YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg announced the appointment of Kimberly G. Jackson, Esq., as Chair of its Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term. Jackson has served on the YMCA's Board of Directors since early 2018 and has a background in law, education and advocacy. She currently serves as Executive Director at the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS).
Pinellas County residents can help secure critical funding and inform public policy to help end homelessness by volunteering with the Homeless Leadership Alliance during its Point in Time Count event Thursday, Jan. 25. The initiative is an annual, national event that provides a snapshot of those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in the county. Collected data is sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Florida Department of Children and Families to help secure millions in resources. For more information, visit the website here.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott has announced that he will donate a portion of his quarterly salary to the Florida Holocaust Museum in memory of Mel Sembler. The accomplished businessman, former U.S. Ambassador and St. Petersburg resident died Oct. 31 at 93. Scott was the first sitting Florida governor to visit the museum in 2013.
Those spending a night on the town New Year’s Eve have a safe and affordable way to return home, thanks to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. In addition to offering free services, the SunRunner, the Suncoast Beach Trolley and routes 4, 52,59 60 will continue carrying passengers until 1:00 a.m. Buses will run on a holiday/Sunday schedule New Year’s Day.
Digital Inclusion St. Pete is hosting an after-Christmas Gadgets for Good event Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. People can bring their old electronic devices (excluding televisions) to the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg at 2333 34th St. S. and give someone the gift of digital inclusion. ESmart Recycling will donate refurbished computers according to the amount collected.
Positive Impact Worldwide, the St. Petersburg Police Department and Team Florida Domino’s Pizza Franchise Group have partnered to giveaway over 600 free pizzas Christmas Eve. Volunteers will hand out the hot foot from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Tangerine Plaza in South St. Pete. Anyone is welcome to join the car line at 1770 22nd St. S. with “no questions asked.”
Family Support Services of Pinellas and Pasco Counties and the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies Foundation gathered 18 expanding families at Tropicana Field for a special event Friday night. They were there to celebrate 24 local children finding their “forever families.” The adoptions were finalized at Enchant Christmas, the “world’s largest Christmas light maze and village.”
Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office deputies, staffers and volunteers participated in a “Shop for Santa” event Tuesday that will benefit nearly 700 local children from 260 families registered with the Christmas Sharing Project. Money raised from the Dec. 2 “Ride & Run with the Stars” event at Fort DeSoto Park provided $71,000 in funding. Agency officials noted that necessities like underwear and school clothes rather than toys topped the wish lists.
An annual partnership between St. Pete Fools Charities and the St. Petersburg Police Department is underway, and the goal is to provide 500 children with bicycles for Christmas. The nonprofit has already collected 300 bikes, which officers distribute to low-income families. For donation information, visit the website here.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has partnered with Tampa-based nonprofit Current Initiatives to help ensure local families have clean clothes in time for Thanksgiving. Officers will personally pay for the service at Soapy’s Laundry, located at 3435 15th Ave. S., from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Current Initiatives launched the Laundry Project to assist families and foster positive relationships with officers.
Solace Insurance awarded Hope Villages of America $10,000 thanks to the community’s support. The local nonprofit needed over 500 votes and comments to double a $5,000 donation through the 2023 Make More Happen campaign. The funding will help Hope Villages increase its mobile food truck supply and expand distribution services before the holidays.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mike Alstott will personally deliver Thanksgiving meals to every St. Petersburg Fire Rescue station Saturday, Nov. 18. This is the 16th year that the St. Petersburg-based Mike Alstott Family Foundation has shown its appreciation for local first responders during the Thanksgiving holiday. The fan-favorite bruising fullback was inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor in 2015.
