By Alexis Gonzalez

Greg Cruz and Cathy Bryant are the muscle and heart of Streets of Paradise (SOP) located in Sarasota, FL. They are constantly working at their warehouse, loading furniture to be delivered to people’s homes and unloading furniture donations so they can be pushed into the homes of families in need.

With community-donated furniture, SOP can furnish up to 10 to 12 homes a week. SOP works with local real estate agencies and agents to receive staging and house clean-out furniture. They with over 30 agencies that handle the housing portion of the response. Then, the organization works with case managers and clients to get the homes furnished to eliminate the furnishing barriers.

“There was a situation where a mother reached out for help, and I knew it was something we couldn’t fulfill, but I reached out to our partners to provide the resources and get her help,” shared Cruz about their community partnerships. “In return, our partners will contact us to fill the home furnishing gaps.”

In speaking with other partners, Cruz discovered that the Red Cross Sarasota Community Adaptation Program (CAP) team was looking to expand its reach by inviting more partners to participate in the new program.

After conversations with Glama Carter, Community Manager of the Red Cross Sarasota County CAP, the Red Cross donated a box truck with a lift gate to Streets of Paradise so Cruz and his team could continue to collect furniture donations and transport the pieces to their new home.  Cruz received the final approval and the keys to the truck on his birthday. They picked up the truck the same day and revealed the new truck to his team and community at his birthday party.

“The CAP program is truly a partnership with the Red Cross. They have come in to support us in our mission. They have helped us expand our reach while we continue our work. The trust is there,” said Cruz.

Streets of Paradise has been involved in disaster relief for some time. With a community-funded shower and laundry trailer, they have been able to take it into disaster-hit communities.

SOP recognizes that hygiene and health are connected, so it offers complimentary toiletries such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving cream and feminine hygiene products at all its events and disaster responses.

Streets of Paradise move through the streets of Sarasota and to their community space inside their art gallery. The space is used for community events and a day shelter. When disasters happen, SOP brings their shower trailer to the gallery. Then, the gallery is opened as a day shelter to provide food and necessities such as a backpack equipped with a sleeping bag, towel, and other items needed to sustain them in a shelter and transportation to a shelter.

“Our strength is that we stay grassroots and community oriented. We keep our community involved with our story and mission.”