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Tag: APP Good News

  • Surplus food from the St. Pete Grand Prix to be distributed to those in need

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the festivities around the St. Pete Grand Prix come a lot of food, but not all of it gets prepared and served.

    That’s where Positive Impact St. Pete steps in. They’ll be taking the surplus food and getting it to those in need.

    Executive Director Karen Rae said that before the partnership, much of the food her organization now collects would have been thrown away.

    “It’s such a blessing to be able to take food that otherwise would go to waste and provide it to our neighbors who may not have food on their dinner tables if not for this partnership,” she said.

    Rae said this is the third year they’ll collect the extra food and that they’ll be able to serve hundreds more families than they’re typically able to in the immediate days after the race.

    Still, she hopes the community understands the need is constant.

    “It’s one of our biggest weekends, but food insecurity affects families year-round,” she said. “So we are out here every single week, year-round, ensuring our neighbors have groceries.”

    This is a relationship Rae hopes continues for many years to come.

    The organization distributes food every weekend at Tangerine Plaza in St. Pete.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • 75-year-old Clearwater physical therapy tech has no plans to retire

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — With physical therapy you get out what you put in. Sonny Harriel, 75, doesn’t just tell his patients that, the physical therapy tech lives it in his career.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sonny Harriel has worked at BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital for 51 years. He is a physical therapy tech

    • The average that Americans have worked at their current job is four years. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics that is the lowest tenure average in more than 20 years

    • Harriel says he has no plans to retire anytime soon

    • To see more Black History Month stories, click here


    He has put in a significant amount of time during that career.

    “I felt so good. I wouldn’t have thought that I would be in the hospital, or anywhere working for 50 years. But once I got 20 and 30, I said, that is it. I am not going anywhere,” said Sonny.

    51 years now at BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital, and it’s a place that has shaped his life in many ways.

    Sonny Harriel has his own parking space at BayCare Morton Plant Hospital dedicated to his over 50 of service. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    Sonny even found love at the hospital.

    “I said no for a couple of weeks, I kept saying, no, no, no. Then finally he kept being so insistent,” said Janice Harriel.

    “It was it was 4:20, right outside the door at 4:20 we started talking,” said Sonny, who remembers the place and time he first talked to his now wife.

    The pair married in 1991. Like Sonny, Janice has worked at the hospital a long, long time. 

    “This year is 45 years for me. From a child, to now 62 years old. This is my only place I have worked,” she said. 

    Janice smiles when she reminds everyone, she was born in this hospital, on the day former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. 

    For many African Americans, career longevity at one place of employment has proved more difficult. It is well documented that workforce challenges and discrimination have been a big part of history for Black Americans. 

    For Sonny and Janice, that was not the case. They both say it was the acceptance from their first day working at Morton Plant that played a role in both staying so long. 

    “Patients come up to us, they will come up to Sonny, and they will say you worked with me in therapy, and they will say, I remember you, you prayed for me,” said Janice. “And it’s such a good feeling, giving back to our patients in our community to let them know we love what we do here at Morton Plant hospital.”

    Combined these lovebirds have worked 96 years for Morton Plant Hospital. 

    They don’t plan to retire soon either. 

    “People ask me, when do you retire? I told them they shredded my paper, so I don’t have retirement paper. That’s a trick I play on people, because I like having fun and I just enjoy working here and I don’t know anyone leave, right? No plans,” said Sonny. “As long as I can walk, I’m coming to work.”

    Sonny is actually not the longest tenured employee at Morton Plant. A clinical nurse that started in 1973 has two years more on Sonny. 

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    Erin Murray

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  • Night to Shine lights up Pinellas for third year

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was a Night to Shine at the St. Petersburg Coliseum Friday night. The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual prom for people with special needs there for the third year.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual Night to Shine on February 13 in St. Petersburg

    • It’s a prom-type event for people with special needs who are ages 14 and up

    • The coordinator said guests live with conditions ranging from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments

    • Guests told Spectrum News they enjoy the event because they can let loose without feeling self-conscious


    “Epic,” said Kimberly Nash, coordinator of the Pinellas County event, when asked to describe the night in one word. “It’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s fantastic. There’s not one word that can actually describe tonight.”

