Hot Links
Interested in being a foster parent?
You can also call the agency directly at (239) 226-1170.
GuideStar
Search the site to find the nonprofit information you need.
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator, America's leading independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency of America's largest charities.
GoRenew!
The State of Florida's official online renewal website for driver's licenses and plates.
Spirit of the Holidays
The Spirit of the Holidays group has been helping children and families for 15 years. Last year they delivered presents, with the assistance of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department, to 103 children and assisted 38 families in the Fort Myers Beach area.
IRS missing refunds
Where's your refund? You can find out if the IRS owes you money here.
Consumer Reports: Arsenic Found in Popular Fruit Juices
A Consumer Reports investigation finds troubling levels of arsenic in several popular apple and grape juices, resulting in a renewed push for better government oversight. Click the link above to read the complete report.
2011 Festival Of Trees
Click here for information on this year's event at the Sydney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Ft. Myers.
Lee County Port Authority
Check this website for flight delays.
Trouble in Toyland Report
2011 report on toys that could be a potential hazard.
The Passion Foundation
Our mission is to build shade structures over playgrounds in Southwest Florida and to educate our community about sun safety and the benefits of early detection of skin cancer.
Florida Treasure Hunt
Utility companies hang onto unclaimed deposits for two year. Then the state keeps them a few more years. To see if you have a unclaimed deposit visit www.fltreasurehunt.org.
Home Ownership Preservation Foundation's 24-Hour Hotline
For free counseling on mortgage troubles, homeowners can call the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation's 24-hour hotline. 1-888-995-HOPE
Consumer Reports: Homeowners Insurance Advice
Looking for new homeowners insurance? Consumer Reports gives you a break down of what every homeowner should include.
Consumer Reports: Health Insurance Comparisons
Rankings of 830 insurance plans will be available for free from Tuesday, October 4th, until Sunday, November 15th.
A new book about the 2008 abduction and murder of SWFL resident Denise Amber Lee
Denise Amber Lee was a 21-year-old married mother of two little boys and was tragically murdered in 2008. Michael Benson has written "A Killer's Touch" about the crime.
Consumer Reports: Best Used Cars
Consumer Reports' buying guide of recommending used cars.
Mom finds inspiration in son's death
Donna Arnold is writing a book about her son's troubled life and suicide, hoping it will inspire others trying to mend their broken hearts.
Credit card complaints
If you need to make a complaint about your credit card company, you need to file a report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Tips To Cut Your Electric Bill
Consumer Reports finds simple ways to cut back on your home energy expenses, including the appliances most people wouldn't think about.
Cape Coral City Manager's "Year in Review"
Cape Coral City Manager Gary King has released a "Year in Review" video during his first year as city manager.
Consumer Reports: Glass Bakeware Results
Consumer Reports' tests of glass bakeware finds some common products are prone to sudden shattering, which could result in injury. Click the link above for Consumer Reports' full results.
Visit Florida
You could win a Florida fan excursion
The Florida Fan Game
Ray Package: Hail Mary: It's late in the game and the state is down billions of dollars, so they've drawn up a trick play. Asking fans from the state's biggest football schools to compete against each other to see who can bring the most fans into the state. If a fan "passes" an invitation, their out-of-state friend can "catch" a discounted flight. The state is keeping score. They hope the state economy is the winner.
Unclaimed property database
The link is to the unclaimed property database. There is more information on an upcoming auction. Check here to see if you have unclaimed property.
Win 9/11 Quilt and help raise money for Freedom Memorial
A QUILT MADE BY A NAPLES RESIDENT AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE LOST IS NOW SERVING ANOTHER PURPOSE. WHEN ELLIE EVANS FOUND OUT THE 9/11 FREEDOM MEMORIAL IN NAPLES WAS IN NEED OF FUNDS, SHE DONATED THE QUILT TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE CAUSE. THE QUILT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT TWO LOCATIONS THIS SUNDAY AND THE PUBLIC CAN BUY A RAFFLE TICKET TO WIN IT.
Florida Treasure Hunt
Visit the Florida Treasure Hunt website for more information on the auction, or to see if you have unclaimed property.
Health Care Blue Book
Want to cut down on your medical bills? Find out what the average cost is for many common procedures. You may be able to negotiate a lower price with your health care provider. (Recommended by Consumer Reports)
Newly-released video of 9/11 rescue efforts
As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, CBS News obtained newly-released footage documenting FEMA's rescue efforts after the twin towers collapsed that day. Bob Orr reports.
Collier County Schools
Official website for the Collier County School District
Apply for free or reduced lunch in Collier County School District
The number of children that qualify for free meals this year is almost double the number from last year. Fill out the form to see if you qualify.
Collier School District has 40 jobs available in Nutrition Services
In order to keep up with the growing number of kids that qualify for free meals this year, Collier needs to fill 40 vacancies in Nurtrition Services.
Lee County School Bus Routes
Simply enter your information into this website to find your new school bus route in Lee County.
