Pinellas shares spirit of the holidays
Compiled by SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008
| Article published on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY - Organizations around Pinellas are gearing up to share the spirit of the holidays with people in need.
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.
Ruth Eckerd Hall food drive
CLEARWATER - During this holiday season Ruth Eckerd Hall is joining forces with the Homeless Emergency Project to help collect food for homeless individuals and families in Pinellas county. Just bring five cans of foods or non-perishable items to the HEP drop off boxes at Ruth Eckerd Hall and receive a $3 off coupon good toward purchase of tickets to upcoming performances: John Tesh in concert on Dec. 5, The Pajama Game on Dec. 6, The Love Came Down at Christmas Tour starring Jars of Clay and special guests on Dec. 7, Phoebe Snow at the Tampa Theatre on Dec. 10, Bowzer’s Holiday Doo Wop Party on Dec. 13, YES on Dec. 15, Peter White with Mindi Abair & Frank Braun on Dec. 17, The Nutcracker on Dec. 20-21, A Christmas Carol on Dec. 23-24, NBC’s Last Comic Standing on Dec. 29, Salute to Vienna on Dec. 31 and the Imagination Movers on Saturday, Jan. 3. Bring an additional five cans and receive a Family Four-Pack of tickets to see Mooseltoe: A New Moosical on Dec. 7 at 2 pm FOR free. Limit of six tickets per performance. One coupon can be used per performance and can only be redeemed at the Ruth Eckerd Hall ticket office. For more information on HEP, visit www.ETHEP.org.
Stein Mart Giving Trees
PINELLAS COUNTY - Dignity U Wear has partnered with Stein Mart to provide "brand new clothes for brand new lives" to children and families in need at local charities in the community. Community Pride Child Care and Pinellas Opportunity Council are Stein Mart recipients of the Dignity U Wear program and Stein Mart provides additional support to them during the holidays through our Giving Trees which are located in all three North Pinellas Stores. The public is asked to consider making the season brighter for an underprivileged area child by selecting an ornament from Stein Mart’s Holiday Giving Tree and fulfilling their wish list. Stores are located in downtown Clearwater, call 441-8829; Northwood Plaza, call 724-1850; and Palm Harbor, call 784-5767.
Community Pride Child Care offers an affordable, quality child development environment for children ages 2 months to 6 years who have been exposed to poverty, prejudice, homelessness and violence. Pinellas Opportunity Council alleviates conditions of poverty and helps low-income individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Toys for Tots
PINELLAS COUNTY - Myrtle Ave Pediatrics, 1230 S. Myrtle Ave. Suite #205, Clearwater and 250 Pine Ave. N. Suite B, Oldsmar, is collecting toys for tots.
Basket Brigade
PINELLAS COUNTY - Kytka Hilmar-Jezek, her children and several volunteers are planning to deliver 100 baskets filled with Christmas meal fixings and personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo to needy families this year. The effort is a part of the International Basket Brigade which was created and sponsored by the Anthony Robbins Foundation. Volunteers are needed not only to donate their time, food and money - but also to nominate families which they know would be helped by having a basket delivered to their door. For more information, visit www.pcbasketbrigade.webs.com, e-mail pcbasketbrigade@yahoo.com or call 727-277-3531.
Teddy Bear Roundup
TAMPA - On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire & Rescue will be on site at Motel 6 Tampa Downtown, located at 333 E Fowler Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., collecting teddy bears from the community. The goal of the “Teddy Bear Roundup Drive” is to collect new, small to medium-sized teddy bears during and leading up to the drive on Dec. 13. The teddy bears will be donated to the Tampa PD, Tampa Fire & Rescue and Metropolitan Ministries, who will use the bears to comfort children experiencing stressful or traumatic situations. Each year, police and fire departments across the country collect teddy bears to donate to hospitals, child protective agencies or to hand out to children they encounter everyday. Florida Blood Services will be accepting blood donations during the drive. Members of the community can also drop off new, small to medium-sized teddy bears at in collection boxes at Motel 6 Tampa Downtown, Motel 6 Tampa Fairgrounds (6510 N Hwy 301), Motel 6 Lakeland (3120 US 98 North in Lakeland) and Motel 6 Bradenton (660 67th Street Circle E in Bradenton) between now and Dec. 13. For more information, e-mail teddybearroundup@aol.com or call 813-892-9337.
People that Love Church and Mission toy drive
ST. PETERSBURG - People that Love Church and Mission is collecting new toys for its Free Toys for Kids event on Dec 24. 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.
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. 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 toy drive
PALM HARBOR - Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is sponsoring a Kids Caring for Kids Toy Drive, Dec. 8-18. Students are asked to go through their closets and select a special gently used toy to donate to children that are less fortunate. Specially decorated toy boxes will be located in the lobbies of both campuses for the collections. 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. The toys will be delivered by students to Tampa Bay Harvest.
Tarpon Springs public safety department seek donations
TARPON SPRINGS - The Tarpon Springs Police Department and Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue are working together again this year to help make the holidays special for Tarpon Springs families that might otherwise not be able to afford it. The Tarpon Springs Cops & Kids program’s Christmas Toy Drive will be collecting unwrapped new toys for children of all ages and Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue will be seeking donations of food and grocery gift certificates for food baskets through Dec. 20.
Last year the Cops & Kids Toy Drive provided presents to over 300 children in low income families within the city of Tarpon Springs. The department volunteers make every effort to match toys to each individual child’s letter to Santa. Toys are donated from a variety of sources including individuals, civic groups and businesses. Some donate cash to assist the program in meeting the specific requests on the Christmas wish lists of these children. The program gives the children an opportunity to visit with Santa when they receive their gifts. Santa also visits developmentally disabled adults and needy elderly residents to deliver holiday cheer and gifts. Donations should be directed to the Tarpon Springs Police Department located at 444 South Huey Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 or contact the Police Department at 727-938-2840.
Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue collects food items and gift certificates to fill holiday food baskets for local needy families that might otherwise go without a holiday dinner. Last year, hundreds of food baskets were distributed by the department to those in need right here in our own community. Donations may be dropped off at either Station 68 at 444 Huey Avenue or Station 70 on Gulf Road or at City Hall, 324 E. Tarpon Avenue. For additional information, please contact Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue at 727-938-3737.
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 WFC 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.
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.
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Article published on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
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