    Nash said registration filled to capacity within an hour-and-a-half of opening, and this year’s waitlist was longer than the actual guest list.

    Invitees arrived in limos and were greeted by a red carpet lined with volunteer “paparazzi.”

    “This is my third year doing it, and I love it,” said volunteer Kim Heffner.

    “You get to cheer them on, blow bubbles, give them high-fives,” said six-year-old Liv, another volunteer.

    At one point, volunteers took part in an impromptu sing-along when one guest started singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by one of his favorite artists, John Denver.

    “Seeing what they have to go through day by day, I mean, it’s just amazing to see everyone show up for them,” said Heffner.

    Guests attending Night to Shine. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Connor Deeb and Ashunti Teasley Dorsey said they wouldn’t have missed this year’s event for the world. It was the second time attending for both of them.

    “Honestly, I love it here,” said Deeb, 22. “It’s a great place to meet people, have some great music, dance.”

    “We get to be ourselves without having to worry about judging and things like that,” said Dorsey, 25.

    Dorsey told Spectrum News she has autism and chronic tic disorder. She said that means she makes movements that she can’t control.

    “I remember waking up one day, and I thought I was just having chills until it started progressing worse and worse until I found out it’s tics,” she said. “Even though I struggle, I continue to move on and live my life like no other.”

    Dorsey said tics aren’t something she has to be self-conscious of at Night to Shine, and that’s the point.

    “It’s a night that we invite those with special needs, and we remind them that it is not their disability that defines them, it is Christ,” said Nash.

    Nash said the 265 guests live with a range of conditions, from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments. This night is about giving them and their plus-ones a chance to feel like royalty.

    “Whether you leave here as an honored guest with a crown on your head and a smile on your face and probably some feet that hurt from all the dancing, or a parent who has seen your child celebrated and loved tonight, I think that everybody just leaves here with joy,” said Nash.

    A Night to Shine is a worldwide event held in more than 700 locations. Nash said this is the third year Central Christian Church hosted the Pinellas event.

    Nash said they hope to hold next year’s dance at the newly repaired Tropicana Field. If that works out, she said that they can expand to inviting 750 guests.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Clearwater gets national attention as spring tourism season starts

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The spring tourism season has started in the Tampa area.

    From Major League Baseball to college softball, fans and athletes heading to the diamonds are bringing with them welcome exposure and an economic boost to the Bay area.

    While spring training for the MLB is already underway in Pinellas County for the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays, Clearwater kicked off the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational softball tournament at Eddie C. Moore Complex Thursday.

    “Clearwater’s becoming the diamond capital of the county in the month of February,” said Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector. “Diamond sports, softball and baseball, so ESPN is broadcasting all 40 games on one of their various platforms.”

    Rector is proud the national attention shines the spotlight on Clearwater.

    “The road to the World Series starts in Clearwater,” said Brian Lowack, President and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

    He says tickets to the tournament were sold through 47 states and three countries. Fans from across the country and around the world will cheer on 16 college softball teams — 10 of them ranked top 25 in the country.

    The Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational runs Feb. 12-15. (Spectrum News/Melissa Eichman)

    “Tens of thousands are going to be here over the course of the next four days. That’s thousands of hotel room nights and ultimately leading towards over $10 million in economic impact,” Lowack said of the impact.

    Lenny’s Restaurant feels that impact, reporting that business more than doubles this time of year. Loraine Bates has been a server at Lenny’s for more than 25 years and says the restaurant will be ready.

    “It’s means we’re going to be fully staffed,” said Bates. “It’s going to be like a Sunday every day of the week. We’re all hyped for it, we’re all looking for it.”

    Visitors working up an appetite while cheering on their favorite teams.

    “If you’re hungry or hung over, come to Lenny’s. We’ll feed you and we’ll take care of you,” said Bates.

    A host city taking care of fans while they take in Tampa Bay’s sunshine and beaches, whether it’s from the stands or while watching on TV.

    The Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational runs Feb. 12-15.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • How Myakka Elephant Ranch keeps their elephants warm

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Elephants may be built for the wild, but colder weather still means extra care.

    So animal handlers at the Myakka Animal Ranch in Manatee County are taking extra steps to keep their animals safe.

