A.N.A.’s Friends strives to make an impact on the lives of youth through a vast array of programs.
Formerly known as the Guardian ad Litem Foundation — 20th Judicial Circuit Inc., A.N.A.’s Friends continues to serve children in Southwest Florida who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
Formerly known as the Guardian ad Litem Foundation — 20th Judicial Circuit Inc., A.N.A.’s Friends continues to serve children in Southwest Florida who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. PROVIDED
The nonprofit organization was rebranded a few years ago.
Jessica Stanfield, CEO of A.N.A.’s Friends, said during the rebranding they changed their bylaws from only serving children with a guardian ad litem to serving every child. With this refocus, their clientele increased by 42%.
In 2025, A.N.A.’s Friends served 2,753 with Heartfelt Hangout outreach events; 1,786 with holiday/Christmas programming; 1,601 items were distributed from the Comfort Closet; 423 birthdays celebrated; 661 emergency clothing gift cards distributed; 471 beds provided; more than 2,250 Children’s Needs requests received and fulfilled and 100% of requests inside of program guidelines fulfilled.
Formerly known as the Guardian ad Litem Foundation — 20th Judicial Circuit Inc., A.N.A.’s Friends continues to serve children in Southwest Florida who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. PROVIDED
She said A.N.A.’s Friends is not indicative of any one child, but rather for all those who are abused, neglected and abandoned.
“There are thousands of children in the foster care system that we support with our programming,” she said.
The nonprofit organization focuses on two main things through their programs – the Children’s Needs Program and Comfort Closet.
“The Children’s Needs Programs exist to give children an abundant normalcy,” she said of the request-based program. “These are certified volunteers and professionals connected to cases. They are our eyes and ears, boots on the ground.”
Requests range from a child changing a school district and needing additional help in math through a tutor, or a victim of human trafficking, who now has a child and needs help studying for her GED with a tutor focused on English as a second language. Other requests could be a child needing art therapy as they are not responding to traditional talk therapy, or paying for senior trips, prom tickets, or clothing.
“This program exists to meet a child where they are at to fill their need,” Stanfield said.
A.N.A.’s Friends will also pay for the experiences to make sure kids can participate in those special events and outings.
Stanfield gave an example of paying $19 in outstanding library fees so one student, the first to graduate from high school in his family, could walk the stage. She said unless the library fees were paid, the student could not walk across the stage.
“Where do I drop off the check? What an accomplishment,” Stanfield said, adding that now he has gone on to secondary education with the desire to become a teacher.
The Comfort Closet is an operation center located on College Parkway in Fort Myers that has two large conferences spaces devoted to tangible needs, as well as larger items, such as furniture.
The tangible needs include things like diapers, wipes, hygiene bags, toys, party packs, books, puzzles, clothing and water bottles and headphones. The larger items include cribs and mattresses, twin bed frames, mattresses, and car seats.
“That is a one-stop shop and we did that because our response times are based on how quickly Amazon can deliver. When you can come to the office, and where can we meet you, it gets the needs that these children have fulfilled,” Stanfield said.
The other section of the Outreach Department for A.N.A.’s Friends is one where every child can answer the question – what is your favorite childhood memory?
“We provide smiles and resources and try to teach a lesson along the way,” she said.
Experiences include the Back to School Bash at HeadPinz, going to an Everglades game, or the Tampa Zoo. Stanfield said they reach out to the community across Southwest Florida to partner with people who want to collaborate with them.
In the spring A.N.A.’s Friends will collaborate with the Sanibel Sea School for a baby mangroves project. The kids will receive a baby mangrove that they have to take home and nurture before later planting them and learning how they provide a defense barrier for hurricanes.
Stanfield said that is pretty powerful to have a child that has been abused to learn how to nurture something.
Another outreach that will take place in 2026 includes reaching teenagers ranging from 15 to 18 years old before they age out of foster care and are not reunited with parents or adopted. A.N.A.’s Friends will hold Empowered You, a day-long conference that will teach life skills to create a larger toolbox as they enter adulthood.
Stanfield took the helm of the organization six and a half years ago. She continues to challenge her small staff and board of where the big difference maker sits.
“How can we play a hand in making them the next generation of productive, healthy Southwest Florida citizens,” Stanfield said. “If we don’t pour into them when they are young, we miss the opportunity. That is where we really expanded the outreach stuff. We are meeting their immediate needs and leaving them with something a little longer lasting.”
She continues to hear from the community on how the organization impacted a young life. One of those impactful stories was a young man who received a handmade quilt that stayed on his bed throughout the years and remained the day he graduated from West Point.
“To us, the community, it is just a blanket, or a $25 donation. To these kids it is everything – someone thought about me – it planted a seed of hope. We have to plant them and cross our fingers they are watering the seed,” Stanfield said.
Since A.N.A.’s Friends is a 501c3 not for profit organization, all the work they do is through the generosity of the community. Donations, drives for specific items, and volunteers are always welcome.
“Cash donations make such a difference. It allows us to fill our mission, and the not as glamours work – keep the lights on and our website current,” she said, adding that when they have donations, they can swiftly buy items and make sure there is no gap. “A lot of people will do drives for us – diaper drive, toothbrush drive. (They ask) what do you need in the Comfort Closet. They will make an Amazon wish list and buy those things.”
There is currently a match up to $25,000 by the board of directors for those who would like to make a donation, enabling their gift to go twice as far.
“We want to make sure our bank account is in the place where we are not telling a child no. It has been 100% fulfilled the last six years. We are not going to stop that any time soon,” Stanfield said. “The need doesn’t stop.”
The staff of the organization runs lean administratively with only three members enabling 98 cents on every dollar to go directly to their programming. Volunteers are always needed and can do tasks from chaperoning, to opening mail, filing, inventorying what is in stock. There are also open board seats currently that need to be filled for those looking to give back.
Stanfield graduated from college with a social work degree knowing she wanted to help people.
“I have the power to impact change,” she said. “When I look at children, they have no control over the cards that were dealt to them.”
Stanfield said she shared a mission with the hopes to get people to believe in it, while making a change for kids -giving them hope, as they have done nothing wrong. She said if it is within her control, she will meet the need of the child.
“You don’t know the impact on the trajectory of a child’s life,” she said. “I went to school wanting to make the world a better place and impact the next generation of kids coming up. I really feel like I am home. It’s exactly where I am supposed to be.”
For more information, visit anasfriends.org, or call (239) 245-7787.
The organization is at 8270 College Parkway, Suite 205, in Fort Myers.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com