TAMPA — Local and national leaders have touted safer-at-home orders to keep people safe during the coronavirus epidemic.

But trapped-at-home has been the reality for domestic violence victims — mostly women — who have reached out for help in increasing numbers as isolation, stress and financial worries have escalated violence and threats, local support groups said. They expect even more victims will emerge when stay-at-home orders are lifted.

In St. Petersburg, Community Action Stops Abuse, or CASA, has seen a 40 percent increase in calls to its help line since stay-at-home orders were enacted. And call-takers are hearing of more red-flag cases where threats include talk or brandishing of firearms, or the placing of hands around a victim’s neck.

“What we’re seeing is really extreme cases of gun violence, of the strangulation, very, very intense, very scary situations,” said Lariana Forsythe, the group’s chief executive officer.

In Hillsborough County, the Spring of Tampa Bay has seen an uptick in people seeking help to file legal injunctions. And more than 3,000 callers to the National Domestic Violence Hotline in a four-week period through April 14 cited COVID-19 as a factor in their plea for help.

“We are hearing from survivors how COVID-19 is already being used by abusive partners to further control and abuse,” said Katie Ray-Jones, the hotline’s chief executive officer, in an email. “We are especially concerned that survivors will be unable to reach out for help due to their abusive partner monitoring their behaviors while they are in isolation.”

Some local law enforcement agencies also are reporting an uptick in domestic violence 911 calls, but not all.

The Tampa Police Department received 946 domestic disturbance calls in March, compared to 777 in February. Pasco County saw an 11 percent increase in domestic violence calls in March compared to 2019, though the number of reports has slowed in the first half of April.

The number of reports to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office barely rose in March, however. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported 32 more calls in March compared to 2019.

That may be because victims fear retaliation.

Sgt. Jessica Masecky, with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, said that many times when officers reach the scene, there is evidence of only verbal abuse, so an arrest is unlikely.

Mindy Murphy, chief executive officer of the Spring, said she understands why victims may be hesitant to call law enforcement. Abusers, she said, often have the ability to be “manipulative and charming” at times.

“All of a sudden, the survivor is trapped with the abuser, and they have to be strategic,” she said. “… What is their path out? If the cops come and don’t arrest, and there’s no other option for your safety after that, you’re not going to call. You can’t stay with friends.”

Across the state, Murphy said, the number of people seeking shelter has stayed about the same and in some places has decreased.

Some may be unwilling to move to a shelter, fearing they will be more at risk of contracting the coronavirus, said Kelly Sinn, chief executive officer of Sunrise of Pasco County, a domestic violence center and shelter.

“What we’re seeing, interestingly enough, is the occupancy is down to the lowest it’s been in 10 years,” she said.

Sinn said the shelters follow guidelines from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CASA’s shelter normally houses up to 130 people. But it has reduced that to comply with social-distancing guidelines, leaving staffers there concerned they could not deal with an influx of victims. That’s why the group recently reached out to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County to cover the $50,000 cost of rehabbing an apartment building it had let lapse for four years because it could not afford maintenance costs.

In just four weeks, the complex was cleaned and repairs made. New appliances and air-conditioners were installed where needed.

The complex can house at least eight large families, said Beth Houghton, the Welfare Board’s chief executive officer. The extra accommodations also mean the shelter will be able to isolate any family members who test positive for COVID-19.

“We saw what CASA saw, and that’s the high stress situation, high unemployment causes increases in domestic violence,” said Houghton. “We wanted to get ahead of it.”

With victims less likely to leave home while stay-in-place orders are in effect, CASA has been advising victims who reach out to develop safety plans.

Those can include signals to supportive neighbors, like placing a plant in a window. They also advise victims to plan out the safest time for them to try to leave an abusive partner and to have an escape route from their home mapped out in the event they are attacked.

“The last thing you want is to be blocked in a room where there is no way out,” said Forsythe.

The goal of domestic violence shelters is not necessarily to encourage people to leave relationships, Murphy said, but to keep them safe. At times, it’s been more than a year or two before the individual was ready to leave, she said.

Like most nonprofits, the centers have been unable to hold traditional fundraisers. They each have Amazon wish lists, and CASA is asking people to purchase yard signs as a way to both contribute and raise awareness of domestic violence.

Domestic violence hotlines:

• Sunrise of Pasco: 352-521-3120
• Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA): 727-895-4912
• The Spring of Tampa Bay: 813-247-7233
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

To view the full news story by Tampa Bay Times, visit https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/04/17/not-safer-at-home-tampa-bay-domestic-violence-groups-report-more-calls-for-help/

Even in the best of times, nonprofits struggle to find the money to help Tampa Bay’s neediest families.

How then to keep people afloat in a crisis that has seen 16 million people across the country lose their jobs, the demand on local food banks rise by 400 percent and an estimated 16 percent of tenants already behind on April’s rent?

That tsunami of need is stretching local nonprofits to the breaking point. Metropolitan Ministries last week suspended its financial assistance program in the face of a “staggering” demand for help with rent payments. More than 80 percent of Tampa Bay nonprofits have canceled or cut programs or are planning to do so, according to the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay.

An outpouring of support has helped in the short-term. Feeding Tampa Bay scooped up big name donations from the Tampa Bay Rays and Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. United Way Suncoast received $1 million in donations in just the past month.

