About 1,300 Pinellas County residents are going without a paycheck due to the federal government shutdown that has dragged on for more than a month.

“One of the main things these folks have indicated that they need is help with food,” said Assistant County Administrator Lourdes Benedict during a Jan. 22 County Commission meeting.

Benedict said several organizations, including 211, RCS Pinellas, Network to End Hunger, Juvenile Welfare Board and the Coast Guard had been meeting biweekly to talk about ways to help and get help.

She said the 1,300 federal employees include about 130 airport workers and 1,100 who serve in the Coast Guard. About 800 Coast Guard service members are in Clearwater, 300 are in the St. Petersburg area and 500 are stationed at Sand Key.

The County’s Human Services Department is working to connect all the partners together to focus on these employees’ needs, Benedict said. One of the things they’ve been able to do is “popup” food pantries in three locations to supplement all the pantries that already assist people in need in the county.

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s Food Pantry is assisting Coast Guard service members in St. Petersburg and RCS is helping Coast Guard members in Clearwater. A pantry also is located in the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.

Benedict said the idea to “popup” food pantries for airport workers and Coast Guard service members came from a desire to “bring food to the workers, so they wouldn’t have to stand in line, go to a pantry or even spend their gas money on that.”

Michele Routh, public relations director at the airport, said employees with the Transportation Security Administration had been managing the food bank at the airport and various employees and tenants have contributed. She said it started with donations from Signature Flight Support. St. Petersburg Free Clinic has volunteered to coordinate the food bank in the future, she said. About 100 TSA employees work at the airport.

Benedict sent a “shout out” to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and RCS for their work.

“It’s really humbling, being in on some of these calls (biweekly meetings) and anything that anyone asks for, they just basically say yes,” she said.

The message continues to be, “You just tell us what you need and we’ll get it done,” Benedict said.

Another partner stepping up to help is the Pinellas Community Foundation, which authorized $30,000 to support food relief efforts. Grants of $10,000 each were given to Feeding America Tampa Bay, RCS and St. Petersburg Free Clinic.

“Families feeling the hardship of lost wages from their federal job may never have used a food bank or food pantry in the past,” said Duggan Cooley, Pinellas Community Foundation CEO. “We want them to know the community is here to help, and we encourage them not to be embarrassed to reach out.”

For a list of food banks and pantries in Pinellas, visit pinellascf.org/pantries.

The Humane Society of Pinellas, 3040 State Road 590 in Clearwater, has a food pantry that can help federal employees with pets. For more information, call 727-797-7722 or visit www.HumaneSocietyofPinellas.org/pet-food/.

The city of St. Petersburg is collecting donations for Coast Guard families through the Sun Coast branch of the US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Association. Collection boxes are located at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N. Suggested donations include grocery store gift cards and gas station gift cards. Other suggested items are:

• Nonperishable food items.

• Cleaning supplies, such as paper towels, dish soap, hand soap, laundry detergent.

• Toiletry items, including toilet paper, feminine products, shampoo, conditioner.

• Baby items, such as diapers of all sizes, pull-ups, baby wipes.

• Pet food

Utility bills

Paying utilities bills could be a problem for some. County Utilities is deferring payment of bills. The city of Pinellas Park is deferring utility fees including water, wastewater, storm water and solid waste. Late fees will be waived for Coast Guard and federal public service employees until the furlough is over. In a post on its Facebook page, the city of Clearwater said it would work with anyone that is part of the government shutdown. The city of Oldsmar also is in the list of those deferring utility bills for federal employees who aren’t receiving pay. Those in need of help with their bills are urged to call the customer service number on their bills.

PSTA to help with free bus rides

Robert Sanders, a PSTA bus driver, spoke at the agency’s Jan. 23 Board meeting and requested that PSTA help by providing free bus rides to furloughed federal employees. He said many in the community were helping in different ways, but nobody was addressing transportation needs.

“We can help hundreds of families right now,” he said.

