With the COVID-19 pandemic, local communities need all the support they can get. There are plenty of ways to lend a helping hand, from providing personal protective equipment to making a donation to local organizations or charities.
Here’s how you can help in Florida’s Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and Pasco County:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital in making sure our health workers, first responders, and other individuals on the frontline can continue doing their jobs. Since these individuals need to change their PPEs and use disinfectants frequently, stockpiling is necessary.
The Pinellas County government has set up a donation drive for personal protective equipment, disinfectants, and ventilators.
For personal protective equipment, the Pinellas County government requests these items:
- Surgical face masks
- N95 masks
- P100 masks
- Safety glasses
- Safety eye goggles
- Surgical tear away gowns
- Powder-free nitrile exam gloves
- 5-mil and 7-mil nitrile gloves
As for disinfectants, the government requests for:
- Hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol (any size)
- 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Lysol disinfectant spray
- Clorox wipes
- Sani-cloth wipes
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
Pinellas County government is also looking for:
- Ventilators
- CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure therapy)
- BiPAP/BiLevel
- High flow nasal cannula set-ups
Drop off your medical supply donations at any of the following:
- St. Pete Free Clinic, 3115 44th Ave N., St. Petersburg, Florida
- RCS Pinellas, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater, Florida
- Fire Station 23, 7301 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, Florida
- Fire Station 24, 180 108th Ave., Treasure Island, Florida
- Fire Station 25, 250 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida
- Fire Station 29, 11195 70th Ave. N., Seminole, Florida
- Fire Station 35, 11350 N 43rd St., Pinellas Park, Florida
- Fire Station 54, 225 Pine Ave, Oldsmar, Florida
- Fire Station 57, 3375 Tarpon Lake Blvd, Palm Harbor, Florida
To help small businesses, St. Petersburg has created the Fighting Chance Charitable Support Fund. This program aims to provide financial relief to independently owned and operated small businesses in the city.
Support local businesses by donating to the Fighting Chance Charitable Support Fund here.
Purchasing gift cards are a great way to help local restaurants, bars, breweries, art centers, hotels, and other businesses stay afloat. These cards can be used at a later date or given to family and friends. Local businesses in St. Petersburg and Clearwater that offer gift cards include boat tour companies, cafes, and many others.
For a complete list of the local businesses you can buy a gift card, check out the St.Pete/Clearwater website.
The city of Tampa partnered with The Tampa Bay Chamber and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to create the One Tampa: Relief Now, Rise Together fund. This financial relief fund aims to help eligible individuals, families, and small businesses with their monthly rental payments, mortgage payments, and utility bills.
Help people pay their bills by donating to the One Tampa: Relief Now, Rise Together fund, visit the City of Tampa website.
The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund was established to provide financial assistance to Pinellas County artists, art organizations, and small creative businesses. Through this relief fund, local artists, organizations, and businesses will be able to pay for their food, rent, utilities, health care, and other expenses.
Support local artists by donating directly through the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund website. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Feeding Tampa Bay has been distributing meals in West Central Florida to those in need. The organization continues to call for donations, now more than ever. Every donation, whether one-time or recurring, can make a huge difference in feeding families, kids, and seniors. The organization also has drive-through grocery sites that provide families with a variety of household essentials.
You may donate to Feeding Tampa Bay here.
In response to the ongoing global crisis, four Florida-based organizations have banded together to form the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund. The Pinellas Community Foundation, United Way Suncoast, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, and Allegany Franciscan Ministries created the strategic collaboration to provide nonprofit 501(c) organizations and government agencies.
Donate to the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fun or learn more about the strategic collaboration here.
For more suggestions on how you can help your local community, feel free to get in touch with us at Viewpoint Realty International today. Call 727.584.7355 or send an email to viewpointrealtyinternational(at)gmail(dotted)com.