South Pinellas County, Inc.
Charities & Links
CHARITIES SUPPORTED BY VETERANS OF TIERRA VERDE & SOUTHERN PINELLAS COUNTY:
Building Homes for Heroes: Building Homes for Heroes is a national, non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2006. The organization provides individuals, corporations and others with an opportunity to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives.
Building Homes for Heroes is committed to supporting those who have returned home from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan with severe wounds and disabilities, with a goal to build homes for families in dire need. It’s our honor to support those who have been called upon to make a tremendous personal sacrifice.
Additional information about Building Homes for Heroes is online at http://buildinghomesforheroes.org/home.htm.
Their mailing address is 65 Roosevelt Ave., Suite 105, Valley Stream, NY 11581. Telephone: 1-516-684-9220.
Support Our Troops: Mayor Finnerty, then Councilman, attended a meeting which was attended by Marlene Clausen, a Councilwoman from Indian Shores. She started a group of volunteers who were sending care packages to our troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. Marlene asked if anyone would be interested in helping with the program. Mayor Finnerty was impressed because she concentrated her efforts on gathering names and addresses of men and women serving from local municipalities. The Mayor brought the idea of a donation box at City Hall to the Commission. It was supported by the Commissioners.
He made the announcement to the citizens of St. Pete Beach in June 2006. He committed to picking up donations each week and delivering them to Indian Shores City Hall.
The program grew and within the first two years almost 1,000 boxes were shipped and the program received over 450 thank you letters from troops. This is a program that has grown into something all residents can be proud of every time a package is sent and a letter is received.
In early 2008, Teri Finnerty incorporated the program as a non-profit organization with The State of Florida, under the name SPB Support Our Troops, Inc. All donations may be tax exempt for income tax purposes by individuals and corporations. Teri may be contacted by phone at 727-641-2314 or email at spbsot@yahoo.com. Donations may be sent to: SPB Support Our Troops, Inc., City Hall, 155 Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.
Wounded Warrior Project : This project began when a group of veterans and friends, moved by stories of wounded service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need.
What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition into civilian life. The project's mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Their vision is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in our history. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness and enlist aid for needs of injured service members.
Information about the Wounded Warrior Project is online at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Their mailing address is 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Fisher House: This veterans support organization is dedicated to helping military families and is located at Bay Pines Veterans Hospital. A recent article in The Island Reporter featured a $500 check presentation to Fisher House from Veterans of Tierra Verde & Southern Pinellas County.
A "Fisher House" is a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at military and VA medical centers. The homes are usually located within walking distance of a treatment facility or have transportation available. There are, at present, 53 Fisher Houses in the United States and Germany.
Fisher Houses are given to the U.S. Government as gifts. Military service secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are responsible for operating and maintaining the homes.
Fisher House Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, builds new houses and assists in the coordination of private support, and encourages public support for the homes. In 2010, approximately 12,000 families were served. The average length of stay is 15 days and 45-60 days for combat casualties. The average occupancy level is 87%. To date, Fisher Houses have saved families over $16 million in lodging expense, plus food and transportation costs.
Information about Fisher House is available online at www.fisherhouse.org/houses/house-locations/florida/bay-pines-va-healthcare-system-st-petersburg. Their mailing address is 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard, St. Petersburg, FL, 33708. Telephone: 1-727-319-1350. Fax: 1-727-319-1106.
TWO MORE LINKS OF INTEREST: The first link is to the Armed Forces Museum and the second link is to the National World War II Museum. http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com and http://www.nationalww2museum.org.
BELOW ARE LINKS TO MILITARY SERVICE BRANCHES & THE SOLDIER'S ANGELS WEBSITE:
http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo
http://www.vfweurope.net/powmiav2.php
http://www.army.mil
http://airforce.com
http://www.uscg.mil
http://www.marines.com
http://www.navy.com
http://www.soldiersangels.org
This information came to us from the wife of a local active duty serviceman. Thanks to a cooperative project between Soldiers' Angels and Bake Me a Wish, deployed service members can receive birthday cakes from patriotic Americans. For every Freedom Cake purchased, a birthday cake will be sent to a service member in the customer's name. Bake Me a Wish will generously donate delicious birthday cakes and Soldiers' Angels will send each one on its way. Supporters can also donate to help cover the cost of shipping. Help a hero have a great birthday, even if he or she is far from home . . .
