On Friday, August 1, Lasting Manatee (CDBG-DR) teamed up with Manatee 311 to host a table at Family Fun Night, organized by the Sports & Leisure Department at G.T. Bray Park. Fifteen minutes before the 4:00 PM start, families were already lined up around half of the event space, eagerly awaiting the free school-supply backpacks. Surrounding the free-backpack drive, children played and laughed on inflatable slides, enjoyed the free pool and splash pad, and made memories at the central courtyard’s lawn game area. The wealth of offerings primed the event for both fun and meaningful experiences.

Staff Participation

311 staff and our team arrived early to pitch their tent and table. They laid out printed materials, dozens of 311 pamphlets, Lasting Manatee QR code cards, and county-branded giveaway items for the kids. Four other County divisions (Library Services, Water Conservation, Public Safety, and Sports and Leisure) were also tabled amongst the other vendors and community organizations. It was a great blend of options for families to wander and end up casually learning more about their County government’s services.

Highlights & Community Engagement

The Mini Cortez, our 3D-printed manatee children’s toy made right at the Manatee County Administrative building, was the first item to completely vanish. Watching children’s eyes widen in excitement as we explained, “These little manatees come off our county’s very own 3D printer,” was an awesome experience. Kids were overjoyed to show off the toy to their siblings and parents, and we encouraged them to continue their interest in 3D printing by asking their teachers about it once school starts.

As kids were occupied by colorful new playthings, parents could take advantage of a moment to read our printed materials and then turn to us with their questions. Dozens of parents stopped to ask, “What exactly is 311?” or admitted, “I didn’t even know we had a 311!” We walked parents through how one quick call can connect them to non-emergency county services. By breaking down the simplicity and real-life examples of dialing 311, we watched relief wash over faces who previously thought government resources were out of reach.

We had many opportunities to discuss Lasting Manatee and its coming programs that will serve eligible low-to-moderate-income homeowners: the Home Recovery Program, and the Buyout and Safe Housing Program. Starting from discussing how 311 shares flood zone and storm-related information, a heartfelt conversation opened up between us and a mom whose own house had suffered flooding damage during Hurricane Helene. Despite learning that Lasting Manatee does not apply to her personal situation, she was excited to hear how the programs work and realized they could serve some of her loved ones who still have yet to make post-hurricane repairs. She scooped up a stack of Lasting Manatee QR code cards and, with genuine excitement, said, “Well give me like FIVE of these, I’ve got a few people in mind who could use this!” Real conversations like this one that could never take place online underscore the need for Lasting Manatee to continue its boots-on-the-ground outreach at community events.

Key Takeaways

It was evident that these kinds of family-centered events dissolve the usual social barrier between residents and government. In the relaxed atmosphere of laughter and play, parents felt comfortable having authentic conversations with government workers and absorbing information they might otherwise scroll past online. We gathered valuable feedback on community needs, especially concerning those still rebuilding after Debby, Helene, and Milton. That real-time insight will continue to shape our outreach strategy and the plans for updates to our printed information that will provide more details on programs under development.

Appreciation & Next Steps

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the Sports & Leisure Department for crafting such an accessible, fun experience; and to Stephanie Garrison (Director, Government Relations Department) for stopping by to check in with our table before capturing some wonderful photos and videos while we served the families.

Lasting Manatee will stay looking forward to opportunities to collaborate with other departments in our outreach, just as we did with 311. Overall, we are eager to turn last week’s lessons into tomorrow’s momentum.