Longboat Island Chapel hosts Stillpoint Mission’s new president

Every Friday morning from 7 a.m. to noon, Gary Scott stands in the hot Florida weather outside Stillpoint Mission. He mans the produce stand, giving out 8,000 pounds of food, including fruits, vegetables, teas and juices every week. 

Even though he works a full-time job, Scott never misses his volunteer shift of feeding and helping the disadvantaged people of Bradenton. 

After 14 years of volunteering at Stillpoint Mission, former President Gene Tischer, 81, has stepped down. 

Scott stepped into the role of president a week ago and is passionate about the nonprofit and is brimming with new ideas. Longboat Island Chapel hosted the two for its July “Gather and Give,” a happy hour where the charitable outreach committee collects donations for local nonprofit organizations.

“I have helped a lot of nonprofits before, but this one touches my heart the most,” said Scott. “These people line up at 4 in the morning when we don’t even open until 9. So, it is very rewarding to help them get ahead in life.”

Besides Stillpoint Mission, Scott is on four other nonprofit boards, including the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the Hernando de Soto Historical Society. 

He discovered Stillpoint Mission a year and a half ago while at an event for the Service Club of Manatee County. After sitting at a table with Stillpoint Mission board members, he was convinced to volunteer that next Friday and has been volunteering ever since.

Scott enjoyed meeting chapel members because he got married at the Longboat Island Chapel 38 years ago. The chapel collected toilet paper on July 16 to donate to Stillpoint Mission at its “Don’t Hoard The Toliet Paper,” themed happy hour. Stillpoint Mission spends about $8,000 a year on toilet paper because of the high demand for it. 

Stillpoint Mission strives to help underprivileged people meet their basic needs including food, clothing, baby and adult diapers, hygiene items, children's books and financial assistance.

“We got the idea to collect toilet paper because Lesley (Rife) heard Gene say how much toilet paper they need,” said Sandra Johnson, who organized the event. “People gave us toilet paper throughout the whole month last year so I remember bringing it to Stillpoint even after our event. I had barely parked and there was already a long line for it. I actually cried on the way home because of how amazed I was after seeing the need for it.”