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AIDS organization seeking school supplies, backpacks

By Times Staff
Published June 26, 2006

AIDS organization seeking school supplies, backpacks

The AIDS Service Association of Pinellas Inc. (ASAP), a division of The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, is seeking donated school supplies and backpacks for their Brighter Seasons for Children Program. The program supports children who have been affected by advanced or chronic illness in their families. The drive is aimed at providing children, ages 4 to 18, with backpacks and supplies to start the school year on a positive note. Last summer's donations enabled the organization to pass out 250 backpacks full of supplies, said program specialist Arlean DeMull.

Needed items include portfolios or trapper keepers, calendars, planners, pencils, pens, notebooks, notebook paper, folders, markers, color pencils, crayons, highlighters, binders, red pens, calculators, dictionaries and thesauruses, rulers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, glue sticks and glue, wet wipes, hand sanitizers, paper towels and tissues.

Monetary donations and supplies can be dropped off through July 24 at Hospice's St. Petersburg Community Service Center and ASAP lobby, 3050 First Ave. S., ASAP's Clearwater office, 1214 Cleveland St.; and Hospice's Community Service Centers, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, and 2675 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor. For information, call Arlean DeMull, at 727-449-2437, ext. 11, or 727-542-9891.

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:

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

Zonta International organizing new chapter

North Pinellas business executives are organizing a new chapter of Zonta International, a service organization that works to advance the status of women. Zonta clubs support their communities through service projects, fundraisers, advocacy and community support.

For information on the new Top of the Bay Zonta Club, representing Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, East Lake, Oldsmar and Westchase, call Mary Fletcher at (727) 781-5949.

Guardian ad Litem needs volunteers

The Guardian ad Litem program needs volunteers to represent the rights of abused, abandoned or neglected children in Pinellas County. The job of the volunteer is to become familiar with a child and the child's case to make recommendations to the court and ensure that the child has a safe, caring and stable environment.

Volunteers receive comprehensive training and are supervised. For more information, call (727) 464-6528 or visit the Web at www.guardianadlitem6.org.

Donate used cell phones for seniors' emergency use

Got an old cell phone you want to get rid of? The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc. and its Senior Victim Advocate Program are collecting used cell phones for their 911 Senior Safety Phone Project. The phones are collected and then distributed as 911 emergency-only or ""safety phones." Largo has a new collection site at 13225 101 St. SE. Call (727) 584-8172. For other collection and distribution site information, call (727) 570-9696, ext. 279.

Use Guide to Giving to give back to community

The Girls Guide to Giving is a directory of nonprofit agencies throughout Pinellas County offering volunteer opportunities. Groups of young women can participate in projects such as peer interaction, service learning and ""how to" projects. The guide lists agencies, contact information, group capacities and minimum age requirements and is available online at www.211tampabay.org or by calling (727) 210-4233, ext. 4557.

Project HOPE to help Katrina victims in area

Hurricane Katrina continues to haunt many of the victims who have since moved on to new lives in new locations. A program that originally began in 2004 after Hurricane Charley devasted areas of Charlotte and DeSoto counties is offering help. Project HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies) is an outreach and referral service aimed at helping Katrina victims living in the area rebuild their lives.

Programs offered include outreach, group and individual crisis counseling, and referrals of resources within the community. Special programs focus on the most vulnerable of victims, children and the elderly. For information, call the Project HOPE Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-8255.

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 07:09:02]