One crisis. That’s all it can take to knock a working family off balance in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, especially with rent climbing, fuel prices rising, and households trying to survive on one car and two jobs. We talk with Cheri DeVries from Mothers Helping Mothers about what stability really looks like when your budget is already maxed out and why dignity matters as much as diapers.

Cheri breaks down how Mothers Helping Mothers supports families from pregnancy through childhood with essentials like clothing, car seats, and safe sleep equipment, plus something many services miss: walking alongside parents with education, skill building, childcare support, and safety trainings. Families can shop a free store every four months, and the organization also refurbishes donated computers so students can keep up with school. Along the way, we challenge the myth that people are “looking for a handout” and name the uncomfortable truth that many of our neighbors with everyday jobs are living paycheck to paycheck.

We also get practical about how this 98% volunteer-run nonprofit keeps the mission moving: social media outreach, community ambassadors, local events, and simple volunteer roles that fit real life, even one shift a month. Cheri shares ways to donate items or funds, including a monthly giving option matched up to $500 per month, plus a free exchange network that helps families trade goods and build lasting connections.

If you care about affordable family support, community giving, and real local impact, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend in Sarasota or Manatee County, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the village.