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We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Sam, of University Animal Clinic, will be participating in our Dog Days Project next month. She will be doing a hands-on presentation on health and animal safety for everyone. You can learn more about University Animal Clinic and Dr. Sam by checking out their website. She’s got tons of helpful tips on her “Articles by Dr. Sam” page. We hope you can all join us to see this presentation and help out the local shelters by participating in our Dog Days Project. 

For our Dog Days Project, we are collecting a multitude of items to be donated to several local shelters. If you have any of these items or would like to purchase something to be donated, these are the things they are looking for. Items can be dropped of at Ed’s Tavern and CoWork. Both are on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street

• Towels
• Blankets
• Paper Towels
• Bleach
• Dishwashing Detergent
• Collars
• Leashes
• Toys/Balls
• Brushes
• Bowls
• Pet Beds
• Sanitizer
• Food ( if you have a partially used dry food bag, we will gladly take it)

SUGAR will be hosting this fun volunteer opportunity for kids of all ages. Dr. Sam, of University Animal Clinic, will come and give a hands-on experience that will teach some health and safety tips for pets. Volunteers will get the chance to rotate through some stations where they will make treats and toys to give to local shelters. A separate station will include the opportunity to fill ziploc bags with pet food. These bags will be given to a couple organizations who will hand them out to the homeless population so they may provide nourishment to their pets.

In addition to volunteers helping create all the items and being participants at this event, we will need volunteers to help run each station. Please sign up for what you’d like to do. Thanks!

Sarasota’s local branch of the Disabled American Veterans organized their first dinner party to celebrate our local Vietnam Veterans. The festivities included an awards ceremony, dinner, dancing and games out on the lawn. 
Our volunteers were on hand to assist with sign-in, drink service, singing the National Anthem and handing out the awards. Their company was loved by so many of the veterans who were graciously shaking our volunteers hands and thanking them. The feeling was mutual. Many of our little volunteers practiced their conversational skills by taking the time to individually talk with guests. They learned about which branch of the military each veteran served in, what their names were and so on. It was a touching moment to see the kids show their appreciation for our veterans and make connections with a generation other than their own. We loved every moment of this opportunity and look forward to many more chances to remind our veterans that we have not forgotten them!

Next week we will have an opportunity for our volunteers to participate in an awards ceremony that the Disabled American Veterans is hosting for some of our local Vietnam veterans. SUGAR volunteers will be providing some extra special care during this ceremony. Before the ceremony begins, our volunteers will have the opportunity to meet these special veterans, thank them, ask them about how they served, etc. We will then be singing the National Anthem, passing out flags, & singing Proud To Be An American (if they know it). They will also be active helpers during the awards ceremony by helping to handle flowers, coins and certificates. It will be a great way to start the 4th of July festivities, and we hope several of you are able to join us. Volunteers are asked to wear red, white and/or blue. Sign up here!

Our Summer Safety Project was completed Tuesday afternoon. Volunteers not only got to test their safety knowledge with Stefan Genser, a Safety Advisor from Sarasota County Government, but they also were able to put their new tips into action. We had 50 bags to complete for the Guardian Ad Litem program. Each kit would help a child have basic safety needs – a first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen tissues, SPF lip balm, water, electrolyte packages, and more.
As SUGAR volunteers assembled these into kits, they learned about the Guardian Ad Litem program. We were so lucky to have Joel Hornes come and explain what GAL does and how these kits were going to help the children in their care.
Everyone also took some time to make a special bracelet with UV beads to put inside each kit. These beads, when exposed to UV rays, change color. The idea behind these bracelets is to wear them, cover them with your sunscreen and use them as a guide on when to re-apply. When the beads change colors, it is time to put on more sunscreen! Volunteers also made one for themselves to keep them aware of their sunscreen too.

volunteers made UV beaded bracelets to help see when to re-apply sunscreen

Making the kits was a simple process!

We made 50 safety kits for the Guardian Ad Litem program

Stefanie Guido explains how to make the safety kits.

The SUGAR co-founders show what was in each kit

Stefan Genser taught the kids some great summer safety tips.

Thanks to Arsenault Dermatology for their donation of sunscreen

Selecting the special UV beads for our bracelets.

Just before the 4th of July, we will be joining the Disabled American Veterans as they honor our local Vietnam Vets. Our volunteers will be participating in so much this day. They’ll sing the National Anthem & America the Beautiful, help hand out flowers to spouses, clap as each veteran receives their award, hand out flags to everyone during a special moment, and more! Our volunteers will be given a meal and will be invited to meet these special veterans and chat with them as we all enjoy a family picnic-style party. Please join us and show these veterans how thankful we are for their service.

We have just a few spots left, so sign up soon and start practicing your singing! Volunteers are asked to wear red, white and/or blue to help bring the patriotic spirit. It doesn’t have to be over the top. Whatever you already have in your closet will do the trick!

We visited JFCS of the Suncoast Wednesday night to host their Healthy Children Healthy Families activity and had so much fun playing with the kids. Our volunteers helped run a Hawaiian themed night of music, dancing, crafts and storytelling. We all had enjoyed getting into the Hawaiian spirit while learning about Hawaiian instruments, traditions, dance and sports. Mahalo for having us!