Would you like to help victims of Hurricane Katrina? Not sure how to do it, aside from writing a check? Dozens of organizations are accepting food, water, clothing and the like. Or, if you prefer, indulge in a meal or entertainment while doing some good.
- Businesses in Westchase's commercial center are accepting care packages through 4 p.m. today. Donors can drop off packages of new toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, combs or brushes, candy, gum, calling cards or other items in large storage bags preferably freezer grade. All About You Moving Inc. has offered to transport the packages to the hurricane zone next Friday, with trucks leaving between noon and 4 p.m. from Montague and Linebaugh avenues. Drop off packages at Bay West Real Estate Services, Gables West Park Village, Starbucks, YMCA Express and the Westchase Recreation Center. For information, call organizers Dawn Harrison at (813) 957-2093 or Angie Whitmore (813) 792-7396. E-mail: dawnharrison@tampabay.rr.com
- The Kiwanis Club of New Tampa is accepting donations to the Red Cross. Send checks to the Red Cross or the Kiwanis Club of New Tampa, Hurricane Katrina Relief, P.O. Box 47475, Tampa, FL 33647. Water, nonperishable food, clothing and diapers may be delivered to Jason Wortham at his All State office at 3248 Cove Bend Drive in Tampa.
n Metropolitan Ministries, which opened its K-5 charter school to evacuees of the Hurricane Katrina area, is accepting food, clothing and money at its donation center at 2101 N Florida Ave. Financial donations can also be made at www.metromin.org or by calling 209-1000.
- United Way of Tampa, 1000 N Ashley Drive, Suite 800, is collecting donations for hurricane victims. Call 274-0900 or visit www.uwtb.org Donations may also be made at any SunTrust bank branch.
- The St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, is collecting relief items 24 hours a day through Saturday. Recommended donations include new, wrapped and clearly marked blankets, tools, construction materials, nonperishable food, first aid kits, can openers, batteries, candles, baby food, diapers, wipes, hygiene items, generators and bottled water.
- Florida Blood Services is seeking blood donors to help with the influx of patients to bay area hospitals from the hurricane-ravaged states. Generally healthy people 17 or older and weighing more than 110 pounds are eligible to donate. For locations of bloodmobiles or blood drives, call 1-800-682-5663 or visit www.fbsblood.org
- The Florida Aquarium is collecting donations for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. A donation box is in Florida Aquarium lobby. Mail checks to the Aquarium Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, c/o the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602. For information, call 273-4000.
- Middleton High School is collecting donations and personal hygiene items for the Red Cross through Sept. 21. For information, call Angela Jennings at 233-3360, ext. 282, or Terrell Cogman at 767-1441.
- America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay seeks money to support food banks affected by the hurricane and those in nearby states serving evacuees. Money raised will be used to secure, transport and distribute food and grocery products to agencies directly involved in the response efforts. Visit www.a2htampabay.org or call 1-800-344-8070.
- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will collect money for the United Way of Tampa Bay's relief effort during every home game in September. Collection points will be set up at Gates 1, 4 and 5 at Tropicana Field. The annual "Shirts Off Our Back" promotion Oct. 2 will also benefit hurricane victims. For a $1 donation, fans can win autographed uniform shirts of players and coaches.
Other ways to help- Welby Medical Frontiers, a nonprofit organization working to bring medical help to the tsunami-ravaged nations of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, will open a Buddha Lounge from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road. The event will feature an Asian themed lounge with music, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and a silent auction. Proceeds will go toward Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Minimum donation of $25 requested at the door. For information, visit www.s419.com - Merrill Gardens, 414 E Chapman Road in Lutz, will have a Southern-style Gumbo Feed from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday to raise money for hurricane victims. Guests are asked to donate a minimum of $10, which will go to the Red Cross. Merrill Gardens will provide food and beverages. For information, call Cathy Bennick at 909-9679 or e-mail marketing.lutz@merrillgardens.com
- Yacht StarShip will host a "Taste of New Orleans" from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday to raise money for the New Orleans Police Foundation, a nonprofit civic organization that supports New Orleans' 1,500 police officers. The event will feature authentic New Orleans cuisine, jazz, a silent auction and an open bar. The yacht will be docked at Channelside between the Florida Aquarium and the St. Pete Times Forum. Cost is $50, and all proceeds will be donated. For reservations, call 223-7999 or visit www.yachtstarship.com
- Centro Ybor will present an afternoon of international dance and food and live music from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the International Bazaar at Centro Ybor, 1600 E Eighth Ave. Cost is $10. Canned goods and additional cash donations will be accepted during the event. Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
- Celebrate the legacy of one of New Orleans' most famous figures with a presentation of Satchmo: The Life and Times of Louis Armstrong through Sept. 25 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Jaeb Theater. The center will donate $1 to the Red Cross for every ticket sold. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $28.50. Call 229-7827 or 1-800-955-1045 or visit www.tbpac.org
- Congregation Schaarai Zedek, 3303 W Swann Ave., and Tampa Unity Church, 3302 W Horatio St., will host a bagel breakfast from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Sunday and Sept. 18. All donations will go to hurricane relief. Call 876-2377, ext. 206.
- Erik Welker of Lutz will donate to the Red Cross proceeds from the sale of his book, Embracing the Eye of the Soul, through Oct. 1. The book costs $14.95 and can be ordered at www.remodelyourmind.com or by calling 1-866-946-3745.
- American Stage will present a staged reading of Tennessee Williams' classic New Orleans play A Streetcar Named Desire at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at 211 Third St. S in St. Petersburg. A $25 minimum donation will go to the Red Cross. An art auction will include one-of-a-kind photos of Jon Voight and Hersha Parady in their historic production of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Call 727 823-7529 or visit www.americanstage.org for information.
- Knology will donate $10 to the Red Cross for every new customer who signs up for Knology cable and Internet services during September. For information, visit www.knology.com
