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Help needed to brighten holidays
Compiled by SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY - Organizations around Pinellas are gearing up to share the spirit of the holidays with those less fortunate.
Tampa Bay Newspapers online staff is compiling a list of organizations hosting fundraisers, food drives, toy drives or other events to help spread some holiday cheer this season.
Groups and organizations are welcome to send information about events to webmaster@tbnweekly.com. Please put Share the Spirit in the subject line of the e-mail.
People that Love Church and Mission needs help
ST. PETERSBURG - People that Love Church and Mission is seeking help to provide Thanksgiving basket. The mission had projected helping 200 families with baskets this year. On Nov. 24, the mission announced that 300 families had signed up for a basket. Donations of turkeys have fallen short, so the mission will need to purchase the extras as well as canned food. Donations are needed of 10 to 12 pound turkeys, food items and cash. The organization also will serve its annual Thanksgiving buffet on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. at the mission. It could use 20- to 25-pound turkeys for the event. Donations may be delivered or mailed to That Love Church and Missiion, Inc., 817 5th Ave N, St Petersburg, FL 33701-2106. For more information, call Jeff Poresky at 727-480-2699 or visit www.peoplethatlove.com. The mission also is collecting new toys for its Free Toys for Kids event on Dec 24.
Mission seeks Thanksgiving volunteers
PINELLAS PARK – The Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, 5625 Park Blvd., needs volunteers to serve Thanksgiving dinner between 1 and 4 p.m. Persons interested should call 545-8282 or show up at the mission Thanksgiving Day at about noon for orientation.
Oakhurst UMC Thanksgiving dinner
SEMINOLE – For those who find themselves separated from family or friends this Thanksgiving, a traditional turkey dinner will be served on Thursday, Nov. 27, 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Oakhurst United Methodist Church, 13400 Park Blvd. The church’s hospitality and celebration teams will provide the food and cook the meal. While there is no charge for dinner, a donation of $5 is encouraged to help underwrite the cost. Reservations must be made by Nov. 19. Call 391-4769.
Beach Community Food Pantry seeks donations
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – The Beach Community Food Pantry at Calvary Episcopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach has had record numbers of people stopping by for a helping hand. Thus, an urgent appeal is now under way for donations of money and nonperishable food items. Calvary’s Holiday Meal Ministry is under way for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Holiday meals will be provided for the neediest families designated by Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Donations for this may be taken to the church and earmarked “Holiday Meals.” The Beach Community Food Pantry at Calvary Episcopal Church is at 1615 First St. (behind Guppy’s) Food can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Checks can be made payable to Calvary Episcopal Church and designated to benefit the food pantry.
Donations needed for giant canned food Menorah
ST. PETERSBURG – The Jewish community will celebrate Chanukah with the kindling of a Giant Canned Food Menorah on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m., at South Straub Park. Several dignitaries and local officials will be on hand to join in the Chanukah celebration and deliver holiday greetings. The menorah lighting will be preceded by the kindling of the flame of unity, peace and freedom. The program also will feature Chanukah music, traditional hot latkes, dreidels and Chanukah kits.
The Chabad Jewish Center is introducing an innovative and meaningful way to celebrate Chanukah. The project shares the message and warmth of Chanukah beyond the festivities by donating over hundreds of cans of food that was used for the construction of the Can Food Menorah, to local homeless shelters and food pantries for the poor.
Donations are being accepted towards the purchase of large size institutional cans forming the base of the menorah as well as standard size cans for the eight branches. Donations earmarked for this project can be mailed to the center at 6151 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Call Rabbi Korf at 344-4900 or 510-9180.
Palm Harbor Montessori Academy food drive
PALM HARBOR - In the spirit of giving during this special time of year, Palm Harbor Montessori Academy has selected Tampa Bay Harvest and RCS Food Bank as this year’s recipients of its annual food drive through Nov. 25. The academy is asking families to donate healthy foods such as canned meats, low sodium soups and stews, whole grain pastas, brown rice, low salt or no salt, no sugar, peanut butter and 100 percent fruit juices. Large bins will be placed at both campuses to collect the donations. The Nebraska Campus is located at 2355 Nebraska Ave. Call the office at 727-786-1854. The East Lake Campus is located at 1961 East Lake Road. Call the office at 781-8980.
Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club gift program
TREASURE ISLAND – The Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club is seeking donations of Christmas gifts for unadoptable children at Hope Children’s Home in Tampa. Unadoptable children are kids who have parents not always able to care for them. Persons interested in sponsoring a child should call Barbara at 542-7742 or Beverly at 360-3036. Deadline for donations is Nov. 30. A dinner and party with the children is planned at the yacht club Thursday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m. Cost is $40 a person, $60 a couple.
