Each year the Longboat Island Chapel awards college scholarships to recipients who apply and are interviewed by the Scholarship Committee, comprised of several church members and the pastor, according to the guidelines of the Harry and Anne Ferries Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are funded to qualified high school seniors and previously enrolled college students from Manatee and Sarasota counties who have been accepted into a college or university.
Migrant Tea Program
Women of the Longboat Island Chapel participate in the Church Women United project to collect new clothing, blankets, shoes and diapers for children of local migrant workers. These gifts are presented during their annual Migrant Tea event. Children from the headstart program and a high school student or adult who has benefited from this program are also part of this Migrant Tea. Church Women United is comprised of churches in the Manatee County area and is part of their outreach service.
Community Outreach
The Chapel, in keeping with its values of love and service, endeavors to make a difference in the local community. The outreach can be in the form of cash contributions as well as countless volunteer hours. The Chapel has made a difference with organizations such as:
Agape Flights: aviation ministry transporting supplies to missionaries and disaster sites
All Faiths Food Bank: food pantry
Come to the Well: wellness/fellowship/spiritual support
Feeding Empty Little Tummies (F.E.L.T.): food service for children
Harvest House/Tabernacle: emergency housing/drug treatment for adults
Hope Family Services: rape crisis/domestic violence safe place
Hope Seeds: providing quality seeds for a hungry world
International Disaster Relief
Jim Russo Prison Ministry: residence program to reintegrate those on probation into society
Learn to Fish: residence program for victims of human trafficking
Meals on Wheels: Sarasota and Manatee Counties
Migrant Tea: support for migrant workers families
Mt. Carmel Resource Center: food, education, job preparation, English classes for the homeless and needy
Our Daily Bread: provide nutritional needs for poor and needy
Project Light: teaches English and cultural competence
Resurrection House: homeless services – laundry, medical, bicycles, personal ID
Riverview High School Foundation (CYESIS): supplies for babies as single mothers attend high school classes
Roots of Manatee County: summer program for children to experience all forms of the arts
Scholarship Fund: awarded by the Longboat Island Chapel’s Scholarship Committee
Selah Freedom: programs fighting human trafficking
SMART: therapeutic horsemanship program
Soles for Little Souls: shoes for children
Southeast Guide Dogs: Paws for Independence/ Paws for Patriots/ Gifted Canines
SPARCC: safe place and rape crisis center
Stillpoint House of Prayer: services for migrant and disadvantaged persons/Bible study/prayer groups/books for children/diapers for babies
Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.: pre-arrest alternative to juvenile court. Peer determined sentences
Turning Point: services for the homeless in Manatee County
SHARE YOUR TIME AND TALENTS
Preparing/Packaging or Distributing Food: Meals at Meals on Wheels Plus (941-747-4655), Meals on Wheels Sarasota (941-366-6693, Stillpoint House of Prayer (941-748-6835), or Our Daily Bread (941-745-2992)
Clerical/Computer/Financial Work: Meals on Wheels Plus (941-747-4655), Early Learning Coalition (941-954-4830), Turning Point (941-747-1509), or Stillpoint House of Prayer (941-748-6835)
Delivering Meals: Meals on Wheels Plus (Manatee 941-747-4655), or Meals on Wheels Sarasota (941-366-6693)
Telephone Calling: Longboat Island Chapel (941-383-6491)
Folding Newsletters: Longboat Island Chapel (941-383-6491)
Cards in the Mail: Longboat Island Chapel (941-383-6491)
Hospital/Home Visits: Longboat Island Chapel (941-383-6491)
Prayer Shawls: Longboat Island Chapel (941-383-6491)
Youth Disaster Education (Pillowcase Project): American Red Cross (941-379-9300)
Rock, Hold, Sing, Talk to Babies: Riverview H.S./CYESIS (941-927-9000 or 941-923-1484)
Helping Children and Adults Read/Distribute Books: Literacy Buddy Project (941-954-4830), Stillpoint House of Prayer (941-748-6835), or Project Light (941-745-1659)
Packaging Seeds: Hope Seeds (941-228-5660)
Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Medical: Turning Point (941-747-1509)
Fundraising: Turning Point (941-747-1509) or Mt. Carmel Resource Center (941-981-5354)
Distributing Clothing: Stillpoint House of Prayer (941-748-6835) or the Lord’s Warehouse (941-383-4738)
Distributing Diapers: Stillpoint House of Prayer (941-748-6835
Other Support Services
AA meets on Mondays at 6:00 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Alanon meets on Sundays (during season) at 7:00 p.m.