Nonprofit community fair coming to St. Pete March 29

A nonprofit fair meant to help the community get involved in giving back is coming to downtown St. Pete this month.

Do Good Day is returning for the second time, offering a platform for community members to explore volunteer opportunities with more than 30 local nonprofit organizations. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill.

Nonprofits like St. Pete Free Clinic participated in the first Do Good Day at 3 Daughters Brewing in 2024.

The genesis of Do Good Day emerged from a conversation about the numerous nonprofits in the area and the difficulties people face in finding ways to contribute. Meredith Pericles, founder of Do Good Day, sought to bridge this gap by creating an event that makes it easier for individuals to discover and support local causes.

“It came from a conversation that we actually had at Green Bench one afternoon after Insights, which is the EDGE’s networking event,” Pericles explained. “We were talking about how we are so lucky that we live where there are so many nonprofits doing so many different things, but it seems like people never know who’s doing what when or how they can get involved.”

Do Good Day offers nonprofits a free venue to connect with potential volunteers in an accessible interactive format. Attendees can visit booths to learn about the missions of participating nonprofits, donate and sign up for volunteer work on the spot. 

“I have a big heart for service, so a lot of these are nonprofits that I personally already knew of or have been involved with,” Pericles said. “I’ve been really focused on making sure we have a variety of organizations. We’ll have nonprofits that support seniors, kids, veterans, animal rescues, environmental organizations and hunger relief. Different things appeal to different people, so I’m making sure we’ve touched on a lot of categories.”

Pericles added that the nonprofits at Do Good Day are specifically looking for volunteers of all ages, not just monetary support. The event is designed to foster connections between organizations and the community.

“Every time you volunteer, if you make a difference to just one person, then you had a successful day,” Pericles said. 

Other activities at Do Good Day include bingo and a vintage “photo bus.”

Do Good Day coincides with an EDGE District quarterly clean-up event and Mezzo Market, a growing makers market with more than 100 vendors set up along Baum Avenue and the surrounding streets. Pericles said Do Good Day was scheduled on the same day by design, hoping to push foot traffic from these events over to Ferg’s for the volunteer fair. 

There are still a handful of vendor spots for nonprofits to join. Email info@dogooddayfl.org for more information.

Do Good Day is free to attend, pet-friendly and open to all ages.

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