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Share the Spirit
| Article published on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 |
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Each year Pinellas County organizations work to ensure that people in need and troops serving overseas have a good Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas holidays. They couldn’t do it without the support of the community.
Share the spirit is a listing of organizations and their needs. To add a listing, send an e-mail to webmaster@tbnweekly.com
Share-a-thon
Our Savior Lutheran Church is sponsoring a share-a-thon at its St. Petersburg Campus, 301 58th St. S., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and its Clearwater Campus, 4825 East Bay Drive, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church members will gather tenderly used clothing, appliances, and toys and share them for free with the community around us. The idea is to help out families that are truly in need and provide them with articles that they could use, but may not be able to afford at this time. For more information, call Tina at 727-251-6630.
Toy, clothes drive
In the spirit of the holidays, the GMKJC, JCC and Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services have joined forces to collect donations and gifts that will be redistributed to local children, families and seniors during the holidays, especially low-income households and victims of abuse or neglect. Specifically, donations of toys and clothing for children, youth and seniors are needed.
Gift Item suggestions:
- Teens - sporting equipment, ear phones, inexpensive mp3 players, gift cards, purses, jewelry, makeup, hair products and toiletries.
- Toddlers and young children - learning toys, Playdough, jumbo Lego, stacking cups, bath toys, books, clothing such as packages of socks and underwear and pajamas in all sizes.
- Seniors – Slippers, packages of socks, underwear in all sizes up to XXX large, Depends, basic toiletries in large sizes, dish towels, and bath towels.
All gifts dropped off with a value over $100 will be rewarded with a gift certificate for two free classes at either the GMKJC or JCC locations as a great big thank you for your support.
All gift items must be brand new and unwrapped. No used items can be accepted. The gift shop opens on Tuesday, December 7, so please try to have your donations in by then. Donations can be dropped off at all local synagogues, as well as the GMKJC and the JCC. Toy drive boxes will be present at all of those locations.
CharityWorks Cup Challenge
BELLEAIR – The 7th annual CharityWorks Cup Challenge to benefit the CharityWorks Holiday Gift Giving Fund will be Thursday, Nov. 19, at Belleair Country Club. The shotgun team scramble will begin at 12:30 p.m. Contests and competitions will include three team net prizes, one team gross prize, hole in one, closest to pin, longest drive, putting, plus an exciting helicopter ball drop. Each player will have a chance to win the helicopter ball drop’s top prize – a $20,000 timeshare ownership in the Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort, donated by Dr. and Mrs. Jeffery Spilman of Belleair. Chance tickets are available to the public for $10 each. The contest is limited to only 2,500 golf balls.
Tournament entry fees are $200 for individual; $800 for foursome; $250 for hole sponsor and $20 dinner tickets for guest. Special guests will include Dick Crippen, Angelo Dundee, Phil Esposito, Mark Larsen, and Santa Claus. The hosting sponsor is BENSERVCO and major sponsors include Bentley of Tampa Bay, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Express Medical Transporters, Jiffy Reprographics, Relational Technology Solutions, Skyvues Aerial Photography, Strops Marketing, and Walker Ford. Belleair Country Club is located at One Country Club Lane. To register, visit www.charityworks.org or call 447-2064.
Santa Dollars
CLEARWATER – The Abilities Foundation will partner with Publix Super Markets and Marketing Productions during the 2009 holiday season with the sale of Santa Dollars.
This novel gift is an actual dollar bill with a trademarked and registered Santa seal that covers George Washington’s face. The seal is removable so the dollar is spendable, or can be kept as a collectible. All proceeds from Santa Dollars benefit the Abilities Foundation.
Santa Dollars are available only at Publix Super Markets throughout West Central Florida. They will go on sale Nov. 16 and will available through the holidays. Santa Dollars are the creative inspiration of Marketing Productions, a Palm Harbor company. Since 1985, the company has partnered with retailers across the United States to sell the dollars and benefit charitable nonprofit organizations. More than $25 million dollars has been raised. Visit www.santadollars.com.
Since its inception in 1959, Abilities has helped thousands of residents with disabilities lead more productive lives. The Abilities Foundation is a Clearwater-based, private, nonprofit, charitable organization that provides funding to meet the employment, housing, and independent living needs of people with disabilities. Visit www.abilitiesfoundation.com.
Holiday food drive
DUNEDIN - During the coming weeks, RCS and the Downtown Dunedin Merchants’ Association will be working together to host an ongoing holiday food drive. The Downtown Dunedin Merchants’ Association has long-standing history of supporting various social causes and initiatives to assist people in need. Their partnership with the RCS Food Bank will help restock the shelves in anticipation of a record-breaking holiday season.
The help of the public is greatly needed. Assisting nearly 6,000 people each month, the RCS Food Bank has little food on the shelves to help meet the increasing need. Throughout the holiday season, people can bring food to in-store barrels at various Downtown Dunedin Merchants. To make a financial contribution, please call 727-443-4031 and let RCS know you would like to contribute to the food drive.
The RCS Food Bank has seen a 100 percent increase over the last two years in the number of people needing emergency food assistance. As many as 6,000 people are assisted each month. The RCS Food Bank, the largest distributor of food in Pinellas County, is on track to provide more than $2,300,000.00 in food assistance to families in need this year.
Holiday drive
DUNEDIN - Best Value Cleaners, located at 1578 Main St. in Dunedin (on the north side of Rte. 580), is the drop off location for those wishing to donate food, clothing or gift items for Thanksgiving, Hanukah and/or Christmas.
