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.
Local nonprofit Hope Villages of America has partnered with the American Institute of Beauty in Largo and St. Petersburg for the 19th annual “Cut Out Hunger” event. Anyone who donates three or more canned goods can receive a free haircut, and those who donate six or more items also receive 50% off any services. The event runs from Wednesday, Nov. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 4.
Pinellas County Human Services is now accepting applications for Regional Opioid Abatement Funding leadership, planning and coordination positions. County officials need qualified consultants and experts to evaluate and analyze the local opioid epidemic and abatement programming. The application deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg Police Department K9s King, Nacho and Axel have received bullet and stab-resistant vests valued at $1,800 each from Vested Interest in K9s. The nonprofit embroidered the body armor with “In Memory of K9” and the names Soren, Titan and Stitch. Vested Interest in K9s has donated 5,289 protective vests totaling $6.9 million since 2009.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce’s annual tasting tour of Pinellas County’s coastal restaurants began Oct. 7 and will end Sunday, Oct. 15. Tickets are still available, and sales benefit the PARC Center for Disabilities. Tickets are redeemable for a specialty meal at over 50 restaurants from Tierra Verde to Clearwater Beach. For more information, visit the website here.
The United Way recently received $100,000 to help Duke Energy Florida customers pay their electric bills thanks to a collaboration between the St. Petersburg-based company and the Tampa Bay Rays. Duke contributed $1,000 to the Share the Light Fund for every Rays victory. The Share the Light Funds has provided $1.7 million in financial assistance to customers in the last year. For more information on available resources, visit the website here.
Hope Villages of America recently received a $5,000 donation from Solace Insurance that will increase to $10,000 if the local nonprofit receives at least 500 votes and comments. The funding is part of Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance’s 2023 Make More Happen campaign. The official website opened today, and those interested can vote or comment here.
