Children provides Florida Prepaid college scholarships to qualified 6th-10th graders in low-income households in Monroe County. monroecountyedfound.com/about-take-
stock
• The Educational Coalition for Mon- roe County helps students and families facing special circumstances with basic necessities, academic support, holiday wishes, weekend food bags and more. Email christina.belotti@yahoo.com.
• Presents in Paradise operates to make sure every kid in the Florida Keys experiences the magic of the holidays. presents-in-paradise.com
• Voices for Florida Keys Children is dedicated to the betterment of abandoned, abused and neglected children in Monroe County. voiceskids.org
• Wesley House Family Services provides foster and adoptive services for the entire county including parenting classes and daycare. wesleyhouse.org
HUMANS
• A Positive Step of Monroe County has been serving Monroe County’s highest risk kids and their families since 1999. APSMC identifies unmet needs and provides services to meet them, including summer jobs, a Fatherhood Initiative and more. apsmc.org
• Active Disabled Americans is an organization based in Key Largo that provides accessible boating experiences to people living with physical and mental disabilities. activedisabledamericans.org.
• AH of Monroe County Inc. provides medical case management, affordable housing, health education, preventative services, and linkage to care. ahmonroe.org
• Autism Society of the Keys serves families in the Keys affected by Autism, the greatest health epidemic in the world today. autismsocietyofthekeys.com
• Baptist Health Foundation has many philanthropic opportunities that support healthcare facilities and programs in Monroe County. baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-foundation
• Coldwell Banker Charitable Foundation is dedicated to helping Keys residents whose critical needs are not being met through other means. gooddeedsinthekeys.org
• Burton Memorial Food Pantry provides a hearty hot meal and food items to the Upper Keys community. bmumc.net
• Domestic Abuse Shelter provides victims of domestic abuse and their families with safe emergency shelter, safety planning, risk assessments, crisis intervention and other support and advocacy services at no charge. domesticabuseshelter.org
• First Baptist Church of Islamorada Food Pantry provides residents with a sit-down, hot meal, grocery items and clothing. thecommunityministry.org
• Good Health Clinic serves as a healthcare home for the low-income and uninsured residents of the Florida Keys. thegoodhealthclinic.org
• Habitat for Humanity is a nationally recognized organization making a significant impact in the Florida Keys by building and financing homes for deserving local families. habitatupperkeys.org to support Islamorada, Tavernier and Key Largo; habitatmiddlekeys.org to support Marathon and habitatlowerkeys.org for the Lower Keys and Key West.
• KAIR is a certified food pantry based in Marathon that also provides needy families with rental and utility assistance, school supplies, transportation and much more. 305.743.4582
• MARC supports adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to understand daily community routines and learn social, self-care and vocational skills. marchouse.org
• Queer Keys supports, educates, empowers and celebrates the queer community in the Florida Keys through special events, individual resources and a community center in Key West. queerkeys.org
• Samuel’s House provides housing assistance and essential services to the homeless men, women and families of our community. samuelshouse.org
• SOS Foundation fosters a healthier Monroe County community by increasing food access and nutrition education. sosfoundation.org
• The Salvation Army provides emergency financial assistance, disaster services and holiday assistance to individuals and families in the Florida Keys. salvationarmyfloridakeys.org
• United Way of Collier and the Keys supports a number of organizations throughout Monroe County, so for those who want to spread the joy — the United Way is the place to give. uwcollierkeys.org/give.
• Womankind is a medical and wellness center providing family planning and health care to people of all income levels. womankindkeywest.org
ANIMALS
• Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit research and education center that provides a home for dolphins, sea lions, parrots and tortoises. The center also operates a manatee rescue team for the entire Keys. dolphins.org
• Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder leads and operates the only whale and dolphin stranding organization covering 10,000 square miles of marine habitat in the Florida Keys.
dpmmr.org
• Florida Keys SPCA is dedicated to the humane treatment of all animals through compassionate care, adoption, education, population control and humane law enforcement. The SPCA has campuses in Key West and Marathon with adorable furry faces. fkspca.org
• Florida Keys Wild Bird Center rescues, rehabilitates, shelters and releases wild birds that have been displaced or harmed. keepthemflying.org
• Forgotten Felines of the Florida Keys’ primary goal is to trap, spay/neuter and treat homeless and abandoned cats. The group practices the humane TNR method: trap, spay/neuter and return. Adoptions of cats and kittens are offered when available. forgottenfelinesofthefloridakeys.com
• Key West Wildlife Center provides a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center with a 6-acre park for viewing native birds in the wild. keywestwildlifecenter.org
• Marathon Wild Bird Center’s sole purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and release both migratory and resident wild birds when they become sick, injured or orphaned. marathonwildbirdcenter.org • MarrVelous Pet Rescues provides care and treatment for abandoned and stray pets. mprescue.org.
• Pawsitive Beginnings provides a safe and happy home to foxes that have been saved from fur farms, all while supporting local children with a new animal therapy den. pawsitivebeginnings.org
• Payton’s Promise Sanctuary provides a “soft place to land” for dogs who are homeless, have special needs, are nearing end-of-life or are otherwise difficult to adopt. paytonspromisesanctuary.org
• The Turtle Hospital is a fully-functioning veterinary hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. The center rescues, rehabs and releases sea turtles in the Florida Keys. turtlehospital.org
• Upper Keys Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that provides food, shelter and medical care and adoption services for unwanted abandoned animals. ukhsociety.org.
ENVIRONMENT
• Conch Republic Marine Army volunteers remove shoreline trash and restore marine habitats. Learn more about their efforts at conchrepublicmarinearmy.org
• Coral Restoration Foundation restores coral reefs on a massive scale, educates on the importance of our oceans, and uses science to further coral research. coralrestoration.org
• I.CARE brings together local businesses, residents and visitors in the restoration and maintenance of our coral reef communities in Islamorada. icareaboutcoral.org
• MarineLab uses education and adventure in the Florida Keys ecosystem to foster environmental awareness and stewardship. marinelab.org
• Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the world’s leading marine science, research and education organizations and has a major presence and commitment to the Florida Key. mote.org
• Pigeon Key Foundation protects the cultural history of the Keys while serving as a marine science and education facility for youth locally and from around the world. pigeonkey.net
• Plant a Million Corals sets out to ensure the survival of our reefs globally by reproducing fast growing and resilient corals, and by providing education on coral reefs. plantamillioncorals.org
• Reef Relief is dedicated to improving and protecting our coral reef ecosystem through research, education, advocacy, public awareness and eco-tourism. reefrelief.org
• Reef Renewal USA is dedicated to improving and protecting our coral reef ecosystem through research, education, advocacy, public awareness and eco-tourism. reefrenewalusa.org
• R3EACH involves Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation of the threatened marine species and Education and Awareness for Communities about the fragile marine habitats that make up the Florida Keys. floridakeysaquariumencounters.com (Click “Conservation” tab)
• Reef Environmental Education Foundation protects marine life worldwide through education, service and research. reef.org.