Lowe's
According to Lowe's website: "Lowe's embraces teamwork as a core value and a key ingredient in maintaining an engaged work force. We believe that by working together we can build something better — for our company, our customers and our communities. Transforming lives one community at a time — that's been the mission of Lowe's Heroes since the volunteer program began in our stores more than 10 years ago. The program encourages employees in a location to team together, adopt a volunteer project with a local nonprofit organization or K–12 public school and make a difference. "
Extreme Couponing
A Punta Gorda mom shares her extreme couponing expertise.
Surrendered Golden Retrievers up for adoption
Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS) will host an adoption event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. THIS SATURDAY, July 30, at its Immokalee shelter, located at 430 Sgt. Joe Jones Road, to place 11 of the dogs surrendered by a local breeder last week. The dogs, four golden retrievers (two males and two females) and seven Labrador retrievers (two males and five females), range in age from under 1 to 7 years old. Interest in the dogs has been high, and potential adopters are strongly encouraged to submit an adoption application and get it approved prior to the day of the event. If more than one pre-approved adopter attends the event on Saturday wishing to adopt a specific dog, a lottery system will be used. For more information, call DAS at 252-7387 (PETS).
Shoes for Kids
A Kiwanis Project for the Children of Charlotte County, Florida
Where to donate blood in Collier County
Blood donors are needed in Collier County to help the Community Blood Center quickly replenish low blood product inventories.
Lee County schools free and reduced lunch applications
Lee County schools now accepting applications for its free and reduced lunch program for 2011-2012 school year.
FPL Power Tracker
Florida Power & Light Company today officially launched the FPL Power Tracker, a new interactive online map that shows in near real-time the location of any power outages across the company’s 35-county service territory.
US Forces Fund
Hometown hero Pfc. Corey Kent is expected to return to Southwest Florida before the end of the year. The Southwest Florida-based nonprofit organization, US Forces Fund, hopes to welcome him home with a brand new private addition on the family house, but they’ll need help from the community. Corey, who’s from Cape Coral, is a Mariner High Grad.
World Exchange
According to the website, World Exchange is a non-profit international exchange organization, founded in 1985. Its mission is to foster world peace by bringing together people of different nationalities.
Flights from Naples to Miami
New regular flights offered twice a day, four days a week from Naples Airport to Miami.
Mayor Sullivan to Host Evening Chat Session Tonight
Just a reminder that Mayor John Sullivan will host his second live, online evening chat session tonight at 6:30 p.m. Participants are invited to join the City-sponsored chat forum and ask questions of the mayor. The chat session will be 90 minutes. The room will have a moderator to ensure appropriate language and commentary. To access the chat forum, go to the City's website at www.capecoral.net. A link to the chat will be on the main portal page in the top right corner.
Duck Tape Creations
A Naples woman is raising money in her mother's memory. She's making accessories only out of Duck tape!
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Log on to the FWC website for information on fishing licenses in Florida.
Builders Care
The mission of Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and disabled homeowners who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means.
CarFit
CarFit is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles "fit" them.
Teen Photographer
Matt Milligan, 15, is a photographer and aspires to work for National Geographic Magazine one day.
US Forces Fund
Hometown hero Pfc. Corey Kent is expected to return to Southwest Florida before the end of the year. The Southwest Florida-based nonprofit organization, US Forces Fund, hopes to welcome him home with a brand new private addition on the family house, but they’ll need help from the community.
Help Kelsey Roberson/Pregnant stabbing victim
Kelsey Roberson's family has set up an account in her name at Wachovia Bank branches.
Explore Adoption on Twitter
Explore Adoption inspires FL families to consider adopting children in foster care: teens, sibling groups and children with medical needs. Call 1-800-96-ADOPT.
Maintaining Cape Coral city cars
The City of Cape Coral is asking for information and ideas from local companies regarding the provision of light maintenance work for the City's fleet of 600 cars and trucks. A "Request for Information" is posted on the City's "Bid and Proposals" page on the website. To view the RFI, go to www.capecoral.net and select "Bids and Proposals" from the "Check Status of" navigation. The information must be submitted by May 24.
Cape Coral House Checks
Http://www.capecops.com/vacation-house-checks
Girls Going Places
This annual conference educates young girls about the financial and business careers available to them.
State of the Air
Breathing polluted air can seriously harm your health and even shorten your life. State of the Air is a report card on air pollution in communities across the nation. The more you learn, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make our air cleaner and healthier.
Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation
The Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is made up of a group of dedicated individuals supporting ongoing research for the Kanzius Non-invasive Radio Wave Treatment project; a treatment without any side effects. Our mission is to create national and global awareness of the potentials of this treatment and to raise funds to help accelerate the speed at which research progresses through human trials. We believe that by acting together in support of continuing research and development, we can make a difference in the lives of people who suffer from this disease.
Collier County Superintendent Search
Submit your questions for the finalists.
Donate to help with Jaleesa Gonzalez's funeral costs
Just go to SunTrust Bank and ask to donate to the Jaleesa Gonzalez fund
Donations for Jake Gelormine, 5-year-old hit by ATV
Jake Gelormine was struck by a runaway ATV. The 5-year-old suffered a broken femur, arm, pelvis, has an eye injury and skull fracture. His parents speak exclusively to WINK News about his miraculous move from coma to recovery in less than three weeks. Anyone who wishes to donate to Jake's mounting medical costs can do so at any Wachovia Bank, click on the link for information.