    “This is so cool,” Finley Martin said while watching the animals in their environment. “You are so cute.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Elephants at the  Myakka Elephant Ranch

    • Petting the elephants brings the experience to a whole new level at Myakka Elephant Ranch

    • During the colder temperatures in Florida the elephants living here in Myakka Elephant Ranch have a unique way to keep them warm
    • There are a total of six elephants at the ranch. Founder Lou Barreda said their response to cooler temperatures depends on where the elephants are from and what their bodies are used to. But he said they’d rather be warm

    Petting the elephants brings the experience to a whole new level at Myakka Elephant Ranch.

    “The skin feels weirder than I thought it would be,” said Martin, who said the experience was everything he and his family had been waiting for.

    “I have been waiting for it for several months. It was everything I hoped it would be,” Jennifer Martin said.

    Finley Martin pets an elephant at the Myakka Elephant Rescue. (Julia Hazel/Spectrum News)

    There are a total of six elephants at the ranch. Founder Lou Barreda said their response to cooler temperatures depends on where the elephants are from and what their bodies are used to. But he said they’d rather be warm.

    “Yeah, we just kind of burn through a lot of diesel during the cold time for heaters for them, and we try to keep their inside temperature around 50 degrees or so, and they really enjoy that,” Barreda said.

    Elephants’ body temperatures are actually similar to ours, but they have a different way to regulate their bodies to keep warm.

    “A lot of people think that the African elephant is not good with cold weather. But if you look at Africa, the continent is huge, so it can be different climates, and especially at night it can get real, real cold,” Barreda said. “So what they do is, during the day, they absorb that heat and regulate it so it lasts throughout the night,” he said.

    So no matter the weather, the team is prepared — and so are the elephants — to meet and greet new faces.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Lakeland ‘man of iron’ inspires others to chase dreams

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — A young Polk County man is attempting an incredible feat.

    Robert Norris has already signed his name in the Guinness World Records.

    Now, he is aiming for history and to change minds about what people with disabilities can achieve.

    What You Need To Know

    • Robert Norris is training to complete The Great World Race

    • Norris is now in the Guinness World Records as the first athlete with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman® triathlon with no guide

    • Norris documents his journey in his social media channels


    Warming up before a run on a cold January morning, 22-year-old Norris and his Lakeland Runners Club training partners are at the starting line of a journey that almost seems impossible.

    The workout is around beautiful Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland.

    During a water break, Norris spoke about the challenge happening in November later this year.

    “The Great World Race,” Norris said. “Seven marathons in seven continents in seven days.”

    You got that?

    The famed 7-7-7 is a multiday marathon with a total distance of more than 183 miles spanning the globe.

    “What he’s planning on doing is just something I myself cannot even dream of being able to do,” said Mark Dailey, who trains Norris.

    Dailey helped Norris with the bike ride portion of a triathlon.

    Norris participated in the Arizona Ironman® recently.

    It is the first he completed while signing his name in the Guinness World Records as the first athlete with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman® triathlon with no guide.

    You can see part of Norris’ mission statement on his social media pages, to “get fit with Robert Man of Iron…this is all about mindset.”

    His YouTube page is full of motivational videos.

    He started training for all this extreme competition just two years ago.

    He is not like other super athletes.

    It is his super abilities that make him stand out.

    Harry Araya also runs with Norris around Lake Hollingsworth prepping for the Great World Race.

    “For him to go out and prove to everyone that he’s able to do it unguided, it’s just absolutely amazing,” Araya said. “It inspired me to do better at my events.”

    They all have a simple message.

    “It’s all about following your dreams, chasing your dreams, and realizing that you can do whatever you set out to do,” Dailey said.

    Just taking Norris’ word for it to “stay fit, get outside, it’s a great day to go running,” and the impossible looks a lot more possible.

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    Roy De Jesus

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  • American Legion program in Dunedin supplies veterans with laptops

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — The American Legion Veterans Technology Program helps veterans get the computers they need for school. It was created by Post 275 in Dunedin in 2021.

    They’re currently providing, on average, a laptop a month to local veterans.

    What You Need To Know

    • The American Legion Veterans Technology Program provides, on average, a laptop a month to local veterans

    • Luke Olson said the laptop has helped him as he pursues a degree in cybersecurity

    • The program was created to help veterans overcome the cost of buying a laptop


    Army veteran Luke Olson is one of the recipients. He is a student at Kaiser University studying cybersecurity and married with two children.

