Saturday, September 8, 2012
The Carolina Panthers wide receiver is teaming up with Central Tampa's Metropolitan Ministries tol wash feet and give shoes to 400 homeless people at the Pinellas Safe Harbor facility in Clearwater.
Before Carolina Panther Steve Smith takes the field against the Buccaneers to open the NFL season Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, he will be in Clearwater, washing feet. Smith, a prolific receiver, will use his hands to wash 400 homeless people's feet and give them new shoes and socks at Pinellas Safe Harbor on Saturday. Smith and other volunteers working with Central Tampa's Metropolitan Ministries and international nonprofit Samaritan's Feet will give out these items starting at 5 p.m. Smith is planning to distribute shoes in each city the Panthers play this season. Manny Ohonme, who got a scholarship to play collegiate basketball because of a donated pair of shoes, started Samaritan's Feet in 2003. He got his first pair of …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
How far is too far for local governments to go in an effort to reduce the visibility of homeless people on their streets? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.
According to Metropolitan Ministries, there are more than 25,000 homeless people living in the Tampa Bay area. And with jobs scarce and economic woes continuing, that number keeps growing. As local governments grapple with their own ever-shrinking budgets, some are taking strong measures to put out no vacancy signs for their homeless populations. Panhandling bans, for example, are in effect in many Tampa Bay area communities, including Tampa and Pasco County. While homeless shelters exist, many report they are operating at capacity. Metropolitan Ministries estimates more there are 1,500 beds for homeless in Hillsborough County. Even so, some 8,000 homeless go without shelter each night, the agency estimates. In nearby Pinellas County, the …
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The indoor picnic will be held at 11:30 a.m Monday.
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Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary will host its annual Memorial Day Picnic for the Homeless on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second-floor dining room of The Salvation Army Tampa Command, located at 1603 N. Florida Ave. Auxiliary members will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, coleslaw, chips and baked goods to approximately 200 of Hillsborough County's homeless and hungry, according to a news release spokeswoman Dulcinea Cuellar. The luncheon commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. The Salvation Army regularly provides shelter and support to veterans, and works closely with the Veterans Administration to meet the needs of homeless veterans. The Salvation Army's Tampa Area Commanders, Majors Dan…
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Data from 2011 survey of homeless shows 23 percent are children, 51 percent are newly homeless and 90 percent lost their homes right here in Florida.
It would be physically impossible to count every homeless person living in Hillsborough County in just 24 hours. Some are at jobs. Some are in school. And some simply refuse to cooperate with caseworkers and asking questions. But every two years, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County makes an immense effort to count the local homeless population, and this year its 300 volunteers put in 2,250 hours of work doing it. Data from this year’s count, performed Jan. 27, was released at a news conference Thursday morning. While the numbers Coalition CEO Rayme Nuckles announced startled many in the conference room hearing them for the first time, what should be even more alarming to the public is how the data shows Hillsborough County still …
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Some residents are fed up with panhandling; homeless and their advocates say it's a lifeline.
On Monday, Hillsborough County will host a public forum on roadside panhandling. The issue has already raised passions on both sides. To some, panhandling is an annoyance and a safety hazard. The solicitors and their supporters say it's a lifeline. Some Tampa residents favor a ban on all monetary transactions between pedestrians and people in vehicles, similar to the ordinance passed recently in St. Petersburg. Susan Long, a resident of Seminole Heights, said she is fed up with panhandling. “I think it's not attractive, it's scary, and it's inappropriate,” she said. “We ought to get rid of it.” Long participated in the petition drive to put an anti-panhandling referendum on the ballot. The referendum would have appeared on the city's March…
phyllis
7:15 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
have you ever handed a panhandler a business card of a place that was hiring--I did several times and it wasn't appreciated more ›