But United Way Suncoast has received funding requests totaling $4.5 million from partner nonprofits trying to feed, house and care for families and provide internet access for children in school.

The concern is that the economic fallout from the coronavirus shutdown will outlast donors’ enthusiasm, leaving nonprofits overwhelmed. About 80 percent of local nonprofits have been forced to cancel fundraising activities. Some have applied for emergency loans through the federal Cares Act so they can continue to make payroll.

“We’re walking two lines of being responsive to a crisis and facing a crisis in our sector to make sure (nonprofits) have the resources to provide those services,” said Jessica Muroff, United Way Suncoast executive director. “This will have impacts for years to come. I worry about the sustainability of some of our smaller programs that serve tremendous needs in our community.”

The crisis also has exposed a longstanding weakness in Tampa Bay’s economy: too many people living paycheck to paycheck.

About 1.8 million people in Tampa Bay live in households making less than $52,000, or twice the federal poverty rate for a family of four, Muroff said. Many of them work in the retail, tourism and restaurant sectors devastated by the coronavirus lockdown.

More proof of that vulnerability came in a 2019 United Way study that found 43 percent of Tampa Bay area households struggling to afford child care, food, transportation, housing and health care.

“Families don’t have the income to weather these kinds of interruptions,” Muroff said.

The 211 telephone line at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has been a bellwether of the coronavirus’ impact. At the end of February, just 14 calls were labeled as COVID-19 issues. By the end of March, that had risen to 704, the vast majority from people asking for assistance to feed their families or keep a roof over their heads.

It’s impossible to help them all at once, said chief executive officer Clara Reynolds.

“Everybody wants a fix right now,” she said. “Because of the gravity and breadth of this crisis, we have to help folks understand and manage their expectations.”

About $1.7 million of the center’s annual $15 million budget comes from donors. It raised half of that at a fundraiser in February before the shutdown began. It is using emails and telephone calls to stay in touch with donors.

“We would be in such hot water if we had waited even a month longer,” Reynolds said. “I know fellow nonprofits; they are just dying on the vine.”

A Publix semi-trailer dropped off much-needed grocery items at the Florida Dream Center in Clearwater on Tuesday.

The center, with a staff of about 17, serves Lealman, an unincorporated, high-poverty area in mid-Pinellas.

The center suspended a craft class for victims of human trafficking because of social-distancing rules. Its focus now is on maintaining its food bank so it can feed families and seniors.

Last month, it gave out 91,000 pounds of food and expects to double that in April. The number of people seeking help has risen from an average of eight a day to about 40, said executive director Steve Cleveland.

But it’s been a struggle to keep up with demand, especially since donations from grocery stores have included less meat. Fearful of a food shortage, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County has given out a total of $300,000 to four Pinellas food banks, including the Dream Center.

The center has sent its own staffers to Palmetto, Ocala and Lakeland to get food.

“If we had more food, we would be giving it out,” Cleveland said.

The center has applied for federal help. It is waiting to hear if it will get the $60,000 needed to make payroll for the next two months.

And they have seen familiar faces among those asking for help.

“The people who usually help us are now asking for our help, and that is hard,” Cleveland said.

Metropolitan Ministries had planned to suspend its financial assistance program for just a week. But on Monday, the group was still working to reinstate the program that had received 1,700 requests for help with rent and utility bills totaling about $1.5 million.

Chief executive officer and president Tim Marks said the stimulus payments hitting people’s accounts this week will help. And he welcomed Tampa’s announcement of a program for residents who need help paying the rent.

But he is worried about donor fatigue and that the strain on nonprofits will take a toll on its workers. The time of greatest need may still lay ahead, he warned.

“We think that the tsunami that is coming is still three to six months away when jobs maybe don’t reappear,” Marks said. “I don’t know how many people will fully recover and their job be there when it’s time to get back to work.”

Want to donate?

United Way Suncoast: unitedwaysuncoast.org/

Feeding Tampa Bay: feedingtampabay.org/

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay: crisiscenter.com

Florida Dream Center: floridadreamcenter.org/

Metropolitan Ministries: metromin.org/

In the first week of online learning for Pinellas County Schools, only 3 percent of students did not show up for classes.

Michael Grego, Pinellas County Schools superintendent, is looking for attendance to improve more this week.

“Our attendance in Pinellas County in the first week districtwide was at 97 percent,” Grego said during an education briefing Thursday afternoon with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state education leaders. “That was last Friday. There were well over a few thousand computers and laptops distributed this week. So I’m venturing to guess that 3 percent is going to be down to under 1 percent at the end of today or the end of tomorrow.”

The briefing also gave Pinellas school officials a chance to highlight the transition to online learning at Lakewood Elementary School in south St. Petersburg, historically one of the lowest performing elementary schools in Florida.

Schools throughout Florida began online learning on March 30, in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus. Campus closures are scheduled to continue through May 1. During the briefing, DeSantis said there’s been no decision made about when – or if – the state will go back to in-class learning this year.

“We have not made a decision yet. If it’s safe, we want kids to be in school. I think most parents want that. So we’re going to continue to look and see how this develops,” DeSantis said. “If we get to the point where people think we’re on the other side of this and we could get kids back in, even for a couple of weeks, we think there would be value in that.”

