All Veterans have the opportunity to successfully reintegrate into civilian life and all Military and First Responders can maintain healthy productive lives. Help us reach that goal by helping to improve the lives of Military and First Responders with supportive services, access to local resources and by building community. Lutz Buddy Up! meets every third Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at DAV 97, 7177 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information, contact Todd at [email protected] or at 863-263-2461. Visit online at lutzlivetotell.org.

Sarasota County is holding their 2026 Stand Down from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. The event will be at the Health and Human Services Center, 2200 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota. You do not have to live in Sarasota to attend this event. 

There will be a Veterans Amnesty Court, which is for closed cases only. The judge will review for 12th judicial circuit court closed cases only to determine if they can waive fines or fees still owed to the court. If you are interested in attending, please notify Jessica McVay with Courts Assisting Veterans at 941-445-7559.

All services are free to Veterans in need. There will be information about VA Benefits and Services and Housing, Employment and Transportation assistance. There are medical and dental screenings, haircuts and grooming and showers and hygiene kits. Hot meals and refreshments as well as raffles and giveaways will be available. 

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Beginners are welcome at the new Dragon Boat Racing League at Nathan Benderson Park. This 8-week league designed for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.  This is a fun, high-energy way to get on the water, build community and train.

The Dragon Boat Racing League (DRBL) is an 8-week course from Feb. 23 through April 18, 2026. Practice is once per week. Team practice times will be coordinated once teams are set. Final event is Race Day on April 18 at the Sarasota Dragon Boat Festival. No experience is needed. The fee is $175 per person which includes coaching, equipment, team jersey, festival registration and a team tent.

There are three ways to register:

1. Register as a solo paddler: Perfect if you want to join in and you will be placed on a team.
2. Register as a whole boat or start your own team: Bring your community, neighborhood, club, gym or workplace and enter as a full team. Discounted per-person pricing applies when registering a full boat.
3. Register multiple people under one name: Want to make sure you're on the same team with friends, family or co-workers? You can enter multiple participants under your registration so you stay together.

Sign up or learn more at www.nathanbendersonpark.org/dbrl. Practices start the week of the 23rd but registration can be completed after that date IF there is remaining room in the boats.

Legal clinics will be available at Manatee County Veterans Services, 1401 3rd Ave. W, Bradenton, from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month in 2026. All services will be provided on a first come, first serve basis with the last application being accepted at 11:45 a.m. Legal assistance offered at no cost to income-qualified Veterans. For additional information, please contact the MLP appointment line at 727-398-9592. Legal services are provided by Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm. Areas of law include: family law, consumer protection, advanced directives, relative caregivers, housing, senior legal services, seal or expunge records, driver's license and other civil and legal needs.