The City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department's Enoch Davis Center, in collaboration with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Organization and the Pinellas County Pan-Hellenic Council, is encouraging local youth to explore and highlight the civil rights icon's legacy. The 36th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay & Oratorical Contest is now accepting submissions through Dec. 14. Finalists will compete for a $500 scholarship. For more information, visit the website here.
Renee Edwards, founder of Saturday Shoppes, and community partners will give away 1,000 turkeys Saturday at 800 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg. Elderly residents can also receive hams and cornish game hens. The event, which begins at 2 p.m., will also feature a youth bike giveaway, entertainment, vendors and a job fair.
Students at Richard O. Jacobson Technical High School will pack 20,000 dry meals Friday as part of a service project with Rise Against Hunger, an international nonprofit. The school's Interact Club is leading those efforts and partners with Rotary International of Indian Rocks Beach to support local and global service projects. Students also contributed to the cost of the meals through on-campus fundraisers.
The Homeless Empowerment Program will give away 250 turkeys to any residents in need Wednesday, Nov. 19, at noon. The nonprofit, which provides shelter and support services to homeless individuals and families, will distribute the Thanksgiving meals at 1120 N. Betty Lane in Clearwater. Participants are encouraged to remain in their vehicles during pick-up to ensure an efficient distribution process.
Clearwater for Youth (CFY) has contributed over $200,000 to all 17 football and cheer programs in Pinellas County. The nonprofit has ensured that nearly 40% of registered children receive full or partial coverage of their registration fees. Eight of the 17 supported organizations are in St. Petersburg. "CFY is dedicated to ensuring every child has access to quality athletic programs, regardless of financial circumstances," said Board Chair Fred Miller.
The 12th annual Run For All Children, a chip-timed 5K, one-mile and kids' dash race along St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront, drew 1,800 runners and walkers Saturday. Proceeds benefit the areas of greatest need at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Brian Powers founded the race in 2014 to make a difference in the lives of children and their families after experiencing the positive impact provided by staff and volunteers in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
The Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas will activate Cold Night Shelters throughout the county Monday, despite the program typically running from Nov. 15 through March 15. The shelters open when the National Weather Service forecasts "feels like" temperatures will reach 40 degrees or colder between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will provide free bus rides to five area shelters, including two in St. Petersburg, starting at 5 p.m. Monday. For a list of shelters, visit the website here.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which monitors 21 miles of Pinellas County coastline from April through October to protect nesting sea turtles, announced Friday that it has "never seen this much activity in a single season." Biologists documented 405 nests and 613 false crawls, an exponential improvement over the 227 and 240 observed in 2024. The aquarium called the record-breaking season a "clear sign that more sea turtles are returning to our beaches," aided by renourishment projects.
Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced Friday that she helped two St. Petersburg nonprofits secure over $2 million in federal funding to hire case managers who serve military veterans. Saint Vincent de Paul CARES received two awards totaling $1.7 million for four case managers, and Boley Centers received $340,433 to hire one. "Every day is Veterans Day in Tampa Bay," Castor said of the Nov. 11 holiday.
Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue, a humanitarian rescue organization led by a war hero, has brought over 340 American evacuees home from Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The local team landed on a dirt runway in Jamaica, located registered Americans in the decimated country and flew them to Tampa International Airport, despite a complete lack of infrastructure. To aid Grey Bull Rescue's efforts, visit the website here.
Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) Pinellas has partnered with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital to host a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The free, public event is at the hospital's pocket park directly across the street from the parking garage at 651 5th St. S. Attendees will light candles in unison and remember several community members who lost their lives to domestic violence between 2024 and 2025. To register, visit the website here.
Florida students annually miss out on $300 million for college by not completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application, which provides access to grants, work-study programs, scholarships and loans, opened Wednesday and closes May 15. Each high school in Pinellas County is now hosting "FAFSA Night" events to help families complete the process. To view a schedule, visit the website here.
