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Share the spirit; help the needy
Compiled by SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 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.
Toys for Tots
MADEIRA BEACH - RE/MAX All Star is collecting toys for the US Marines “Toys for Tots” drive at their office at 15023 Gulf Boulevard, Madeira Beach. Toys can be dropped off or we will collect from homes or offices if required. Please call Keith at 727-391-9599.
Christmas meals
PINELLAS PARK – The Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission needs volunteers to serve meals on Christmas Day.
The Rev. Lionel Cabral, executive director, said also that food items are needed to provide local homeless people a meal on that holiday. “We would like to provide a good meal for the rapidly growing number of impoverished families and homeless persons living in Pinellas County,” the Rev. Cabral said. Persons interested in helping can stop at the mission, 5625 Park Blvd., or call 545-8282.
Preschoolers food drive
CLEARWATER – Residents are invited to help the children at Shadycreek Preschool collect food to donate to the Homeless Emergency Project through Wednesday, Dec. 17. The school is at 2095 Belleair Road. Items most needed are rice, pasta, tuna, peanut butter, canned goods, boxed goods, paper goods, baby food, baby formula, and personal hygiene items. People may drop off items in the large boxes in the driveway of the school. The Homeless Emergency Project is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that offers help to homeless and low-income families throughout Pinellas County with assistance in finding housing, clothing and food as well as support services to help families obtain self-sufficiency and an improved quality of life. Call Pam at 535-8512.
Hooters Operation Calendar Drop
PINELLAS COUNTY - For the fourth year in a row, Hooters initiated Operation Calendar Drop in an effort to spread some cheer to the troops. This holiday season, local residents can stop into the local Hooters restaurant, purchase a 2009 Hooters calendar and attach a personalized note of appreciation to an unknown service man or woman who is currently stationed overseas and won't be home to celebrate the holidays with their friends and family. Hooters will take care of the postage and ship these calendars out to bases overseas. For more information on Operation Calendar Drop, please visit: Clearwater Hooters, located at 2800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd, or call 813/797-4008; St. Petersburg Hooters, located at 2901 Tyrone Blvd, or call 813-343-4947; or St Pete North Hooters, located at 10400 Roosevelt Blvd, or call 727-568-0685.
Toyota of Tampa Bay food drive
TAMPA – Toyota of Tampa Bay, located at 1101 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa is holding a canned food drive Dec. 10–22 to help feed the hungry and the homeless this holiday season. Canned food donations can be dropped off in their showroom 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Food items will benefit the Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) which is one of Tampa Bay's oldest and largest providers of emergency housing and support, including clothing and food, serving an estimated 90,000 meals in 2008. For more information, call Christine Garrison, development specialist, Homeless Emergency Project Inc., 1120 N. Betty Lane, Clearwater, at 727-442-9041, ext. 110 or e-mail christineg@ethep.org.
Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive
PINELLAS COUNTY - Burlington Coat Factory, One Warm Coat and ABC's Good Morning America are joining forces to bring warmth to the needy. The Second Annual Warm Hearts & Warm Coats Drive officially runs through Jan. 16. Coats collected will be distributed free of charge to children and adults in local communities. Anyone wishing to donate coats for men, women or children can do so in the drop-off box located in the following Burlington Coat Factory stores: Burlington Coat Factory in Clearwater, located at 25813 U.s. Highway 19 North or Burlington Coat Factory in Seminole, located at 7351 Seminole Blvd. Coats should be in good condition, with working fasteners, and no rips or stains. Donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes. The 2007 Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive resulted in the collection of more than 175,000 coats for people in need across the country.
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, including 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. 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.
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 Mission, 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.
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Article published on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008
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