    With his major, he knew a good computer was essential, but the cost created a challenge.

    “I tried to use a Chromebook, but it’s basically a web browser with a Gmail account,” he said. “I got a MacBook that I repaired, but it was on the older side as a 2014, and unfortunately, the software and the updates don’t come in anymore because it’s 11 years old.”

    David Hahn said it’s these types of issues that led to his post creating the program.

    They have a committee that goes through applications before choosing people like Olson.

    “We’re really trying to identify those veterans and active-duty military members who really have something going on, where this is really going to bless their lives and make a difference,” Hahn said.

    Hahn is happy they’re able to help veterans, and Olson is grateful for the program.

    However, both said the cost of a computer is a roadblock for veterans across the country.

    “I’m just one person, and I know if I have the problem, thousands of others in different schools across the country probably have the same problem where they have to get specific equipment for their major,” Olson said.

    Spectrum News reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs and asked about the options veterans have to purchase laptops.

    They said, “Post 9-11 GI Bill beneficiaries receive a monthly housing allowance and an annual $1,000 stipend for books and supplies, which can be used at their discretion, including for the purchase of a laptop.”

    The GI Bill currently covers tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, books and a supply stipend up to $1,000 a year for approved education.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Catching up with Floridians whose stories inspired us in 2025

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    FLORIDA — As we get closer to the end of the year, we look back at a year that brought happy times for some, but major struggles for even more. These stories are of those who found the strength to overcome adversity often make the most inspiring impression.

    Spectrum News catches up with some of the incredible individuals who taught us all a little bit about the best of humanity in 2025.

     

     

     

    Finding Your Passion

    — Apopka, FL —

    In the middle of February, Delia Miller shared her journey of finding her passions and purpose. Combining her love of art, concern for the environment, and newfound passion for aviation, she has turned all of this into an inspiring project.

    Her journey began with an opportunity to paint a mural in her hometown. Her path took a turn in an airport bathroom where she met a young, Black, female airline captain. The encounter spurred Miller to pursue aviation as a career path.

    Watch Delia’s story to witness how she turns dreams into reality and encourages others to discover their greater purpose.

     

    Act of Kindness

    — Orlando, FL —

    Watch her story to see how her acts of kindness reached kids in Geneva and Belize.

    In September, young Gracelynn “Gracie” Decelles shared her story with us. Two years ago, the now 8-year-old girl began selling eggs from her family’s chickens at a small stand outside her home. The proceeds of those sales went toward the purchase of hundreds of backpacks for children in need.

    Watch her story to see how her acts of kindness reached kids in Geneva and Belize.

     

     

     

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    Dan Trotter

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  • Left hooks and life lessons: East Tampa Boxing Gym offers both

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As you walk into the East Tampa Boxing Gym, you walk under a sign that reads, “It Is Better To Bleed In The Gym, Than In The Street.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Odeon Esson launched East Tampa Boxing Gym almost 10 years ago 

    • He’s there every Monday through Saturday offering boxing lessons to kids as young as six

    • Esson’s bigger goal is to teach the kids life lessons and help them “be somebody” 

    • Esson, a former boxer himself, is joined by a handful of coaches helping in his effort


    It’s one of the many mantras of owner Odeon Esson, for his boxing facility off East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.

    “You’re in East Tampa. It’s rough over here, you know,” Esson said. “Out there in the street, you might not come back from it. But in here, you got a chance.”

    Esson gives children as young as six years old the chance to come boxing at his gym Monday through Saturday nights.

    It’s a three-hour boxing practice where the lessons are more about lifestyle than about left hooks and right jabs.

    “Help these kids — a lot of these kids in this neighborhood — become somebody,” said Esson, talking about his goal for the gym. “Let them know, ‘You have a dream, you can do it. Whatever you set your mind to, you can do it.’”

    Hanging on the walls of the gym are signs that reinforce those life lessons:

    • “If You Can Accept Losing, You Can’t Win”
    • “Life Has Got To Be Lived”
    • “Winners Are Simply Willing To Do What Losers Are Not”

    And those lessons on the wall are clearly making their way to the intended audience.