Tarpon Springs Police seek toy donations
Tarpon Springs Police Department’s Cops & Kids Program needs donations to assist in purchasing and distributing toys to local at-risk and disadvantaged children. Last year toys were provided for more than 300 needy children in Tarpon Springs. The Cops & Kids Christmas program has been in existence since the early 1990’s and has been supported by Tarpon Springs’ residents and business community. Each child gets to visit with Santa at the Police Station and receives a bag of toys that match as closely as possible the child’s letter to Santa. This year’s give away will be held on Dec. 23 and toys and donations will be accepted at the Police Department, located at 444 S. Huey Avenue in Tarpon Springs, until Dec. 20. For information about the Cops and Kids program, please contact the Tarpon Springs Police Department at 727-938-2840.
Patchington pajama drive
PINELLAS COUNTY - This holiday season Patchington is sponsoring a pajama drive for women and children who have been victims of Domestic Violence. From Nov. 19 through Dec. 12, Patchington at Belleair Bluffs, Northwood Plaza, Clearwater and Isla Del Sol are collecting new pajamas for women and children. All pajamas will be donated to CASA. Sales associates at each storm also will have a list of other personal items that may be donated.
GWFC Seminole Junior Woman’s Club food drive
SEMINOLE – The GWFC Seminole Junior Woman’s Club seeks donations for its 10th annual Project Need food drive that provides holiday food baskets to children of needy families. The club seeks local businesses, social clubs, service clubs, school clubs or individual families to donate food for these children. Donations will be matched in a basket with a turkey or a ham by the club. The club works through social workers and guidance counselors in the Pinellas County Schools to target children in need. Deadline for donations is Dec. 12. For more information, contact Michele Abramo at 399-0587 or Patricia Collins at 687-3077.
Corey Area Business Association food and gift drive
ST. PETE BEACH - Corey Area Business Association is hosting a benefit, "Local Families in Need" during the month of November. Please bring a canned good - non perishable food or personal hygiene item to help the cause. Drop off is at Lemuria Gifts Books & Healing Arts, 350 Corey Avenue, on the corner of Blind Pass Rd and Corey Ave. Lemuria will be collecting items during the month of November for local families in need during the holiday season. For more information, call 366-2003 or visit www.coreyave.com.
Elves for Elders Wish Trees
PINELLAS COUNTY - Elves for Elders is looking for help to provide some holiday spirit for individuals who are wards of the court and have no family or funds to pay for clothing, toiletries or personal items. Guardians have created a list of each ward's needs and wishes and placed them on a tag. The tags are on trees at Bealls Store in Seminole Mall and Bealls Store in Largo Mall. This project is sponsored by Aging Solutions Inc., the office of the public guardian and Better Living for Seniors, which is affiliated with the Area Agency on Aging. Items should be returned to the malls by Friday, Dec 5. For more information, call 442-1188.
Give Thanks to Our Troops fundraiser
GULFPORT - The Gulfport Merchants Association is hosting a "Give Thanks to our Troops" Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Collection boxes will be through Nov. 29, at Domain Food and Spirits, 3129 Beach Blvd, and Gulfport On The Rocks on Shore Blvd.
The following items are a sample of our Troops Wish List: Unbreakable holiday ornaments, magazines, travel games, footballs, checkers, chess, cards, dice, gum, dental hygiene items, batteries, international phone cards, deodorant, vitamins, hand sanitizer, combs, wrapped candy, razors, cookies, soft cover books, crossword puzzle books, stationary and pens, spices, coffee, bug repellent, fly swatters, foot powder, tissues, wet wipes (important), skin lotion, sunglasses, cake mixes with pans, pizza mixes with pans, powdered drink flavors, socks, T-shirts and more.
Please note: Soldiers are not allowed to receive newspapers or magazines that might report on events outside their own base, liquid beverages, alcohol, x-rated material, or pressurized items. Please avoid donating items in glass or cans, Plastic containers are best. Pork and pork by-products are not allowed to be shipped to most Middle East combat locations. Just remember to send 100 percent beef jerky and none containing pork. Troops are also prohibited from receiving homemade food; everything must be pre-packaged. Toiletries are not in as high a demand as they once were.
Donors are encouraged to sign a card of encouragement. Anyone with a family member deployed in Iraq should provide information so they can receive boxes. For more information, call Suzie at 727-322-5217 or e-mail Gulfportevents@gmail.com.
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Article published on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008
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