December 2021 featured holiday festivities as it does every year, but this year we also partnered with the Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County to provide Community IDs. We were also very grateful for the holiday generosity of some of our fellow community members! Read on to learn more.
We have many reasons to be thankful this fall. First, SWAG’s visionary Joan Canton is the inspiration and first recipient of a new annual award from the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. We’re also very grateful for generous contributions … Lee mas
On Saturday, August 28, 2021, SWAG paid tribute to our visionary Joan Canton. The day’s celebrations started with a Road Naming Ceremony in her honor, followed by a Community Connections resource fair. Read on for a summary and photos of the event!
SWAG has been so happy to support our kids’ learning this summer. Summer Session was a success with food, fun, and field trips. Summer SOAR provided intensive academic support to students after a difficult school year. We installed new picnic tables behind the building. And finally, we got ready for our back-to-school backpack giveaway.
One of our favorite times of the year is back-to-school. Annually, we work to get our kids off on the right foot for the school year with beautiful backpacks filled with school supplies. This year we once again took precautions against the spread of COVID-19. However, despite these challenging circumstances the event went very well!
June 2021 was a month in transition as we celebrated the end of a difficult school year and worked toward overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. SWAG’s Homework Help program brought some summer festivities to the SWAG Family Resource Center. Additionally, we partnered with UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic to bring vaccines to Majestic Oaks and Tower Oaks.
May 2021 was another exciting month for SWAG. We hosted two vaccination events in collaboration with the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic. Also, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously to name a portion of SW 61 Street and SW 8 Avenue in honor of SWAG’s visionary, Joan Canton.
In May 2021, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved the naming of Joan Canton Way. As a result, the portion of SW 61 Street and SW 8 Avenue between SW 20 Avenue and Tower Road will display the name of SWAG visionary Joan Canton.
Lots happened for SWAG this month! Capoeira students had a special belting ceremony honoring their hard work. Family Resource Center patrons participated in an employability workshop a Community Job Fair. SWAG also raised $5,750 through The Amazing Give. Community Dinner was a success. And finally, the SW Health Clinic began offering COVID-19 vaccines.
This article describes some of the resources available to Alachua County residents struggling to pay rent and/or utilities. This includes rental assistance, legal help, ways to lower energy bills, and more. For those seeking to help improve equitable housing in our community, there is a non-exhaustive list of a few local organizations you could contribute to.