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Organization collecting items for homeless

By Times Staff
Published June 23, 2006

Organization collecting items for homeless

CLEARWATER - A nonprofit organization has launched a project to collect essential items for the area's homeless population.

Bring Items of Necessity, or BIN, was created by the Homeless Emergency Project, a nonprofit that provides housing and support services to approximately 1,000 people each year in the Tampa Bay area. A number of area businesses have opened their doors to the BIN project by allowing their locations to be used as collection sites for food, clothing, toiletries, linen, cleaning supplies and other essential items.

BIN is a one-year project that will be active until June 2007. The project's themes and supplies being collected for the next three months are:

-- June - "Walk a mile in their shoes." Gift certificates or new men's, women's and children's shoes.

-- July - "A ticket to ride." Bus passes, tokens, gas cards, bicycles, locks and helmets.

-- August - "Pack it up, pack it in." Gift cards, new back-to-school supplies and backpacks.

For a list of BIN themes, companies accepting donations and dropoff location addresses, visit PostcardMania's Web site at www.postcardmania.com/HEP.asp

27th Kiwanis Mease Midnight 10K set for July 4

DUNEDIN - The 27th annual Kiwanis Mease Midnight 10K run will kick off at 12:15 a.m. July 4 from Causeway Plaza at the corner of Curlew Road and Alt. U.S. 19. A 5K run starts at 11:35 p.m. July 3, and a 1-mile fun run and walk precedes it at 11 p.m. The race course is out and back on Dunedin Causeway. More than 700 luminarias will help light the way. Proceeds benefit charities supported by the Kiwanis Clubs of Countryside and Dunedin Since 1980, this event has raised more than $418,000 for Kiwanis community charities. Online registration is available on www.Active.com through June 30. Call Joe Garrison at 727 535-2257 or email kiwanismidnightrun@yahoo.com.

Festival of Trees artwork sought

If you have artistic talent, this year the Festival of Trees might be your place to shine.

Organizers are looking for one piece of original art to be used on the festival's poster, brochure and invitations.

Local artists can submit their work, and entries will be considered by a jury with a $500 prize for the winner, $300 for second place and $200 for third place.

Artists who want to enter should call festival organizers for specifications.

For information on criteria, artwork specifications and awards to winners, call UPARC Foundation at (727) 797-8712.

The deadline is June 30.

Amvets Post 67 offers Friday fish fry

CLEARWATER - Amvets Post 67 holds a fish fry from 6 to 8 p.m. every Friday at 1825 N Highland Ave., on the northeast corner of Highland Avenue and Greenlea Drive. Cost is $7. Call (727) 631-0067

Italian Americans hold dinner-dance Tuesdays

CLEARWATER - The Italian American Club of Greater Clearwater, 200 McMullen-Booth Road, has a pasta dinner and dance from 5 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Tickets are $7 for members and $9 for nonmembers.

The club also holds dinner-dances from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. every other Saturday. Tickets are $13 for members and $16 for nonmembers. Call (727) 791-8698.

Signaling devices for disabled available

Florida residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf and blind or speech-impaired can receive amplified telephone equipment through the Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay at no cost as long as they continue to live in the state at least six months per year. Telecommunications access for the hearing-and-speech impaired is funded by a surcharge on every telephone consumer's phone bill. Equipment is available by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the Deaf and Hearing Connection main office in Seminole or at satellite locations throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Free hearing screenings, other equipment and hearing aids are also available at the Deaf and Hearing Connection, a nonprofit organization specializing in communication access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. To obtain information or to schedule an appointment, call (727) 399-9983.

[Last modified June 23, 2006, 07:39:50]