DeSantis acknowledged that online learning is a big change. He asked Grego about the feedback he’s been getting and whether parents look forward to their kids going back to school.

“I think they look forward to the day we go back to a level of normalcy,” Grego said. “But I also want to work to build a level of trust so that when those students come back, they’re coming back to a very safe environment.”

The Pinellas County attendance figures are a major accomplishment, considering that nationwide, some districts are struggling with kids that go off the grid, with absences running as high as 15 percent, said Richard Corcoran, education commissioner.

One of the local educators taking part in the briefing was Stephanie Woodford, principal of Lakewood Elementary in south St. Petersburg.

All but two students had logged in online through Wednesday, so Woodford, along with the school’s assistant principal and St. Petersburg police officers, did wellness checks on those students.

“The administrative side, getting technology in all our student’s hands and tracking them down, was a pretty big undertaking. But it’s been exciting to watch,” Woodford said.

One challenge has been finding a balance between too much and too little schoolwork for students, to avoid overwhelming or underwhelming families. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said.

Woodford cited one frustrated parent who called her Wednesday.

“I think some of the frustration is we’re teaching our students and it’s not the same way we were taught before. Parents are working hard with this online learning,” Woodford said. “And so she was frustrated and feeling overwhelmed. We reached out to the teacher. The teacher got online with the child and the parent, did a little mini-lesson on decimals, which was amazing, and the parent was just relieved. The lesson was as much for the parent as for the child, so the parent was able to assist.”

Grego thanked Pinellas County Schools community partners — Spectrum, which is providing free internet service; the Juvenile Welfare Board, which paid overdue bills for needy families; and the Pinellas Education Foundation and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, which paid $150,000 to provide more than 500 hot spots to ensure every student has access.

Those organizations are helping erase the digital divide in the state, he said.

He also emphasized the driving themes in Pinellas County online learning.

“Less is more. Quality over quantity. Relationships over rigor. Grace before grades. Patience before programs. Love before lessons. And let’s continue to support, let’s continue to be flexible and let’s continue to balance our lives and support one another as we go through this,” Grego said.

To view the full news story by St. Pete Catalyst, visit https://stpetecatalyst.com/pinellas-county-schools-online-attendance-hits-97-percent/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20attendance%20in%20Pinellas%20County,and%20laptops%20distributed%20this%20week.

The site will open at 9 a.m. today and be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays until further notice.

GULFPORT – The city of Gulfport and the Juvenile Welfare Board with the support of the MYFoundation and the Juvenile Welfare Board South County Community Council are opening a donation drop-off location.

The site, at the Michael J. Yakes Recreation Complex, 5730 Shore Blvd. S., is aimed at the recovery of children and support families in need of aid and relief. The site is scheduled to open at 9 a.m. today (April 9) and will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays until further notice.

The Juvenile Welfare Board South County Community Council/MyFoundation is seeking items such as:

•     Grocery Gift cards
•     Cleaning and household items
•     Uber and Lyft Gift cards
•     Diapers and Formula
•     Children’s Clothes
•     Bread, peanut butter, pasta, spaghetti sauce, pop tarts, canned veggies, fun snacks for kids, fruit cups, mac and cheese.
•     Toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and feminine products.

To view the full news article by Tampa Bay Reporter, visit https://www.tbreporter.com/social-services/gulfport-jwb-open-site-for-donations-to-help-children-families/

Are you or your family in need of help getting food? Or do you want to help but don’t know how? We’ve put together a list of food pantries, drives, distribution sites, and more that could be the answer you are looking for.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Feeding Tampa Bay has teamed up with the city of Clearwater’s Parks and Recreation Department to distribute lunches daily for children 18 and younger.

Food will be distributed Monday through Friday at the following locations:

• Ross Norton Recreation Center, 1426 S. MLK Jr. Ave., 12:30-1:30 p.m.

• North Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N. MLK Jr. Ave., 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Salvation Army

In addition to regular food pantry operations, the Salvation Army is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to host weekly drive-thru food distributions in Clearwater to help meet increased needs. Other services currently being offered across the county are rent, mortgage, utility assistance, family shelters, and emergency shelters as resources are available.

Drive-thru food box distribution will take place each Wednesday from 3:30-5 p.m. or until all boxes are distributed, at 1521 Druid Road East, Clearwater.

Boxes are pre-assembled and include fresh produce. Residents do not need to provide an ID or proof of address. People are encouraged to take only what they need.

Juvenile Welfare Board

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, low income families with children are disproportionately impacted, and those of moderate means may now be without a paycheck.

Licensed childcare for essential healthcare workers and first responders may be scarce. Financial and other stressors impact families, driving up domestic violence calls.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is responding by investing in several emergency efforts, bringing partners together to identify and fill gaps.

Support to JWB funded agency nonprofits and their employees

• Emergency Response Fund: Allows all 50-plus nonprofit agencies — funded by JWB to serve children and families through early learning, home visiting, before/after school, domestic violence shelters, mental health services, and more — to access their budget allocations to cover operational expenses, including paying and retaining employees, should programs be required to close or reduce services due to COVID-19.