    On a Tuesday night, the gym is packed. A mixture of elementary, middle and high school students jump rope, do push-ups, spar with a coach, pummel a punching bag, practice punching combinations and even get into the ring to face off against Esson himself.

    “Things that you learn in here, teach you things in the real world,” said Vince Clavizzao, a friend from Esson’s boxing days who he recruited to coach here.

    When the young boxers were asked what they learned by coming to East Tampa Boxing Gym, responses varied from heartfelt to real skills.

    Some young people there that night cited boxing strategy and technique. Fifth grader Cody Amos said he’s learned “you have to punch to win.” Sixth grader Jayden Gilbert said Esson had taught him “how to jab” and get his stance right.

    But Gilbert also said his nightly trips to the gym taught him “not to give up.” Fifth grader Pedro Ruiz said the gym helped him learn to “stay focused.” Third grader Alantis Howard, the only female boxer we met at the gym, said the practices had instilled in her the idea that “you have to work hard to get rewarded.”

    Esson launched this place nearly a decade ago, and he has no plans to stop. For Esson, teaching life lessons — and boxing — will continue.

    “They could have been doing anything else. They could have been caught up in the street. But they’re here. They’re in a safe place. They’re here,” Esson said.

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Pinellas military family serving vets during Season of Giving

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County military family has dedicated their lives to service.

    The family patriarch, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran living at a Bay Pines VA assisted living facility, inspired his family to give back.

    What You Need To Know

    • Mr. Harlan Springer served in World War II in the U.S. Navy

    • He now lives at the Bay Pines VA Community Living Center

    • He has inspired multiple generations of his family to give back and serve other veterans like him at Bay Pines


    At 99 years old, Mr. Harlan Springer has lived a remarkable life.

    “I’m thankful for being here because I never expected to live this long,” said Springer.

    Like many of his greatest generation peers, they have many remarkable stories to tell.

    Springer recalled when he enlisted in the Navy during the war, and it was him “having two brothers and a friend in there” that was not about to keep him home.

    The Veterans Health Administration produced a video of Springer documenting time in service.

    Springer was stationed on a destroyer vessel of a carrier fleet in the Pacific theatre of the war. Now, he lives at the Bay Pines VA Community Living Center in St. Petersburg.

    Spectrum Bay News 9 sat down with Springer to learn more about his life story and legacy, like the remarkable date he joined the war.

    “You see, it was June the sixth of 1944, and many years later I found out it was D-Day,” said Springer.

    Stories like Springer’s inspired generations after him, especially hitting closer to home.

    Chelbie Harrison is Springer’s great-granddaughter, and helped push Springer in his wheelchair around the facility for his daily stroll.

    “It’s very often, his name will pop up on the screen, and then my great-grandpa is ready to be picked up,” said Harrison.

    Harrison works at Bay Pines VA as a nursing assistant.

    “I get to see how his day is going and get to tell him about mine,” she said. “And I get to tell him about the newest things happening with his great-great-grands, who he always enjoys hearing about, right, Grandpa?”

    “Oh, yes!” responded Springer excitedly.

    While Cole Long, Harrison’s brother or Springer’s great grandson, is also making the rounds at Bay Pines as a registered nurse.

    Their mom, Christine Long or Springer’s granddaughter, also works at Bay Pines VA.

    Every year she works to organize and participates in the Adopt-a-Veteran program.

    Over the years the combined family has supported hundreds of military families to celebrate the holiday season.

    All three family members are immensely proud of the service they provide, and said they are inspired by their remarkable grandfather and his friends at the VA.

    “I take pride in being able to give back and take care of the veterans who took care of us and fought with their lives to have our freedoms,” said Harrison.

    “They’ve been through a lot so it’s nice to give back to them,” said Cole. “It’s rewarding.”

    As for Springer, it is another Christmas he is celebrating and even crafting gifts for the youngest of the generations, his great-great-grandkids.

    And he is looking forward to another milestone for the holidays.

    “You know I’m 99 and I understand I got a one percent chance to make it to 100…so statistically,” he said. “But I’m going to do it, I’ve decided.”

    He has had 99 remarkable years and now one big reason to be thankful this holiday season.

    Find your local Veterans Health Administration Community Living Center for more information on healthcare and support. 

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    Roy De Jesus

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  • ‘Giving Machine’ in Clearwater to help people in need

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — People in the Tampa Bay area have a new way to donate to charity.

