Longboat church uplifts Palmetto partners to serve community

By Dana Kampa
| 5:45 p.m. June 22, 2025

Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., explains how Longboat Island Chapel's donation at the latest Gather and Give will support formerly incarcerated people successfully rejoin the community, among the group's other initiatives.

Longboat Key
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Shirley Pearson founded Palmetto's Strength in Action program 20 years ago when she saw a need in her community. On June 17, she and Daniel West, the newly elected mayor of the city of Palmetto, took the time to reconnect with partners at Longboat Island Chapel during the latest Gather and Give.

Pearson said several congregation members have volunteered with her organization at the Mt. Carmel Community Resource Center. She walked away with more than reconnections though, as members gave her clothing items from this month's donation drive, furniture from the Lord's Warehouse and a check for $3,000.

"I can't say thank you enough for all the good things you do for our center," she told attendees. "It is such a blessing."

The organization provides aid for necessities, including food assistance and social services, focusing on those leaving Manatee County Jail and the women's center in Bradenton. Pearson partners with Bridges of America, which offers therapeutic services to those incarcerated at Bradenton Bridge Female Community Release Center.

"It makes such when all the different organizations work together," she said.

Mt. Carmel also looks toward helping community members in the long term, offering access to educational resources for those seeking a GED or secondary education with the support of Step Up Suncoast and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

"When people come out, we want to show them a pathway, and that's what God tells us to do — to reach out and help other people," she said.

City of Palmetto Mayor Daniel West, Strength in Action executive director Shirley Pearson and Longboat Island Chapel Rev. Brock Patterson connect at the chapel's latest Gather and Give drive.

West, who said he befriended Pearson long before holding office, said these resources have an immeasurably positive impact for all residents.

"In our community, we have a lot of people in need," he said. "Ms. Shirley's program at Mt. Carmel really helps. They fill that void."

He continued, "She works with folks coming out of jail to find a way to get them acclimated, help them get educated, and help them be successful when they come out. ... At lot of times, you're out the door with no one there to guide you. The program will help those people."

Pearson noted having support and a sense of place in the community is exceptionally valuable in reducing recidivism rates.

Daniel West, the newly elected mayor of the City of Palmetto, speaks to the impact Shirley Pearson's work has had in the community.

The Washington, D.C.-based Council on Criminal Justice says the most recent report from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics shows the rate of people returning to prison has come down nationally over the past decade, and support programs like Pearson's make a difference.

The church will continue collecting donations for Pearson's organization throughout the month.

The resource center is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and for daily evening classes. Visit MtCarmelResourceCenterPalmetto.org for more about its mission and available resources.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.