Food assistance for children and families

• $200,000 Emergency Food Relief: With retail food donations down nearly 75% to local food banks, JWB is investing $200,000 in emergency food relief for children and families, to be distributed to Tarpon Springs Shepherd’s Center, Religious Community Services in Clearwater, Florida Dream Center in Lealman, and St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Additional funds will be allocated as need presents.

• $350,000 Meals for Kids: In a proactive measure, JWB’s eight Neighborhood Family Centers were approved to double all pre-packaged meal purchases for kids; these Centers serve families in highest need areas.

• $12,000 Meals on Wheels 4 Kids: With school and congregate meal site closures, JWB is providing a portion of the initial funding for an innovative pilot with Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger to deliver meals to the doorstep of families with children when barriers exist and using the volunteer-based Meals on Wheels model.

• BreakSpot Grab & Go Meal Expansion: JWB is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to open additional Pinellas sites where grab-and-go meals for children can be distributed. JWB recently launched a new website with a schedule of all Pinellas school and community BreakSpot sites: www.jwbpinellas.org/breakspot-meals.

Basic needs assistance to families

• $1.7M Family Services Initiative Basic Needs Fund: JWB’s Family Services Initiative offers real-time basic need assistance to families, including rent/utility assistance, food, and household items. While this fund is in place for access by families year-round, it is especially critical given the current crisis. To request support, families should dial 2-1-1.

For more information on food assistance for Pinellas County children and families, visit www.jwbpinellas.org/childhood-hunger.

For the Family Services Initiative for basic needs assistance, families should dial 2-1-1 or visit https://211tampabay.org/family-services-initiative-fsi.

For those wishing to donate, JWB recommends contributions be directed to the Pinellas Community Foundation and their Disaster Relief and Childhood Hunger funds; visit www.pcfpinellas.org.

Pinellas County Schools

To reach more families in need during this unprecedented period of school closures, Pinellas County Schools will more than double the number of school sites for meal distributions.

Seven new sites went online starting April 6 and will be followed by six more school sites on Monday, April 13. This will bring the district’s total number of meal distribution locations from nine to 22.

The times and days will vary next week between the original nine locations and the seven new schools as PCS transitions to a consistent schedule for all 22 meal distribution school sites starting on April 13.

For the week of April 6, the nine original school sites and times remain. Thursday distribution will include meals for Thursday and Friday.

The schedule for the nine original school sites follows:

• Dunedin Middle School, 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin — 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

• Eisenhower Elementary, 2800 Drew St., Clearwater — 11 a.m. to noon

• Fairmount Elementary, 575 41st St. S., St. Petersburg — 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

• Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary, 6505 68th St. N., Pinellas Park — 11 a.m. to noon

• John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• New Heights Elementary, 3901 37th St. N., St. Petersburg — 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

• Plumb Elementary, 1920 Lakeview Road, Clearwater — 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Southern Oak Elementary, 9101 Walsingham Road, Largo — 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Tarpon Springs Elementary, 555 Pine St., Tarpon Springs — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Seven new school sites opened April 6 and distribute meals on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday only from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These schools will distribute two days’ worth of meals, including two breakfasts and two lunches on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The seven new school sites include:

• Azalea Middle School, 7855 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg

• Bay Point Elementary School, 2151 62nd Ave. S., St, Petersburg

• Clearwater Intermediate, 1220 Palmetto St., Clearwater

• High Point Elementary School, 5921 150th Ave. N., Clearwater

• Kings Highway Elementary School, 1715 Kings Highway, Clearwater

• Largo Middle School, 155 Eighth Ave. SE, Largo

• Oak Grove Middle School, 1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater

Beginning the week of April 13, six new school sites open. All school sites switch to a Monday-Wednesday and Friday only from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All schools will prepare meals in the school site kitchens. Grab-n-Go bags include meals for two days — including two breakfasts and two lunches — per student adding Saturday for total of six days per week.

The six new school sites include:

• Anona Elementary School, 12301 Indian Rocks Road, Largo

• Garrison-Jones Elementary School, 3133 Garrison Road, Dunedin

• Gulfport Elementary School, 2014 52nd St. S., Gulfport

• McMullen Booth Elementary School, 3025 Union St., Clearwater

• North Shore Elementary School, 200 35th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg

• Sawgrass Lake Elementary School, 1815 77th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

Breakfast includes a cereal or breakfast bar, juice and milk. Lunch includes sandwich, fruit cup, juice, and milk. Meals will be served Grab & Go. Meals are free for anyone 18 years old and younger. The child or teen must be present to receive meals. Meals will be served as drive-thru at the car/bus circle. Walkers should go to the main entrance of the school.

YMCA partnerships

The YMCAs of the Tampa Bay are teaming up with community partners to feed families and fight food insecurity during these unprecedented times. The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, YMCA of the Suncoast and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg are working with Feeding Tampa Bay, local school districts and other organizations to help provide fresh food to families across Greater Tampa Bay.

Several YMCA locations also serve as food distribution sites in the following ways:

Feeding Tampa Bay Breakspot meals

Open to children 18 and younger. In a drive-thru type model, each child receives a free to-go meal for today and breakfast for tomorrow.

Monday-Friday, 10-11 a.m.

