Neighborhood briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 7, 2001

Pets for People matches pets with seniors

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Pinellas County, 9099 130th Ave. N, Largo, matches pets with senior citizens in the Pets for People program.

Seniors age 60 and older can take home a specially matched pet, and the adoption fee and the first veterinarian visit are covered. For information, call 586-3591.

Goodwill seeks donations of children's books

Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc. is seeking donations of new or used books in good condition for their "Bookworks" program, in which children are read to by volunteers and given a free book. Donations may be taken to Goodwill at either 10596 Gandy Blvd. or 7601 Park Blvd. [For information, or to locate additional drop-off sites for donations, call 523-1512, ext. 223.

Item answers questions on powers of attorney

Have you made provisions for someone to make financial and medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated? It's a good plan for many of us, but the Florida Bar recommends that you get all the facts about powers of attorney before assigning someone else that authority.

The Florida Bar provides an easy-to-understand consumer pamphlet, Florida Powers of Attorney. Set up in a question-and-answer format, it helps explain the differences between general and durable powers of attorney and the relationship between them and other advance directives, such as living wills. [For a copy of this pamphlet, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Consumer Pamphlets, Public Information & Bar Services, 650 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300. Single copies are free. Information on bulk orders is available. Call (850) 561-5834. The pamphlet is available on the Florida Bar's Web site at http://www.flabar.org.

Infants and children can get free food

The Florida WIC Program, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, is available to anyone with legal responsibility for a child younger than 5 who qualifies. It provides free food, including cheese, cereal, eggs, peanut butter, infant formula, beans, milk and fruit juice. [Eligibility for WIC is not affected by the client's status in the WAGES/TANF programs. For information, call 824-6914.

Meals offered by senior services group

Neighborly Senior Services offers a service called Neighborly Care, with services that include Select Choice Meals. The program provides a choice of 18 meal selections to be delivered to those who are unable to shop for or cook their own meals, regardless of age. Consumers may purchase packages of five or seven complete meals for $27 and $33. Meals are delivered frozen and may be heated in the microwave or oven. For information, call (727) 573-1832.

Nursing home residents need ombudsmen

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Councils in the Tampa Bay area are looking for volunteers to act as advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Volunteers help in investigating patient complaints and inspecting facilities. Ombudsmen are asked to ensure that they are free from conflict of interest. For more information, call one of the following councils: (727) 834-3127 (North Pinellas/Pasco), (727) 588-6912 (Mid- and South Pinellas), or (813) 871-7185 (Hillsborough).

AIDS Community Project is seeking volunteers

The AIDS Community Project of Tampa Bay needs volunteers for its St. Petersburg location. ACP volunteers are needed for the Buddy Program, office support, telephone reception area, special events planning and fundraisers.

Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can be picked up at 136 Fourth St. N, Suite 303 (Saint Peters Cathedral Annex). ACP buddies spend at least four hours a week with their buddy. Call 820-0305.

Agencies detail new adult's rights

The Florida Bar and the Florida Department of Education have joined efforts to educate the state's high school seniors about their legal rights and responsibilities when they turn 18 years old. The Bar's committee developed a 24-page informational pamphlet that explains the privileges and legal obligations of new adults.

"Legal Guide for New Adults" have been sent to every senior in Florida's public high schools. Funding was provided by the Florida Bar and mailing expenses were provided by the Florida Department of Education.

The easy-to-read booklet explains such things as an individual's right to vote, right to sue in court, privilege to drive in Florida, right to enter a contract, rights and protections as a consumer and employee, rights when arrested, responsibility to file income tax and right to serve on a jury. Call (850) 561-5622.

Public Arts Commission seeks submissions

St. Petersburg's Public Arts Commission hopes to fill Wildwood Community Center, currently under construction, with local art that will celebrate the center's history and importance to the African-American community. The commission invites artists to submit letters of interest and slides of past work. Commissioned artwork will be located both inside and outside the new center.

To see site drawings and to get more information about opportunities as well as the history of Wildwood and Youth Arts Corps at Wildwood, visit St. Petersburg's website at www.stpete.org/publicart.htm or call (727) 551-3250. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 15.

Nominations open for Soroptimist contest

Five Pinellas County women will be honored by Soroptimist International of Upper Pinellas for their professional and/or civic contributions to the community. If there is a woman you would like to nominate, please request a nomination form by calling (727) 789-3691. Nominations should be submitted by Jan. 10 to Cathy Wagner, 2662 West Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34684. A banquet will be held Feb. 17 to honor the selected award winners.

Aluminum can recycling helps build homes

Habitat for Humanity International has teamed up with the Aluminum Association to help needy families. Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes raises money to build homes through aluminum can recycling.

Five local recycling centers are located throughout Pinellas County. The list of recycling sites can be obtained by calling the Pinellas Habitat for Humanity office at 894-1522.

Individual, family, church, club and company participation is encouraged.

Volunteers also are needed to manage Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes day-to-day operations. The group meets the second Monday of each month at the main office, 301 37th Ave. N, second floor.

Flags available through Department of State

Both State of Florida and United States flags are available through the Department of State. Costs vary according to size and materials used. You may also have your flag flown over the Florida Capital at no additional charge. Call (850) 488-1802 or write Wilma Shouse, Florida Department of State, Bureau of General Services, 430 E Gaines St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250.

YouthBuild offers training program for youths 16-24

YouthBuild St. Petersburg offers an eight-month program for youths ages 16 to 24 who reside in St. Petersburg that includes GED training, leadership development and training in the career field of construction, among other support services. To be considered for admission, call 893-1573.

Museum seeks witnesses to Holocaust experience

Since 1994, the Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S, St. Petersburg, has been interviewing Holocaust survivors, and now the museum is expanding its work to include refugees, hidden children, liberators, protectors, freedom fighters and children of survivors.

Because of the age of these eyewitnesses -- most are over 65 -- the museum considers making an official record of the testimonies a priority.

If you have an eyewitness account or have information pertaining to the events surrounding the Nazi rise to power, invasion of Europe or other Nazi war crimes, the museum asks for your participation in the project. For information, call the museum at 820-0100.

Program teaches dangers of substance abuse

Family Resources Inc., a non-profit family service provider that works in conjunction with the James B. Sanderlin Family Center, offers the Kinship Care Family Heritage program for children ages 6-10 and their caregivers.

The program is open to caregiver families who are active participants in support groups at the Sanderlin Center, who are in need of assistance or have struggled with substance abuse problems.

The program will be offered in three 14-week segments through August 2001. The purpose is to provide stability for children in the caregiver's homes by strengthening the overall family unit and educating children about the dangers of substance abuse and the availability of community resources and prevention services.

For information, call 550-4250.

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