Impact
Five ways to get involved and give back 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.
Grocery distribution in South St. Pete
Every Saturday, Positive Impact Ministries passes out hundreds of boxes of groceries to local families in need. Volunteers help pack boxes and load them into trunks at the drive-up distribution event at Tangerine Plaza.
Karen Rae, executive director of Positive Impact Ministries, said with people on vacation and snowbirds back up north, extra volunteers are needed through the summer to help the nonprofit continue to serve the community.
Individuals, school groups (students 8 years or older), church groups, civic groups, friends and neighbors are welcome. To learn more and sign up, visit PositiveImpact.org.
Baseball for a cause
Keep Pinellas Beautiful is hosting a Threshers Baseball Night Fundraiser Aug. 22 as the Clearwater Threshers take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at 6:30 p.m. A $45 adult or $30 youth suite ticket includes food and drinks, and all proceeds benefit Keep Pinellas Beautiful, a nonprofit with a mission “to conserve and beautify our natural environment by means of community engagement and education.”
Get tickets online by clicking here.
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Play with puppies and support a growing rescue
FLUFF Animal Rescue, a foster-based community rescue organization, recently unveiled a new 2.5-acre facility in Pinellas Park. The expanded facility, located at 7400 62nd Terrace, will house rescue operations, a resource center and a pet maternity ward.
FLUFF, which stands for “From Lonely and Unloved to Forever Family,” currently has nearly 200 animals under its care, including about 50 puppies rescued from local shelters. Founder Kimmy Chandler said that as the rescue continues to grow exponentially, the biggest need is more volunteers.
“What we need more than anything are people who are willing to pour their talents and their time into this,” Chandler said. “We need volunteers to help us take care of the laundry and help with the dishes because our staff is doing all of that right now. So our biggest need right now is hands, and I know there’s a ton of people out there willing to help.”
Learn more about how you can support FLUFF, including adopting or fostering a dog or volunteering your time, at fluffanimalrescue.org.
Eagle Lake Park Beautification Work Day
In 2022, local volunteers planted 150 trees to commemorate the 150th anniversary of National Arbor Day. Thursday, July 25, a follow-up maintenance work day will held at Eagle Lake Park in Largo to support the continued success of the project. Volunteers will assist with mulching, pruning trees, weeding, etc. Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older to participate. Minors need to be accompanied by an adult.
These efforts help make the community healthier, greener and tree-resilient for decades to come. Learn more and sign up here.
Celebrate Christmas in July and Support the YMCA Neighbor to Neighbor Christmas Program
The YMCA Neighbor to Neighbor Christmas Program is a charity initiative that spreads Christmas cheer to more than 400 families in the Greater St. Petersburg community. For more than three decades, this program has been a beacon of hope for families in need, ensuring that they experience the joys of a traditional Christmas celebration.
This year, the Y is hosting a Christmas in July event in support of its 34th Annual YMCA Neighbor to Neighbor Christmas Program. This online shopping event is going on through 17 during summer sale days: Amazon Prime Day (July 16-17) and Target Circle Week (July 7-13). The YMCA has created online wish lists for the items and age groups that are needed the most. By shopping from these wish lists, you can help stock the toy room and ensure that every child in the program receives a special gift this Christmas.
Last year alone, thanks to the generous donors who participated, nearly 400 local families and 900 children woke up on Christmas morning to a beautifully decorated tree, toys and a meal from Publix. Shopping from the online wish lists means you can participate from anywhere, and the items you purchase will be shipped directly to the Y. It’s a simple and effective way to make a positive impact on the lives of others, even during the summer months.
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.