• Clearwater YMCA

1005 S. Highland Ave., Clearwater

Monday-Friday, 2 to 3 p.m.

727-461-9622

• Greater Ridgecrest YMCA

1801 119th St. N, Largo

727-559-0500

Mobile pantry

• St. Petersburg Free Clinic, 863 Third Ave. N., St. Petersburg.

Families with children at home can receive free family-friendly foods in a drive-thru type model.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon

• Child’s Park YMCA

691 43rd St. S., St. Petersburg

727-209-9622

Area food pantries

Residents are advised to call ahead before visiting a food pantry to see if they have food available.

Clearwater

BAY AREA PREGNANCY CENTER

2380 Drew St. #6, Clearwater

727-449-1988. Call for details.

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1200 Keene Road S., Clearwater

727-446-0988

Fourth Saturday of every month from 8:30 a.m. to noon

CLEARWATER FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

1875 Nursery Road, Clearwater

727-536-1498

Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

CLEARWATER SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

1445 Lakeview Road, Clearwater

727-446-6427

Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

COUNTRYSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

2525 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater

727-726-2550

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

*can come every 2 months

FLOWING RIVER CHURCH

1148 E. Turner St., Clearwater

727-461-1148

Fridays (except first of the month) from 2 to 4 p.m.

HELPING HANDS (COUNTRYSIDE CARES)

2565 Blackburn St., Clearwater

727-724-1290

*First 50 families

Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m.

HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER

5812 150TH Ave N., Clearwater

727-533-0730

Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon (food pantry)

Friday, 10:30 a.m. to noon (GOA boxes)

NORTHWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2875 State Road 580, Clearwater, FL 33761

727-796-8090

Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS)

700 Druid Road, Clearwater

727-443-4031

Monday-Wednesday, Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, 12:30 to 6:45 p.m.

SALVATION ARMY – DRUID ROAD

1521 E. Druid Road, Clearwater

727-446-4177

Current clients only

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.

ST. MARY COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

2930 Country Road 193, Clearwater

727-644-5190. Call for details

SYLVAN ABBEY UNITED METHODIST

2817 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater

727-796-3057

Mondays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dunedin

CLEARWATER COMMUNITY CHURCH / HARRIET’S PANTRY

2897 Belcher Road, Dunedin

727-799-4444

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursdays, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

DUNEDIN CARES INC.

1620 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin

813-215-7773

Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon

Indian Rocks Beach

BEACH COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

Calvary Episcopal Church, 1615 First St., Indian Rocks Beach

727-595-2374, bcfoodpantry.org.

Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon; Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m.

Largo

ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRIES

1550 S. Belcher Road, Largo

727-210-5433

Thursdays, 9 to 11 a.m.

BEACON STREET MINISTRIES

3470 Adrian Ave., Largo

727-278-2285

Thursdays 5:30 to 7 p.m.

INDIAN ROCKS BAPTIST CHURCH

12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo

727-595-3421

Thursdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oldsmar

OLDSMAR CARES

163 State Road 580 W., Oldsmar

813-415-7373

Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon

ROCK CHURCH OF TAMPA BAY

3970 Tampa Road, Oldsmar

727-657-4876. Call first, Monday and Thursday 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Palm Harbor

FEAST FOOD

2255 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor

727-789-5275

Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon

Pinellas Park

GOOD SAMARITAN CHURCH

6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park

727-544-8558

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

9025 49TH St., Pinellas Park

727-546-5741

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH

4661 82nd Ave N., Pinellas Park

727-541-4447

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 to 11 a.m.

ST. GILES FOOD PANTRY

8271 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park

727-544-6856

Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

SUNCOAST HAVEN OF REST RESCUE MISSION

1763 Ninth Ave N., Pinellas Park

727-545-8282

Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Safety Harbor

MATTIE WILLIAMS NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER

1003 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., Safety Harbor

727-791-8255

Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.

Seminole

FEEDING GOD’S PEOPLE

10944 70th Ave., Seminole

727-459-6022

St. Petersburg

ASAP HOMELESS SERVICE

3050 First Ave S., St. Petersburg

727-328-3260

Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BETHEL AME CHURCH

912 Third Ave N., St. Petersburg

727-822-2089

Tuesdays, 10-10:30 a.m.

BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH

3455 26th Ave S., St. Petersburg

727-327-0554

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CLEARVIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

4515 38th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-522-4673

Thursdays, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

DAYSTAR LIFE CENTER

226 Sixth St S., St. Petersburg

727-825-0442

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ELIM SDA CHURCH

4824 Second Ave. S., St. Petersburg

727-350-3531

Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.

LEALMAN AND ASIAN NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY CENTER

4255 56th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-520-9820

Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

MERCY KEEPERS

2021 Ninth Ave. S., St. Petersburg

727-823-8795

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

6000 38th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-329-9166

Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon

NORTHWEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

6330 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-544-4551

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon

PASADENA COMMUNITY CHURCH

5501 31st St S., St. Petersburg

727-381-2499

Must call first, Second Thursday of the month, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

PASADENA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

100 Pasadena Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-479-6150

Second Saturday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Still providing food but must call ahead

PEOPLE THAT LOVE CHURCH AND MISSION

817 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-820-0775

Food and clothing available at 2 p.m. Monday to Friday

PINELLAS COMMUNITY CHURCH

5501 31st St. N., St. Petersburg

727-866-1184

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 to 6:45 p.m.

