Downtown Sarasota Alliance Wraps First Annual Back-to-School Drive with Record Community Support
Sarasota, FL – 8.04.2025 – The Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA) is proud to announce the successful completion of its first-ever Back-to-School Supply Drive, held throughout June and July 2025. We are thankful for the overwhelming support from our community partners, this initiative gathered dozens of backpacks and essential school supplies for our local students and teachers, just in time for the new school year.
“This was our first time running this kind of campaign, and the response was truly inspiring,” said Ken Jokisch, Executive Director of the DSA. “We set out to support teachers and families in our downtown community, and what we got in return was an incredible show of generosity, teamwork, and the love our partners have for our community.”
Visit Sarasota collected more than two full boxes of backpacks and supplies—showing strong team support from start to finish.
Palm Tower Suites / LabSRQ provided over 25 fully stocked backpacks, setting an incredible example for local business participation.
Crews Bank & Trust hosted a networking event that brought in donations, promoted the drive through their media team, and created an eye-catching in-branch display.
First United Methodist Church not only collected supplies through their congregation, but also partnered directly with Booker Elementary School to identify and meet the needs of students and teachers most in need.
“We’re especially grateful to Pastor Brett and the church’s outreach team for stepping up to ensure these supplies reach the teachers and families who need them the most,” added Ken.
None of this could have been done without the creative power and dedication of Alexis LaRocca, DSA Secretary, who led the campaign’s design and promotion through flyers, email, and social media. “From concept to community-wide visibility—Alexis brought it to life,” said Ken.
This is just the beginning. The Downtown Sarasota Alliance is committed to fostering connections between businesses, nonprofits, and residents to serve our community better—year-round. If your organization would like to participate in future drives or community campaigns, please reach out to us at DSA@DSASarasota.com.
Let’s continue to keep Downtown Sarasota a vibrant place to live, work, and give back.