For 17 years, Sister Season Fund has helped people who work in the tourism and hospitality industry

August 22 – Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of Sister Season Fund in Key West and the organization held a pool party fundraiser that was incredibly well received.

Julie Hanson, executive director of Sister Season Fund, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the work of the organization.

The group helps people in the hospitality/tourism industry who find themselves out of work temporarily.

Sister Season Fund can step in and help with rent and/or utilities while the person is recovering.

Hanson said, “We all work together. We do fundraising. We get donations. We get grants. It’s a continuous thing that we’re doing.”

Mike Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM pointed out, “Obviously the economy revolves around the service personnel. If we don’t have them, we don’t have an economy here in the Keys. So we’re always grateful for those hard working folks and we want to help support them any way we can when they do need help and that’s where Sister Season comes in.”

Working for Sister Season Fund is quite personal for Hanson.

She said, “I, myself, was in a situation 12 years ago where I needed some help. Friends and family and even my landlady I believe said you’ve got to call this organization. My daughter did and they came to my needs. They helped me recover from an illness that I was going through, which allowed me to focus on recovering from my illness rather than stressing out even more on how I was going to pay my rent for the next month. Stress is crazy, but when you are trying to recover from an illness or an accident, you’re also thinking oh my goodness, how am I going to pay my rent or what’s going to happen here? It’s devastating sometimes. They stepped in and helped me and I said wow. This is wonderful. So I knocked on their door with a thank you and said what can I do to go forward with you guys? And I’ve been with them for 12 years. They’re my family and the people that we help in this community, we’re family. It’s a very rewarding position to be in with this organization and your heart goes out. We’re all doing so well. We’re just the middle man. It’s you and it’s other people that donate to us and come to our events and then we in turn, turn around and help somebody else. It’s one hand working with the other and very proud to do so.”

The next event will be held on November 18 for a fashion show at the Key West Theater.

For more information on Sister Season Fund or to donate, click here: https://www.sisterseason.com/