He said by offering free rides on the bus, PSTA could provide “peace of mind” to those struggling to pay for gas, insurance and other costs of transportation.

PSTA CEO Brad Miller said staff had talked about offering free rides and with the encouragement of the Board agreed to start what he called a pilot program.

“Hopefully the government will open soon,” he said, agreeing to promote the free service to be available to employees by showing their federal ID to bus drivers.

Free rides will continue for 30 days past the end of the shutdown.

Call 211 for assistance

211 is the single point of contact to get help. Federal employees can call 211 or text their zip code to 898211, Benedict said.

211 can connect federal employees to programs, such as the County’s Adult Financial Assistance Program and JWB’s Navigators, which are available to help families.

Benedict said United Way had donated $20,000 to help 211 buy whatever is needed from diapers to food — whatever people may need.

The Coast Guard has a mutual aid program offering loans. A number of credit unions also have loan programs. A list is available at www.211.org/services/govshutdown, which has a wealth of other information on surviving the shutdown.

SNAP benefits (food stamps) are available through February, Benedict said. They have already been issued and people are urged to budget them as no more will come next month. The school reduced and free lunch program is funded through February. Benedict said the School Board is working with families of federal employees that need help.

How to help

Besides the donation box at the city of St. Petersburg, the public can donate to any local food bank, including St. Petersburg Free Clinic and RCS, which are coordinating the “popup” pantries. Companies and organizations that want to help can call the County’s Human Services Department at 727-464-8417.

Commissioner Dave Eggers encouraged county staff to work with all 24 municipalities to make sure efforts aren’t being duplicated. Commission Chair Karen Seel agreed.

“As this drags on, the impact will become even more daunting and difficult for our federal employees,” Seel said.

To view article in Tampa Bay Newspapers visit: https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_080238d4-2024-11e9-8a24-0371016df94f.html 

Terry Jones has been the executive director of the Clearwater Neighborhood Family Center (CNFC) for just over a year, and his exuberance about bringing change and impact to the area is contagious.

“The center is basically a place for resources for the community in this area code, 33755, and surrounding areas,” Jones shared, adding that he wants the center to be known for having the best youth summits and conferences in the county.

CNFC was established in 2009 with a mission of enriching the lives of children and families in the spirit of community and shared goals by being a resource for collaborative partnerships.

Offering services such as copying, faxing, an onsite notary and offering electric and water stipends for seniors, CNFC provides a central location for community members to access help in their neighborhood since transportation is often an issue for the residents of Pinellas County’s second highest at-risk area.

The center annually refers and assists nearly 7,000 residents in applying for housing, food stamps, health care, provides job counseling, tax filing and other training programs.

Now Jones is on a mission to alert residents that CNFC’s offices are in the North Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater, realizing that some people still don’t know CFNC had moved into the new space–although the move happened before he came on board.

“We were at the Martin Luther King Center on Douglas Street, so when we moved from there, people didn’t move with us,” he acknowledged.

He’s already set a plan in motion to combat the possible confusion over the location with CNFC’s “Did You Know?” campaign, which incorporates flyers, magnets and upcoming television commercials to let people know where the center’s services are offered and the various events and opportunities held at the location.

One of eight family resources set up by the Juvenile Welfare Board, CNFC also provides additional resources such as a clothes pantry that’s open on Thursdays, and their Monday food pantry for seniors and community members in need.

Jones is especially proud of CNFC’s afterschool program and wants to build it into the preeminent program in the Tampa Bay region.

At only $200 a year per family regardless of income or size, it’s a steal. Students in the afterschool program are visited by speakers who hold workshops on character building, responsibility, education assistance, as well as attending field trips. The program also extends into a summer camp.

Currently, CNFC provides a bus that travels to area schools (including Kings Highway, Sandy Lane, Dunedin, Skycrest, Curtis Fundamental and Belleair) and picks students up to bring them to the center. Martial arts classes by Shihan School of Survival’s Walter Evans are among the favorites offered.

