South County Grand Families Event Brings Caregivers and Community Together

More than 130 attendees gathered for an indoor Caregivers’ Brunch connecting kinship caregivers with resources and one another—made possible by volunteers, partners, and community support.

The South County Community Council hosted a Caregivers’ Brunch to support caregivers raising grandchildren and other relatives, offering expert guidance, helpful resources, and time to connect. The response from families and partners was overwhelmingly positive.

Highlights included a warm welcome by St. Pete’s Mayor Ken Welch; Ashli Doss of the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office as emcee; a panel with expertise from Pinellas County Schools, St. Pete Free Clinic, Bay Area Legal Services, and St. Pete Hubs; live music from the Gibbs High School Jazz Band; and a personal reflection from South County grandmother Rebecca Bray on the joys and challenges of raising her grandchild. Brunch, catered by Johnny Newsome (JNew BBQ and Catering), featured a delicious spread of eggs, grits, sausages, chicken, and waffles.

Kelly and the Community Council expressed their thanks to the exhibitors and volunteers—including JWB staff (Yaya, Joanne, Adelson, Cristen, Brianna, Marlaina, and Cristina); JWB Board Member Alicia McShea; and South County Council Member Michael Flores and his wife Eliana.

The Council planning team (Dexter McCree, Deneen Wyman, and Kerry Carlisle) deserve a warm round of applause, along with the City of St. Pete and the Lake Vista staff for their seamless support.

The event reflected the strength of our community—and the importance of showing up for kinship caregivers.

Enjoy even more photos of the day in this Facebook post.