Caritas
Caritas was established during the summer of 1980 by Rev. Jerome A. Carosella, pastor of St. Martha Church (1973-1986).
Caritas is an outreach ministry that provides assistance with utility payments, food, transportation, prescriptions, and work attire for thousands of Sarasota residents per year in acute financial need. The Herrig Caritas Center was dedicated in 2018. The program is a joint effort of downtown churches: First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Martha Catholic Church, and First United Methodist Church.
The Herrig Caritas Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and can be contacted at 941-366-5620. The Caritas Food Pantry is no longer at First Baptist Church. It is open Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 PM. Only for people that don’t have cooking facilities. Both are located at 1645 Fruitville Road in Sarasota.
If you are interested in becoming a Caritas volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Click on Sarasota County Assistance Programs for information on other agencies that might be able to assist.