Elsie Crimaldi of Gulfport likes to be helpful and she stays active doing a number of different things including spending one day a week as a volunteer at the information booth at the St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport.
As airplanes arrive and passengers go to the baggage area to claim their luggage, Crimaldi is there to answer any one of dozens of questions they may have, such as: where is their luggage, how do they get a cab or limo, or simply where’s the restrooms. She answers them all with a smiling face and a friendly demeanor.
Crimaldi lived in the Chicago area before moving to Florida. She owned and operated her own beauty salon for 16 years before she decided to close it up. She then went to work for a local cosmetics manufacturer. After almost 20 years she decided it was time to retire. It was during a trip to see an aunt who had a condo in Gulfport that the idea of moving to Florida first entered her mind. She enjoyed the warm weather and having a swimming pool right outside the door and not having to deal with the cold weather and shoveling snow. She asked her aunt to let her know if there was ever a unit in her complex that became available. A few weeks later she received a call and Elsie soon found herself a Floridian.
Wanting to keep busy and stay active, she found herself looking for something to do. When she discovered she could volunteer at the airport she thought that would be fun and interesting and signed up. She she says she has no plans to stop anytime soon.
In addition to volunteering at the airport, she is active in her community, as membership chairwoman for the Gulfport Garden and Bird Club as well as an associate member of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in her church, the Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.
Crimaldi encourages others to volunteer, no matter what their age.
“People don’t realize what they can do to stay active and have fun,” she said. “Instead of sitting, they should get out and volunteer, do something.”
She believes there’s always someone or someplace like a nursing home or the zoo or the airport that could use help. And she notes it doesn’t have to take up a lot of a person’s time or be physically demanding either.
CLEARWATER - Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County seeks nearly 500 volunteers for its annual Blitz Build fundraiser, Friday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 19.
The group will build two homes in one week for Clearwater families.
This year, Habitat scheduled its Blitz Build during the week of Valentine’s Day, which is particularly fitting since the theme this year is “Home is Where the Heart Is!”
Join over 100 volunteers each day and help us transform two concrete slabs into two homes. In the utmost example of community and fellowship, Habitat Pinellas is holding its annual Blitz Build in Clearwater, Florida at the organization’s Stevens Creek neighborhood subdivision.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Resource volunteers are needed to commit to volunteering two hours a week assisting 2-1-1 Tampa Bay staff stay connected with more than 1,400 health and human service agencies and programs.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross needs volunteers to serve on Disaster Action Teams, that provide relief to victims of fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters in the Tampa Bay area.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc. is seeking volunteers to provide assistance for elders on Medicare and health insurance issues.
BAY PINES - Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center has a need for volunteers to provide companionship to disabled veterans at their homes for two to four hours, one day a week.
GULF BEACHES - Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, is seeking "beach monitors" to keep watch on the coastline. Dr. Beach needs volunteers to measure beach erosion, test for red tide and rip currents.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County is seeking volunteers to become friends and mentors to children in their site-based mentoring programs.
ST. PETERSBURG - Advocates are needed for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Volunteers (age 16 and up) are needed to help in the CASA Collection Thrift Shoppe to accept donations, greet customers, price and display merchandise.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Center for Victim’s Rights is in need of volunteers to make calls or send e-mails to let residents know that a speaker is available to them and to organize the accumulated articles, literature and other operating materials. Computer knowledge is helpful but not a must.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Children’s Home Society of Florida has started a Model Mentoring Program, designed to provide mentors for youth, ages 4 to 15, who have an incarcerated parent. Mentors are needed in the Tampa Bay area where more than 11,000 children have an incarcerated parent.
CLEARWATER - Clearwater Parks and Recreation is looking for volunteers to help with, among other things, its tutoring programs in the recreation centers, the nature park, special events and festivals, community beautification projects and an adopt-a-park program.
DUNEDIN - Faith in Action of Upper Pinellas needs volunteers willing to serve as members of its board of directors or on one of its committees - personnel and planning; budget and finance; volunteer training; public relations; grant writing; fundraising; and outreach.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Florida Department Of Elder affairs needs volunteers with computers to help lower income people obtain free or almost free prescription drugs.
ST. PETERSBURG - The Friends of Fort DeSoto is a nonprofit organization whose mission is, "Supporting the Preservation, Conservation and Promotion of Ft. DeSoto County Park".
PINELLAS COUNTY - Volunteers are sought for the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program that provides advocates for county children caught between an overburdened welfare system and an abusive or otherwise dysfunctional home.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Gulf Coast Community Care needs volunteers age 30 and older for its mentoring program. Volunteers are matched with children from single parent homes who need adult companionship.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services is committed to helping refugee and asylum children to succeed in school, reduce dropout and successfully transition from school to work place as well as improving the families overall adjustment life in the United States.
