MANATEE COUNTY - “I’m pretty well known as Santa," admits Santa Steve.

MANATEE COUNTY - Greg LaPensee, his wife Carlee and their two sons, Chandler and Preston were well known throughout the community in Manatee County.

SARASOTA - It’s been said a mother’s love is like nothing else. 

SARASOTA - Stephanie Harper-Wilson’s late husband called their home the tree house.

SARASOTA - If the smells coming from Rise & Nye’s don’t get you in the front door, the story behind it will.

BRADENTON - Knowing many of them will eventually pass, Gini White only takes in the sickest foster children.

BRADENTON - David Randall was completely healthy, serving in the military, but he says two years into his service something was off.

MANATEE - Mark Rice and Dan Gonzalez grew up together, and they say they are more like brothers than friends.

MANATEE - He’s been through a lot this year, to say the least, and instead of asking for help, he gives it. Skip Mahoney is our August recipient of A Helping Hand. 

Jess Marie's talent spans the whole makeup spectrum. She's made countless people, including SNN's Hallie Peilet, feel their most beautiful.

SARASOTA - Many small businesses took a big hit from the pandemic, but a local artist has never lost hope and even has used her talents to help others. 

MANATEE - A Suncoast man takes his own family tragedy and turns it into a way to better the future of law enforcement. 

BRADENTON - Life is forcing us to stop what we’re doing and slow down right now. But one Suncoast mom is only gaining momentum in her mission to change the world. 

BeTriForUs is a non–profit committed to promoting differently–abled athletes one race at a time.

SNN's Hallie Peilet introduces us to our February recipient of a helping hand.

SARASOTA - Ivonne Lizarazo is no stranger to grief. She lost two of her best friends to suicide nine months apart.

Bradenton Resident Jose Cruz has spent at least ten years putting others before himself.

SARASOTA - It was Goodwill Veterans Services that brought Billy Nobles and Bryan Jacobs together, when Nobles heard about Vets 2 Success.

 SARASOTA - Amy Hendel Mahlios always led an active lifestyle.

LAKEWOOD RANCH - “My first symptoms started in July 2009. It’s crazy to think that was a decade ago," Kevin Swan said.

SARASOTA - Hope 4 Communities Executive Director Pam Hawn says the idea came to her in 2009.

BRADENTON - It’s been a long five months for Antoinette Goggins and Anthony Edwards. Their son Ahmad was born at 36 weeks when Goggins was induced because of pre-eclampsia.

"He’s the kinda guy that you’ll sit across the bar from or next to drinking a beer, and you’ll feel like you’ve known him for a million years," Brew Life Brewing Owner Mick Cohn said about his friend, Brian 'BK' Klimek.

Lauren Hanrahan teaches third grade at Englewood Elementary. She was on maternity leave and noticed her hearing was a little off.

October 24, 2003: The night Melissa Wandall’s life changed forever.

North Port High School Junior Wendy Renoit has a vision board in his room, with medals and photos.

“Basically these remind me to keep on going, to try and get more,” Renoit said.