Current Needs in our Community
Do you have a few extra hours to give to help make a difference in someone’s life? You can be a part of something greater than yourself when you serve others. Below are just a few of the current needs within our community.If you would like to be notified by email whenever serving opportunities come up please fill out the form on the right side below.
Shepherd Center
The Shepherd Center can always use more volunteers. At this time, we need volunteers in the following capacities:
Outreach Workers. These volunteers will work with our clients (elderly poor, low income families, homeless) and refer them to resources in the community to help with their need. We have forms for people to register to receive food allocations and clothing from our center, but we refer them to other community services when we are unable to help them directly. We will provide training to the volunteer, and several experienced volunteers are always available to answer questions. Ideally, these individuals should have some social work or case management experience, or at least some experience with the variety of services available for families and youth in North Pinellas County. Hours are between 9am and 1pm, one (or more) days a week.
Soup Kitchen Volunteers. Anyone who can help with cooking or serving food one (or more) days a week between 9am and 1pm. We serve food seven days each week, mostly at Tarpon churches. Approximately 100 to 150 people eat at our soup kitchens daily.
Thrift Store Volunteers. Volunteers are always needed to help sort through the many donations of clothing, furniture and other items we receive at the Thrift Store, determine pricing and process them before they are brought to the store for sale. We also need ongoing help on the floor of the store to tidy the shelves and prepare floor space for new items that are up for sale. We are always open to new ideas on the floor layout, where to put furniture vs. clothing, how to arrange these items, etc. Store hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and 9am to 2:30 pm on Saturday. Training is available.
Medical Helpers. Primarily nurses and other medical professionals to work on Mondays (only) doing blood pressure screenings, help with eyeglasses and dental hygiene. A group of faithful nurses from Helen Ellis Hospital and several doctor’s offices assist each week. More medical help is always needed.
Anyone who would like to volunteer can call our Volunteer Coordinator, Victor Zekis (727-485-8130), or just drop by the Shepherd Center (780 S. Pinellas Avenue) to fill out an application form.
Guardium Ad Litem Program - Be the voice for an abused child
The Guardian Ad Litem directly helps abused and neglected children in the Pasco county court system by providing a volunteer who represents the child's best interest. There is a huge need for Guardian advocates. Training is provided. For more information please contact Bethia Hinds, 727-834-3493 or email bethia.hinds@gal.fl.gov.
The Florida Blood Mobile - Jan 22nd
We understand the importance of helping others and what better way to give than to give blood to save a life. There is no substitute for blood. It has to come from one person in order to give to another. A critical number of voluntary donations are required every day to meet the need for blood in the Tampa Bay area. We host the blood mobile once each quarter on our campus. The Blood Mobile will be at GCC on the dates listed below from 8 am - 1 pm. Please plan to give the gift of life.
Metropolitan Ministries of Pasco
A faith based social service agency that provides basic resources for individuals and families such as food, clothing, shelter, educational programs, and spiritual support. Volunteers are needed to assist with daily operations, sorting donations, processing clients and more. Metropolitan Ministry of Pasco is located at 3214 US Highway 19 in Holiday. To volunteer please contact Nancy at 727.937.3268. To volunteer to help with the clothes closet please contact Charlene at 727-842-8768.
Pack-a-Sack Food Donations for Chronically Hungry Kids in Pasco County
GCC has partnered with Gulfside Elementary to stop food insecurity for chronically hungry children through the Pack-a-Sack program. You can help us provide these kids with nutritional, child-friendly, individually packaged snacks, drinks and meals. Food donations should be dropped off at the GCC office during business hours or placed directly in the white collection barrels in the Kid Zone lobby during weekend services. For more information on on what food items are needed click on the Back Pack Food Program image or to volunteer with this service project, please contact Amanda DiPadua in the GCC Office.
Habitat for Humanity
ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: (for anyone 16 years of age and older)
Construction: Drywall & Framing 8:00am – 2:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
ReStore: 4 hour shifts, Monday thru Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm.
As a non-profit organization we are always in need of good people willing to help. Our affiliate is all volunteer, so our reliance on the community becomes increasingly important as we strive to eliminate substandard housing in our community. For more information, contact 727.859.9038
Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Program
The Pasco County Elderly Nutrition Program provides meals for the elderly in our community. They provide the Meals on Wheels service as well as having sites where seniors can come to get a warm meal. Several positions are available, such as Kitchen Aides, Home Delivery Drivers, and Clerical Assistants. Duties include, but are not limited to:
Kitchen Aides – sort and package meals for delivery; serve food at an Elderly Nutrition Dining Site, clean-up.
Home Delivery Drivers – deliver meals from any one of the eight Nutrition Dining Sites located throughout Pasco County . Mileage reimbursement is available from the County. A valid Florida driver’s license and Level II background check are required.
Clerical Assistants – greet visitors, answer the telephone, make copies, basic computer/typing skills, filing.
Interested in bringing smiles and camaraderie while serving seniors? Contact Diane Cunningham, Assistant Elderly Nutrition Manager, by phone (727-834-3288) or email (dcunningham@pascocountyfl.net).
Peggy's Clothes Closet for the Homeless
Volunteers can help with sorting donations and distributing donations to the homeless in Tarpon Springs. For more information contact Peggy at 727-787-1903. Always accepting the following donations:
New and slightly used men's jeans or work pants
Men's sneakers or work shoes
Blankets and Sleeping Bags
Towels
T-shirts and work shirts
Knit hats and gloves
Hygiene Items
Cold Weather Shelter Volunteers
When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, many of our area shelters open their doors to provide a warm night sleep for the homeless in our community. We are trying to form a team from GCC to help on a rotating basis. A team needs 12 people (8 minimum—one man and one woman per shift) to cover 4 shifts so no one has to do too much. Training is provided and the shelters are safe. For more information on the cold weather shelter, please contact Patti at 727-375-8801 ext 2232.
Food for the Cold Weather Shelter - Volunteers are needed to make sandwiches and other light refreshments that will be served at the cold weather shelter. One to two day notice would be given on when the food is needed.
Relay for Life of Trinity 2012
The theme for 2012 is "The Cure...Music to our Ears." The dates for the Relay for Life of Trinity 2012 are May 4-5. Anyone interested in forming a team or being on the planning committee should contact Lizzy Mead at lizzy.mead@cancer.org or call 813-949-0291 ext 5609.
Knitting through Faith
Do you have a love for knitting or crocheting and a desire to help others in need? Then you will love Knitting Through Faith. Whether you’re an expert at knitting/crocheting or you just want to learn how, we would love for you to join this new ministry. Our mission is to bring joy into the hearts of others in need and share our love for Jesus Christ one stitch at a time. Contact Nicole Worley via email: knitfaith@gmail.com or call 727.831.2505 or stop by the Local Outreach kiosk for more information.
CROP Walk 2012
Join us and participate in our CROP Hunger Walk, helping hungry people in our community and around the world. The walk will be held on March 10th at 9:00am. We will start at Simms Park in New Port Richey and walk around Orange Lake. For more information about Crop Walks go to www.cropwalkonline.org, or you can email patti.templeton@generationscc.com.