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Letter to the editor

Make a change and mentor a child now

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 16, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

Gulf Coast Community Care needs volunteers age 30 and older for its mentoring program. Volunteers are matched with children of all ages throughout Pinellas County who need a positive adult role model. Many of the children are in foster care or live with a single parent who is going to school and working. No experience is necessary. There are no costs. Volunteers spend a few hours a week doing simple activities such as reading, fishing, baking, teaching a craft or visiting a park with a child. For more information, call Beverly at 479-1841 or Bonnie at 479-1825.

COUNTYWIDE

Hearing-impaired program expanded

The Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay has expanded its no-cost telephone loan services, which include amplified telephone and equipment usage, at the following locations: Largo Library, Clearwater Library, Palm Harbor Library, Dunedin Senior Center, Safety Harbor Library, the Upper Tampa Bay Library, St. Petersburg Sunshine Center, Gulfport Senior Center and the Gulf Beaches Library. Call 727 399-9983 for dates and times.

Sign up to help collect for Tampa Bay Harvest

Tampa Bay Harvest is an all-volunteer organization that collects food from restaurants, supermarkets and other sources to donate to food pantries and other local organizations that help feed the hungry. Volunteers are needed to transport food, help with coordinating and record-keeping, and assist with food-collecting events. Call 538-7777, ext. 1.

COUNTYWIDE

Bothered by litter? Call this number

Keep Pinellas Beautiful has a 24-hour litter reporting hotline residents can use to report litter problems: (727) 210-4663.

The litter hotline is designed for large-scale litter problems or those that pose a public safety hazard, such as cases where items could create traffic problems. Examples include:

- Road or environmental hazards.

- Illegal dumping.

- Areas with major litter problems, such as storm drains with shopping carts or bulky items in them, or places like businesses with widespread litter problems.

The hotline is not for reporting code enforcement problems such as overgrown lawns or minor instances of littering.

Action to remove the trash/litter is taken by Keep Pinellas Beautiful Staff or coordination with the appropriate city or county department.

Callers will need to provide a street address or intersection, description of the litter problem and a contact phone number. Keep Pinellas Beautiful will coordinate with the appropriate city or county departments to address litter reports.

For more information, call (727) 210-4663 during regular business hours or visit the Web site at www.keep pinellasbeautiful.org.

Low-cost spaying, neutering offered

More than 60,000 unwanted animals are euthanized in the Tampa Bay area each year, so the nonprofit group Stop Pet Overpopulation Together (SPOT) is teaming up with local veterinarians to offer low-cost spaying and neutering for any cat or dog at least 8 weeks old.

The prices are $35 for male cats, $40 for female cats, $40 for male dogs and $45 to $90 for female dogs, depending on the weight. SPOT offers low-cost spay/neuter vouchers online at www.SPOTusa.org. Call (727) 545-3463.

COUNTYWIDE

Teen volunteer guide is now available

In an effort to promote youth volunteerism and help students complete service projects, the Volunteer Action Center and 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares has published the Pinellas County Teen Guide to Service Learning.

The guide lists 26 agencies in Pinellas that have volunteer opportunities for teens who need to complete 75 hours for the Bright Futures scholarship or for other programs.

For a free copy of the guide, call 211 or visit www.211tampabay.org. The 211 information line has information on health and human services in Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus counties. To reach the information line from a phone that's blocked from making three-digit calls, call 210-4211.

PALM HARBOR

Cadet Squadron seeking members

The Civil Air Patrol Palm Harbor Cadet Squadron is looking for new members 12 to 21 and for adults older than 21 to be senior members or supervisors.

The Palm Harbor chapter, which also covers Tarpon Springs, especially welcomes middle school students.

Young people in the program attend military camps, practice search and rescue techniques in the forest, can earn scholarships to become pilots and perform community service.

Adults interested in joining as senior members must go through extensive background checks.

The cadets meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. the first, second and fourth Mondays of the month at All Saints Episcopal Church at 1700 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs. On the third Monday of the month, the group meets at Tarpon Springs High School at 1411 Gulf Road.

For more information, check www.phcadet.com, call Capt. Robert Downing at (727) 686-8357 or e-mail downingfl438@aol.com.

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 21:11:22]