Share the Spirit
Pinellas provides for needy
| Article published on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 |
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Each year Pinellas County comes together as one big family to make sure people in need have a little something extra for the holidays.
Share the spirit is a listing of organizations, their needs and the many events going on to support the cause.
To add a listing, send an e-mail to webmaster@tbnweekly.com.
Clothes, Food and Toy Drives
Toys for Tots
The Morris F. Dixon Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Clearwater is preparing for the 2009 Toys for Tots campaign, with the goal of serving 1,500 families in the upper Pinellas County area with toys for the holidays. Additional volunteers are welcome. Call 392-2329 or e-mail mkristal@tampabay.rr.com or visit www.mcleagueclearwater.com.
Toys for Tots
The Aquatics Division of the City of Largo Recreation, Parks and Arts Department invites the public to attend the holiday water show, “A Giving Season,” on Saturday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m. Admission is an unwrapped toy or cash donation to be given to the Toys for Tots charity. The Southwest Pool is located at 13120 Vonn Road, Largo 33774. For more information, call 727-644-6979 or visit www.LargoPools.com.
Toys for Tots
Ice Cold Air, a Pinellas-based auto repair franchise with 17 bay area locations, is trading free oil changes or $20 in auto repair service to any customer who brings in a new, unwrapped toy for the Marines’ Toys for Tots program through Tuesday, Dec. 15. According to Tina Denham, president of Ice Cold Air, this is the fourth year the business has joined with the Marines and Toys for Tots program. Last year, Ice Cold Air’s customers donated 1,100 toys for the less fortunate children in the community. Customers have the option of trading the new toy at the time of their service or exchanging it for a $20 voucher on a future oil change or service. Donations will be accepted at all 17 Ice Cold Air locations. The toys must be in the original packaging and unwrapped. Those wanting to take advantage of this special should call or stop by any Ice Cold Air location. Visit www.icecoldair.net for a list of locations.
Food drive
The Pinellas Park Employee Wellness Program and The Walk for Hope Charity have launched a food drive for the city’s homeless shelters and food pantries. Nonperishable items may be dropped off at the Police Administration Building, 7700 59th St.; Pinellas Park Public Library, 7770 52nd St.; Forbes Recreation Center, 6401 94th Ave.; City Hall, 5141 78th Ave.; Broderick Recreation Center, 6101 66th Ave.; Fire Station 33, 5000 82nd Ave. or Fire Station 34, 6565 94th Ave. Call police Sgt. Tracey Schofield at 647-0175.
Food drive
The GWFC Seminole Junior Woman’s Club is hosting its 11th annual Share the Spirit food drive to help needy children in area schools. Last year the club supplied over 30 baskets to families. The club will be putting together the food baskets that will be given to the local elementary schools for the children and their families. The club needs community help with donating from local businesses, social clubs, service clubs, school clubs, and individual families. Those interested should contact the club for a suggested shopping list. Contact Michele Abramo at 399-0587 or Patricia Collins at 687-3077.
Canned goods drive
Seminole City Councilor Leslie Waters is conducting a canned goods drive through Dec. 12. All products will be donated to Seminole churches and Salvation Army food pantries. Donations can be dropped off at Seminole City Hall, 9199 113th St.; the dental office of Dr. Sandra Lilo, 8300 113th St.; Hottin’s Trophies, 9275 Park Blvd.; and Waters’ home, 7110 Augusta Blvd., Seminole.
Food drive
During the coming weeks, RCS and the Downtown Dunedin Merchants’ Association will be working together to host an ongoing holiday food drive to help RCS Food Bank restock the shelves in anticipation of a record-breaking holiday season. 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.
Food drive
Sears Home Appliance Showrooms around the nation will welcome the holiday season by sponsoring food drives to benefit local food banks and non-profit organizations in their communities throughout November and December. The Largo Sears Home Appliance Showroom teams will receive donations of canned and boxed non-perishable food items through Dec. 31. Customers are encouraged to drop non-perishable canned and boxed food items as well as other needed products, such as diapers, paper towels, handy wipes, latex gloves, etc. in the donation boxes located at their Largo Sears Home Appliance Showroom, 10757 Ulmerton Road during business hours. The donations will be distributed to local food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, etc.
Food, clothing and gifts drive
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.
Toy, clothes drive
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. 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.
Miscellaneous
Elves for Elders
Residents can get into the holiday spirit a few weeks early this Christmas Season with the Elves for Elders program at Bealls in Largo Mall. Patrons can pick a tag off the tree in Beall's Department Store with the name of a needy senior or disabled person on it along with their wish list. The next step is to buy an item or two and return the gifts unwrapped to any register at Bealls by Dec 1st. The project provides gifts for elders and disabled persons who are wards of the state and who have no funds or family to provide them basic necessities or a gift at the holidays.
Santa Dollars
The Abilities Foundation is partnering 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. Visit www.santadollars.com.
Rosenkrans Memorial Toy Run
Jim’s Harley-Davidson of St. Petersburg will host the 22nd annual Jim Rosenkrans Memorial Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 6, from Jim’s Harley-Davidson, 2805 54th Ave. N., on a pre-determined route through St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach and Pass-A-Grille. Participants will leave the dealership at 10 a.m. All participants must furnish a new, unwrapped toy or give a $15 donation. Bring in four cans of food and receive a commemorative drink coolie. Preregistration is under way and ends Friday, Dec. 4. For more information, call 526-JIMS (5467).
One Warm Coat
Burlington Coat Factory, One Warm Coat and Good Morning America, are joining forces to bring warmth to those in need this winter. The Third Annual Warm Coat & Warm Hearts Drive runs through Jan. 15, 2010. Coats collected by the store at 7351 Seminole Boulevard in Seminole will be distributed to the needy by MetroMinistry. Good Morning America kick off the coat drive on air on Monday, Nov. 23, reaching out to its millions of viewers reminding them to bring gently-worn coats to Burlington Coat Factory store locations nationwide. The 2008 Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive resulted in the collection of more than 177,000 coats for people in need across the country. All three partners believe that number will increase this year. Coats should be in good condition, with working closures, and no rips or stains. Donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes and, as a thank you, a coupon for 10 percent off their next Burlington Coat Factory purchase through Dec. 24, 2009. For more information or to find a list of Burlington Coat Factory stores, visit www.abcnews.com/gma or www.BurlingtonCoatFactory.com. For more information about One Warm Coat, visit www.onewarmcoat.org.
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Article published on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009
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