THE KIND MOUSE PRODUCTIONS

1801 16th St. N., St. Petersburg

Visit thekindmouse.org or call 727-575-7834.

ST. BARTHLOMEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

3747 34th St. S., St. Petersburg

727-867-7015

First and third Sunday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to noon

ST. LUKE’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

4444 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-321-1335

Mondays 5 to 6:30 p.m.

ST. PETE FREE CLINIC

863 Third Ave. N., St. Petersburg.

Food donations accepted Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am.-12:30 p.m.

Visit https://stpetersburgfreeclinic.org.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CLARA’S CLOSET (HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PARISH)

200 78th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg

727-526-5783

Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m.

WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

301 37th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

727-896-4797

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon

Tarpon Springs

ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH

715 E. Orange St., Tarpon Springs

727-937-4050

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon

THE SHEPHERD CENTER

304 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs

727-939-1400

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

To view the full news story by The Suncoast News, visit http://www.suncoastnews.com/news/where-to-find-donate-food-in-pinellas-county/article_3a7520a6-7c2b-11ea-9a9e-9f6a7e0bf6f4.html

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, low income families with children are disproportionately impacted, and those of moderate means may now be without a paycheck.

Licensed childcare for essential healthcare workers and first responders may be scarce. Financial and other stressors impact families, driving up domestic violence calls.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is responding by investing in several emergency efforts, bringing partners together to identify and fill gaps.

“During any economic downturn or public health crisis, low income families are disproportionately impacted,” stated Beth A. Houghton, CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board. “Before COVID-19, 50% of Pinellas families earned less than the basic cost of living, and one in five children were food insecure. I imagine it’s much worse now. Our children and families are hurting, and we are working hard to identify resources, expand investments, and plow through barriers, alongside our partners.”

Support to JWB funded agency nonprofits and their employees

• Emergency Response Fund: Allows all 50-plus nonprofit agencies — funded by JWB to serve children and families through early learning, home visiting, before/after school, domestic violence shelters, mental health services, and more — to access their budget allocations to cover operational expenses, including paying and retaining employees, should programs be required to close or reduce services due to COVID-19.

Food assistance for children and families

• $200,000 Emergency Food Relief: With retail food donations down nearly 75% to local food banks, JWB is investing $200,000 in emergency food relief for children and families, to be distributed to Tarpon Springs Shepherd’s Center, Religious Community Services in Clearwater, Florida Dream Center in Lealman, and St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Additional funds will be allocated as need presents.

• $350,000 Meals for Kids: In a proactive measure, JWB’s eight Neighborhood Family Centers were approved to double all pre-packaged meal purchases for kids; these Centers serve families in highest need areas.

• $12,000 Meals on Wheels 4 Kids: With school and congregate meal site closures, JWB is providing a portion of the initial funding for an innovative pilot with Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger to deliver meals to the doorstep of families with children when barriers exist and using the volunteer-based Meals on Wheels model.

• BreakSpot Grab & Go Meal Expansion: JWB is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to open additional Pinellas sites where grab-and-go meals for children can be distributed. We recently launched a new website with a schedule of all Pinellas school and community BreakSpot sites: www.jwbpinellas.org/breakspot-meals

Basic needs assistance to families

• $1.7M Family Services Initiative Basic Needs Fund: JWB’s Family Services Initiative offers real-time basic need assistance to families, including rent/utility assistance, food, and household items. While this fund is in place for access by families year-round, it is especially critical given our current crisis. To request support, families should dial 2-1-1.

For more information on food assistance for Pinellas County children and families visit: www.jwbpinellas.org/childhood-hunger.

For the Family Services Initiative for basic needs assistance, families should dial 2-1-1 or visit https://211tampabay.org/family-services-initiative-fsi/

For those wishing to donate, JWB recommends contributions be directed to the Pinellas Community Foundation and their Disaster Relief and Childhood Hunger funds; visit www.pcfpinellas.org.

The Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board is increasing its investment in several emergency response efforts responding to low income families disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, workers who have lost jobs, a shortage of childcare options for essential workers and other stressors related to the pandemic.

“During any economic downturn or public health crisis, low income families are disproportionately impacted,” said Beth Houghton, CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board. “Before COVID-19, 50% of Pinellas families earned less than the basic cost of living, and one in five children were food insecure. I imagine it’s much worse now.”

“Our children and families are hurting, and we are working hard to identify resources, expand investments, and plow through barriers, alongside our partners.”

Among its investments, the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) is providing $1.7 million for its Family. Services Initiative Basic Needs Fund. That pool of money goes to families who need assistance with rent or utility payments, food or household items. That fund is available year round, but is being promoted more heavily as greater needs arise in the coronavirus crisis. Those in need can seek help by calling 2-1-1 or visiting its website.

The group is expanding its Emergency Response Fund, which Allows all of the more than 50 nonprofit agencies funded by JWB to serve children and families through early learning, home visiting, before/after school, domestic violence shelters, mental health services, and other services to access their budget allocations to cover operational expenses, including paying and retaining employees should programs be required to close or reduce services due to COVID-19.