CLEARWATER - The Haven of RCS is in need of volunteers to assist in various areas of their organization. People who are bi-lingual/Spanish are especially needed.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Help a Child Inc. is seeking parent aide volunteers. While providing friendship and emotional support, the volunteers will share life skills with parents facing the unique challenges of raising children in today’s society.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Be a hero - become a mentor. Hi-Five Pinellas, an Eckerd Youth Alternatives program, is seeking those with a warm and friendly heart to become a friend to a fourth or fifth grader.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Neighborly Care Network provides life-sustaining services to county seniors in need. The network's services include meals-on-wheels, home and day care and transportation assistance. There are volunteer opportunities for all age groups.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a division of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, is a statewide volunteer program advocating for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Seventeen volunteer councils serve long-term care residents in Florida.
PALM HARBOR - Teen volunteers are needed at the Palm Harbor Library in several areas. The volunteer hours can help teens meet their Bright Futures Scholarship and other volunteer requirements as well as helping society.
ST. PETERSBURG - Palms of Pasadena Hospital is offering volunteers something fun and rewarding to do with spare time, new skills and an opportunity to develop new interests and make new friends.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Parent Aide Program is asking for help from volunteers to share wisdom and life skills with a parent and volunteer as a visiting role model to give the gift of friendship, encouragement and emotional support as a parent faces the unique challenges raising young children in today's society.
ST. PETERSBURG - Pet Pal Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter that recently opened in St. Petersburg, is seeking dedicated volunteers. Volunteer positions are available seven days a week, mornings and afternoons, to perform jobs that range from cleaning kennels and exercising dogs to answering phones.
ST. PETERSBURG - PARC is seeking volunteers for its thrift store. Volunteers are needed to greet customers, sort and stock merchandise and tag priced items.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Sheriff’s Office Volunteers In Partnership (VIP) program is looking for interested citizens who would like to volunteer at the Sheriff’s Office.
PINELLAS PARK - The Pinellas Park Boys & Girls Club is looking for volunteers to help with its summer camps. Students ages 16 through 18 can earn volunteer hours for Bright Future scholarships.
CLEARWATER - The Pinellas Talking Book Library needs volunteers to assist in providing library services to the blind, low vision, physically and reading-handicapped eligible Pinellas County patrons.
CLEARWATER - The Refugee Youth and Family Program at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services is seeking volunteers to serve as tutors, mentors and community guides to refugee children ages 5 to 18.
PINELLAS COUNTY - With more than 4,500 dependent children in Pinellas and Pasco counties due to child abuse, neglect or abandonment, foster homes are needed to meet the growing need in the community.
SAFETY HARBOR - Saddle Up Riding Club, with locations in Pinellas Park and Safety Harbor, is in need of volunteers for its equine-assisted therapy programs.
ST. PETERSBURG - The St. Petersburg Free Clinic needs of volunteers to help to assist in the maintaining of current service levels and assistance efforts.
ST. PETERSBURG - Applications are now being accepted to become a volunteer with the St. Petersburg Police, Volunteer Road Patrol and Parking Enforcement Specialist Unit.
An all volunteer organization giving free counseling to small businesses meets third Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. at Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1130 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
Volunteers are needed to help with SHINE, Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, to help people understand Medicare and provide free, unbiased information and counseling.
SAFETY HARBOR - SPOT, Stop Pet Overpopulation Together, an all volunteer, nonprofit organization, whose mission is dedicated to ending pet overpopulation by educating the public about the importance of spay/neuter and adoption has volunteer opportunities are available in a variety of areas.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation Inc. needs volunteers in all areas of the sanctuary to help with animal care, cleaning, office work, gardening work, maintenance on building and equipment, fundraising, animal food prep and staffing the guest relations table at the front gate.
INDIAN SHORES - With baby bird season fast approaching, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is seeking bird lovers interested in volunteering. Individuals interested in feeding and caring for orphaned baby birds, rescuing injured seabirds and caring for all types of wild birds are needed.
PINELLAS COUNTY - Suncoast Search and Rescue is in need of new volunteers. The not-for-profit organization provides manpower to municipalities throughout Pinellas County when mass disasters occur. They operate primarily as a mass triage team, providing on-site patient assessment and stabilization while awaiting transport to nearby hospitals.
St. Petersburg - Sunken Gardens is currently accepting volunteer applicants to assist with gardening, greeting guests, bird care and conducting guided tours.
Volunteers aid visitors to the area with directions, suggestions on where to stay, eat and play. Four-hour shifts are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m.
TARPON SPRINGS - The Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society is looking for additional volunteers to serve as docents and receptionists at its Historical Society Depot Museum in downtown Tarpon Springs.
LARGO - There are numerous, wide-ranging volunteer opportunities with The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast for individuals interested in activities that truly make a difference in the lives of people with chronic illnesses and those nearing the end of life or addressing end-of-life issues.
CLEARWATER - The Victory House Ministry, a youth-oriented organization, is looking for a female volunteer to assume chaplain duties in the evenings through its program at the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center at 5255 140th Ave. N.
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