Except for turkeys, food items donated should be dry, shelf-stable or canned. If you desire to give a gift item to this drive, please give a new or gently used (like new) item or gift certificate. CD players, i-Pods, MP3 players and bicycles are gift items which are especially appreciated by older children. Toiletries, bathrobes, nightgowns and a quilt or comforter for the bed are appropriate items for those seniors in assisted living facilities. For directions or more information call Best Value Cleaners at 727-657-9093.
Veterans Day Golf Tournament
DUNEDIN – A Veterans Day Golf Tournament that benefits the Dunedin Children’s Christmas Fund is set for Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Dunedin Country Club. The shotgun start begins at 8 a.m. Prizes for first, second, third overall will be offered. Also, first place for women’s flight, first for family and couples flight and first, second and third for corporate flight. Prizes will be awarded along with a sports memorabilia auction and a free lunch at Nortons on Main Street. Last year the fund brightened the holidays for about 379 children. Pick up or drop off entry forms at Paul Warth’s Flooring America, 100 Patricia Ave. or online at www.TBSN1.com. The entry fee is $75. Please make checks payable to “Dunedin Children’s Christmas Fund.”
Give thanks to our troops fundraiser
GULFPORT - The Gulfport Merchants Association, Domain Food & Spirits and “Gulf-Porch” are hosting a “Give Thanks to our Troops” Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kick off the traditional Holiday shopping season with a very special daytime event along Beach Boulevard in Gulfport. Support your local shop owners and artisans, and give thanks to our American Troops at the same time. The festival will feature art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, glass, wood, music, photography, toys, home décor, and much more. Exhibitor fees will be used to ship the goods to service members from our community.
With this collection for our Troops, they wish for simple things, nothing expensive, items such as magazines, puzzle books, reading books, gently used DVD’s, snacks, toiletries, phone cards, etc. Many items can be from your home or a dollar store. No cans or glass please. Collection boxes are located from now until Nov. 28, at Domain Food and Spirits, 3129 Beach Blvd, and Gulfport On The Rocks on Shore Blvd. For more information, visit gulfportma.com.
Shop with a Cop & Fireman
LARGO – This year Largo Police have partnered up with Charity Works to raise funds for the annual Shop with a Cop & Fireman. Charity Works is conducting a “Ball Drop” from a Helicopter on Nov. 19 as part of its Charity Golf Outing. All proceeds go to helping efforts to bring holiday joy to children in need. The event features an opportunity to win a vacation home (timeshare/ownership) in Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort. A $10 per ticket buys you a numbered golf ball. Closest ball to the hole wins the Lake Tahoe vacation home. The winner does not need to be present. Tickets are being sold in Police Chief Lester Aradi’s office. Call 727-587-6730 for more information.
Food Drive
ST. PETERSBURG - Food Drive for Pinellas County's homeless continutes through Nov. 19. Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC is sponsoring an on-going food drive for the Pinellas Coalition for the Homeless. Community support is needed. Please bring donations of non-perishable food items to the office at 3325 66th St N., St. Petersburg, FL, 33710. For more information, call 727-381-2345.
Thanksgiving Day buffet
ST. PETERSBURG - The People that Love Church and Mission Inc located AT 817 Fifth Ave N, St Petersburg, will host its 18th annual Thanksgivng Day buffet on Thursday, Nov. 26, 3:30 to 5 p.m., for those in need. The menu will include home cooked turkey, ham along with traditional sides and other goodies. The event is free to all who wish to celebrate Thanksgiving in a family atmosphere. Donations are welcome. For more information, visit www.peoplethatlove.com.
Turkey distribution
ST. PETERSBURG - The People That Love Church and Mission, Inc., 817 Fifth Ave N. in St Petersburg will distribute a 10-12 lb. Thanksgiving turkey and sides to families in need on Monday, Nov. 23, beginning at 11 a.m. Registration for qualified families continues Monday through Friday, 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. To qualify proof of dependent family members is required. Upon qualification registrants will be given a numbered ticket which must be turned in on the day of the event to receive the free turkey.
Donations for this wonderful and much needed event are welcome. Those who wish to help these families can mail a contribution or donate securely online. Another option is to purchase your donation of a fresh turkey and/or canned and non-perishables sides and bring them to the People That Love. Donations are accepted everyday of the week. Either way, you can be a difference maker for a family in need this Thanksgiving holiday. For more information, call Ken Flint at 727-421-3745 or visit www.peoplethatlove.com/donoinfo.html.
Holiday drive
ST. PETERSBURG – With the holiday season approaching, the People That Love Church and Mission, 817 Fifth Ave. N., urges citizens to play a holiday drive to help the less fortunate.
The church will provide emergency assistance for many families and individuals over the holiday season. The greatest areas of need will be for food, clothing, cold weather gear and toys for the kids. These items can be easily collected by starting a drive at churches, businesses, clubs or associations. Little effort is required other than designating a collection area and spreading the word.
Despite the difficult times, all people want to help those hit harder than they. A drive is a way to do this by privately giving what one can comfortably spare. For help in starting a drive or for other information, call Ken Flint at 421-3745.
Post 252 Thanksgiving dinner
SEMINOLE – American Legion Post 252, 11433 Park Blvd., is seeking donations for its annual Thanksgiving dinner for veterans.
Cash or check donations can be dropped off at the post. Each year the post hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for about 250 veterans under care at Bay Pines VA Medical Center. For more information, call 398-2463.
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Article published on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
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