Because JWB primarily focuses on grades K-5, Jones needed to write grants to raise money for programs for older youths.

“One of the things that prompted me to write grants for the older kids was that I saw them coming in and we weren’t touching them,” he noted.

After conducting surveys in the community, CNFC came up with a new program called “Jumpstart Your Life!”

The program is for teenage girls through the age of 21, and it teaches them social skills, resume building, leadership skills and mock interview skills.

Another youth program requested was a video technology program. Now CFNC is planning video courses and a YouTube channel that will be run by their students, who will also learn about safe social media, technical skills and drone-recording.

Special Project Coordinator Michele Edwards, who assists with conferences, summits and special events, shared info about the CNFC’s highly successful 2018 Rising Above! Youth/Adult Leadership Conference held in July at Largo High School.

While they expected less than 200 hundred people, the conference far exceeded expectations with more than 400 youth and adults in attendance over the three days. The center rented buses that picked students up at different locations in the city, allowing a greater number of participants.

The event was jam-packed with vital information and positive experiences with workshops led by community influencers including Dr. Christopher Warren, Derrick Roach, Jai Hinson and Henry Johnson Jr., among others.

Highlights were presentations by St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams and Clearwater Police Department’s Chief Daniel Slaughter.

Attendees were treated to workshops and performances by Artz 4 Life Academy, and workshops on finance, safe social media, mental health awareness, human trafficking and building positive relationships with police. Performances included a play on bullying from PlayNAround Children’s Theatre Group, and a performance called “Dinner in Oz” put on by youth from CNFC’s summer camp.

Jones looks forward to expanding CNFC’s outreach activities and programming–including holiday neighborhood caroling, CNFC’s video students spotlighting residents on camera and Leslie Henry’s Wednesday Night Line Dancing class.

For more information on the Clearwater Neighborhood Family Center visit www.clearwaternfc.org.

To view article in The Weekly Challenger visit:  http://theweeklychallenger.com/the-clearwater-neighborhood-family-center-eyes-growth-in-excellence-and-impact/ 

Florida voters are considering a number of constitutional amendments in this November’s election. Of those amendments, Amendment 1 if approved, would result in an unnecessary and unfair tax shift. The reduction in funding to local governments will mean reduced funding for essential services including law enforcement, fire response and children’s services, among others. Voters should reject this flawed amendment.

Amendment 1 is a bait and switch proposal. Described by its legislative creators as a tax reduction measure, Amendment 1 is actually a tax shift that provides relief for a small percentage or property owners. Most Pinellas homes — two of three — would not qualify for the additional homestead exemption. Renters and businesses will receive no tax reduction from Amendment 1, and in fact may see their taxes increase if local governments raise tax rates to offset the loss of revenue from Amendment 1.

Amendment 1 would add a third homestead exemption only for primary homes with assessed value above $100,000. Assessed value is typically lower than a home’s market value. This means that only a portion of higher-value homes would qualify, while all other properties would receive no tax benefit.

The impact to Pinellas County will be broad. Taxing authorities including Pinellas County, cities, fire districts, EMS (emergency medical services), the Juvenile Welfare Board and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (which operates the bus system), will see a significant reduction in their operating budgets if Amendment 1 is passed. The overall impact to funding for the services provided by these organizations is approximately $42.5 million per year. That’s $42 million in services — from public safety, to public transportation, public health, libraries, parks and other services — that likely will be reduced if voters approve Amendment 1.

The proposal to add another homestead exemption came from state lawmakers in Tallahassee, but the impact of this tax change will be felt mainly by our local communities, not the state government. Amendment 1 will reduce local governments’ ability to provide important services to our community. It is unnecessary and unfair to the majority of our residents, businesses and property owners. I urge you to vote no on Amendment 1.

-By Kenneth Welch, chairman of the Pinellas County Commission.

To view article in Tampa Bay Times visit: https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/amendment-1-is-a-tax-shift-that-would-hurt-local-government-20181025/