JWB is also providing $200,000 for emergency food relief. The agency estimates that retail food donations to local food banks are down nearly 75%. The funds will be used to distribute food supplies to the Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center, Religious Community Services in Clearwater, the Florida Dream Center in Lealman and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. More funds will be allocated as needed.

The group is also providing $350,000 for meals for kids, doubling the amount of pre-packaged meals available for children at JWB’s eight Neighborhood Family Centers.

Another $12,000 will go toward Meals on Wheels 4 Kids, a pilot with the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger that delivers meals to families’ doorsteps in situations where barriers prohibit them from accessing other services.

More information about food assistance for children and families is available at the JWB website.

The Pinellas Community Foundation and the group’s Disaster Relief and Childhood Hunger funds also has information about available resources on its website.

To view the news story by Florida Politics, visit: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/326604-pinellas-juvenile-welfare-board-increases-investment-in-emergency-response-to-covid-19

As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, Pinellas County food pantries are feeling the economic devastation caused by pandemic.

Here are some area resources distributing food to those in need that could also use community support during these trying times.

RCS Pinellas Food Bank, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the RCS Pinellas Food Bank had a wide reach. It supports more than 75 community food pantries, serving more than 130,000 individuals each year. That’s more than 6 million pounds of food distributed annually.

Now, the need is even greater, said Kirk Ray Smith, RCS president and CEO. “It’s a scramble, and you can imagine what we already do each and every day. It’s tough, but we’re ready.”

That doesn’t mean they don’t need all the support they can get, especially as donations are down, he added. This includes in-kind and financial donations, as well as the food donated to RCS from grocers.

“We’ve seen a decrease in what our retail partners are able to provide,” Smith said. “One of the ways we address food insecurity is we have relationships with several grocers. They give surplus to us and give us discounts on additional (items) we purchase from them. This panic buying is having a ripple effect on us. They no longer have surplus. It’s down 80 percent pre-coronavirus.”

He added, “Daily it gets worse and worse. It’s almost at the point where there’s nothing left to sell us.”

Meanwhile, the need “has increased exponentially” as people suddenly find themselves out of work or with their hours cut, he said. “People working before didn’t need the food bank. Now they’re out of work…Even with a stimulus (package passing), I think the numbers are going to continue to go up.”

Currently, their biggest need is donations of non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items, he said, as well as monetary donations. “Financial donations are big because $2.50 can cover a meal for one person. Every dollar counts.”

RCS is also in need of volunteers. The nonprofit operates with about 2,500 volunteers and 80 employees. Because of this, the organization’s “overhead is nominal,” Smith said. “So, we’re able to put as much money as possible into our work. If folks stop volunteering, we’ll need to bring in more paid employees.”

Despite everything, he’s optimistic that RCS will continue to help families in need.

“Folks have stepped up, new donors, that have given me a lot of encouragement and hope,” he said. “People are stepping up to the plate. … We’re on the frontlines doing as much as we can. We need the help.”

To learn more on how to give or receive help at RCS, visit rcspinellas.org.

Beach Community Food Pantry, 1615 1st St., Indian Rocks Beach

This mission of Calvary Episcopal Church is already feeling the impact of the pandemic in numerous ways, said David Kline, past director, Beach Community Food Pantry.

Though “we’re at the front of this and our inventory is still pretty good,” he’s noticed “much less accessibility to product.”

They regularly pick up donated perishable items from organizations like Feeding Tampa Bay and the RCS Pinellas Food Bank, and already “the volume we were getting just two to three weeks ago isn’t there,” he said.

Because everyone is panic-buying, they’re having a difficult time finding the non-perishable items they typically purchase at Walmart and dollar stores, and when they do find them, there’s often a limit to the amount they can purchase, Kline added.

Meanwhile, they’re expecting an increase in need.

“This is just the first week of dealing with this sort of thing,” he said. “We’re certainly expecting more clients to show up, especially the working poor as they lose jobs, or their hours are cut back. The need is going to ramp up in the next few weeks. We’re going to be challenged.”

Kline stressed that the Beach Community Food Pantry will remain open.

“We can only give out what we have, but we’re going to continue to do this until we don’t have any more,” he said.

The best way to help the pantry is through food and monetary donations, he added.

To learn more about the Beach Community Food Pantry, visit bcfoodpantry.org.

The Kind Mouse Productions, 1801 16th St. N., St. Petersburg

Kind Mouse’s mission is to assist families and their hungry children, and they work closely with Pinellas County Schools and other partners to achieve this.

The nonprofit was coming off a busy week of distributing food to schoolchildren who would need it during the weeklong spring break when the implications of the coronavirus became apparent, said Gina Wilkins, Kind Mouse founder.

“We’ve been quite busy to say the least,” she said. “When the schools closed beyond spring break, all of a sudden it was urgent. Our phone started ringing off the hook.”

Because many of their volunteers are 65 and older and face greater health risks when it comes to COVID-19, she asked all of them to find projects they could work on at home.

“We told them, ‘We love you. We want you to stay safe,’ and rerouted them to do smaller things out of the home,” she said. “We appreciate them, but we don’t want them to get sick.”

With school closures extended beyond spring break, Wilkins is thinking “outside-the-box” on how to get food in the hands of hungry children, she said. “We cannot get to the kids through the schools because they’re not at school. We need to go through individual agencies.”

