Impact
Five ways you can make a positive impact in St. Pete
If you’re searching for a way to give back to your community, the Catalyst’s Impact Connector is here to help. Each week, we feature five organizations in the Tampa Bay area that need your input, whether that’s time, talent, items, funding or simply awareness. We’re certain you’ll find something here that matches your interests and will positively impact the community.
Volunteer for the Point in Time Count
The Point in Time count is a nationwide event that occurs every year to capture an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness in our nation on a single night in January. Volunteers are needed to help throughout Pinellas County Jan 25. For more information about volunteering with Pinellas County’s Continuum of Care organization, visit www.bit.ly/2024PIT. To volunteer in Lealman from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., call 727-851-9074 or email Monica at the Florida Dream Center at mo****@****************er.org.
Donate clothing to up-and-coming professionals
The University of South Florida has expanded its Suit-A-Bull program. Suit-A-Bull was a 48-hour clothing rental service that provided professional clothing to students to wear for events, interviews and career fairs. Now, the program lets students keep up to four items for free. The goal is to give students clothing that reflects their professional aspirations, helping them dress for future success. Suit-A-Bull needs donations of gently worn professional clothing, shoes and accessories to keep up with student need. For more on how to donate, click here. There’s also an Amazon Wish List for those interested in donating new items.
Feed local families in need
The Florida Dream Center’s Mobile Food Bank distributes food within Pinellas County to at-risk communities at four stationary sites on Saturdays, bringing the food to residents who are either without transportation, elderly, homeless, low-income/no income or living with disabilities. If you are interested in volunteering, call Melody at 727-333-1744 or email fo**@****************er.org.
Help clean up downtown St. Pete
Spend your Saturday cleaning the streets of St. Pete Jan. 27. The downtown cleanup starts at 10:30 a.m. at Sans Market, 1037 Central Ave. Equipment is provided by Keep Pinellas Beautiful, and volunteers can join an after-party at Green Ben Brewing, complete with raffle prizes and special guests. The cleanup event can be a great opportunity to meet like-minded people in the community who share a passion for protecting the environment and making a difference. If you’re new to St. Pete, it can also be a great way to get familiar with the city and make a few friends. Volunteers can sign up in-store at Sans Market or call 727-332-7000.
Adopt a Monotube
Tampa Bay Watch partners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in its statewide initiative to recycle used fishing line through a network of monofilament collection tubes called “monotubes.” Adopting a monotube involves checking a designated location once a month to empty its contents and clean/prep the collected line for recycling. You can take action to combat marine debris and protect wildlife by adopting the monotube at R.E. Olds Park Pier in Oldsmar, or one of the 28 monotubes at the South Skyway Fishing Pier. Fill out this form to request a site location: https://arcg.is/
By engaging in these five impactful ways to give back, we can empower our communities and contribute to a more compassionate society. If your organization is seeking volunteers, donations or awareness, click here to submit your opportunity. We’ll get the word out to our readers.