In this unprecedented situation, Kind Mouse has formed unique partnerships with other organizations to distribute the food. Those it has worked with so far include the Juvenile Welfare Board, Mattie Williams Neighborhood Center in Safety Harbor and the St. Petersburg Police Department.

She’s open to any business, club or organization that might be interested in working with the Kind Mouse to help distribute food to hungry kids throughout the county.

Though the school district is still providing breakfast and lunch during the closures, “that’s not dinner and that’s not weekends,” Wilkins said. “We’re just very, very concerned about kids being home. No one should be hungry. It’s very, very tough for families right now.”

The Kind Mouse also needs food and monetary donations as the need continues to grow, she added.

For more information, visit thekindmouse.org or call 727-575-7834.

Dunedin Cares Pantry, 1630 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin

In a March 20 email update, the Dunedin Cares Pantry asked followers to spread the word about its services.

“There are people in our community that don’t know about the Dunedin Cares Pantry and may need us. We would appreciate your help by reminding your friends, family and/or customers that we are here. You never know who might be in need,” the email stated.

Dunedin Cares anticipates a greater need in the coming weeks.

“Because schools are closed at least for the next two weeks and the end of the month is already very difficult for many folks in our community, we expect a larger volume of people in need,” the email stated.

The pantry has also changed its procedure for food distribution “to provide a safe arrangement for volunteers and clients.”

Distribution will take place only on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rather than allowing individuals to select items from the pantry, items will be bagged and brought out to cars.

The food donation process has changed, also. Donations will be accepted at the Dunedin Cares Pantry Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Other dropoff locations will accept donations during business hours. These locations include Dunedin Golf Club, 1050 Palm Blvd.; Key West Express Boutique, 730 Broadway; Classic Boutique & Gallery, 2678 Bayshore Blvd.; and JC’s Dunedin Barber Shop, 787 San Christopher Drive.

Suggested items include pasta (canned and boxed), pasta sauce, canned tuna and chicken, rice, pancake mix and syrup, soups, chili, canned fruit, cereal, and personal hygiene items.

Find updated information at dunedincares.org.

Feeding God’s People, 10944 70th Ave., Seminole

Based out of Seminole Garage, which is equipped with a 40-foot walk-in freezer, a large cooler, a storage unit and a loading dock, Feeding God’s People provides food to church pantries every Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Sunila Spano, one of the organization’s founders, said she’s worried that the food they distribute, donated by Operation Blessing’s Ocala branch and the St. Pete Free Clinic, could dry up in coming weeks.

“If the stores can’t give it to them, how are they going to give it to us?” she asked.

She’s also already heard from some of the smaller food pantries they supply that have been forced to close their doors, particularly those connected with churches that are shutting down services during the pandemic.

As a result, Feeding God’s People has started hearing from the individuals these pantries previously served. This means the organization needs to evaluate how it will operate moving forward, Spano said.

“We’re getting lots of calls from regular people, which we’ve never had before,” she said. “Individuals are coming to us saying, ‘Please, the churches are closing up.’ They have nowhere to go and know that we’re open. We need to figure it out. We’re still giving to pantries that show up for donations, but we would like to help the others, too.”

Feeding God’s People has also seen a decrease in volunteers in past weeks.

“We need manpower, because everyone is so scared to come out and help,” Spano said.

They’re also seeking donations of dry goods, such as paper towels, toilet paper and soap.

“Publix and the big stores are out of these things. People have no toilet paper or hand sanitizer,” she said. “These are the needs they’re asking for.”

Those interested in learning more should call Spano at 727-459-6022.

Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry, 6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park

The Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry is “struggling to stay open,” said Kate Hall, food pantry director and treasurer of the Good Samaritan Church. “All of our volunteers fit into the high-risk category based on age. Pretty much 65 to 89 is the age group of our volunteer staff.”

She added, “Our volunteers’ families are concerned about them exposing themselves (to coronavirus.)”

With a dwindling volunteer base, the pantry has “changed (its) method of operation so that we are in limited contact with our clients,” she said. Instead of allowing them to enter the pantry themselves, they’re now offering curbside pickup for groceries.

Food pickup will take place Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Clients picking up will be asked their name and the number of people in their family. Then, the pantry volunteer will bring them a pre-filled bag of groceries.

Hall anticipates more people will rely on their pantry for groceries.

“I’m fearful the need will increase exponentially with so many people being laid off of jobs,” she said.

It’s already difficult to find the items needed at the pantry, she added. “When I tried to do some shopping over the weekend, some of the stores are limiting the number of jars of spaghetti sauce or packages of pasta we can buy. Ramen noodles are nonexistent in the stores anymore.”

Still, the pantry’s volunteers are dedicated to serving the community through this crisis, Hall said. “We really are not certain what we’re going to encounter going forward. As long as we have people willing to hand out food and money in the fund, we’ll continue to give out food.”

Food and monetary donations are currently the pantry’s biggest needs. Contact the church at 727-544-8558 for more information.

To view the full news story by Tampa Bay Newspapers, visit https://www.tbnweekly.com/coronavirus/article_67432e5e-6eaa-11ea-b6c4-db5ed034cdc1.html