    Outside Crumbl Cookies at the Clearwater Mall there are vending machines with charitable items called “Light the World Giving Machine.”

    All purchases are actually donations that will help local and global charities.

    What You Need To Know

    • “Light the World Giving Machine” is in the Tampa Bay area for the first time

    • The machines work like vending machines, but instead of buying snack you make a donation to charity

    • Donations can be school supplies, food, bedding or even a baby goat

    • 100% of the donations goes to the participating charities


    Members of the Steed family were the first to use the giving machines.

    “This is our chance to give back at a local level and at a global level. And what’s great about it as well is that these donations go 100% to these charitable organizations,” said Garret Steed, owner of the Crumbl Cookies Clearwater franchise.

    The Giving Machine is like a vending machine. They’re placed at businesses, like the Steed’s Crumbl Cookies store. But instead of buying a snack, people can pick an item to donate to a charity.

    The Steeds donated one of everything in the machine.

    “I think that this is a very tangible way our kids can see, like, oh, we’re giving a goat, we’re giving a sewing kit for someone to start a business, or we’re giving a dental hygiene kit,” said Kylie Steed.

    The initiative supports five local charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Premier Community Healthcare, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Casa Pinellas and the Shepherd Center of Tarpon Springs.

    VP of Metropolitan Ministries communications Justine Burke said donations will help them supply food and holiday gifts for people in need.

    “The need is significant this year … since the hurricanes last year, people are struggling still. Affordability, affording that rent, affording food, affording just all those extra things in life,” said Burke.

    All the donations go directly to the charity selected at the machine. The operating cost is covered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

    “It feels really good to give back to the community. There’s a scripture that says: ‘where much is given, much is required.’ We’ve been given so much that it’s really a nice opportunity for all of us to be able to give back and help those that are less fortunate,” said Sarah Watson, Site Director for Giving Machine Tampa.

    The Giving Machine will be in Clearwater until Jan. 3, 2026.

    They operate at all hours.

    Since 2017, The Giving Machine has raised more than $50 million around the world, providing hundreds of thousands of items and services to people in need.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Free Clearwater clinic serving uninsured marks milestone

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A free medical clinic in Clearwater is celebrating a major milestone: 30 years of providing care to community members with little to no health insurance — a mission that nearly came to an end just two years ago.

    La Clinica Guadalupana marked the anniversary with a day filled with faith, culture and celebration, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a sacred Catholic holy day.

    Mariachi music, prayer, and gratitude filled the clinic as staff, volunteers, and patients reflected on three decades of service.

    What You Need To Know

    • La Clinica Guadalupana, a free Clearwater clinic, celebrates 30 years after a last-minute partnership saved it from closing

    • The clinic sees more than 2,000 patients each year, offering primary care and preventative services to people who might otherwise delay or forgo treatment
    • Despite its long history, the clinic’s future was uncertain, with rising overhead costs putting La Clinica Guadalupana at risk of shutting down

    • Catholic Charities stepped in, making La Clinica Guadalupana the fourth free medical clinic within the Diocese of St. Petersburg


    Monse Mangual, one of the clinic’s first nurses, helped open La Clinica Guadalupana in 1995 and said the work has always been about service.

    “It was amazing. I love to help people and I always say that I came here to serve,” Mangual said.

    All medical providers at La Clinica Guadalupana volunteer their services. The clinic sees more than 2,000 patients each year, offering primary care and preventative services to people who might otherwise delay or forgo treatment.

    Clinic director Laura Ramos said the goal is to provide care that is both accessible and respectful.

    “They can come in and get all of those services that are dignifying and reduce the hospital visits,” Ramos said.

    But despite its long history, the clinic’s future was uncertain. Rising overhead costs put La Clinica Guadalupana at risk of shutting down.

    Dr. Jennifer L. Cabreira-Steimle, who has volunteered with the clinic for 15 years, says the reality was sobering.

    “I don’t think that people realize that two years ago we were close to not being able to provide the service anymore,” she said.

    In search of a solution, Cabreira-Steimle reached out to Catholic Charities for help — a move she describes as a turning point.

    “(I thought) this is big, that’s where we got that Hail Mary Pass,” she said with a chuckle.

    Catholic Charities stepped in, making La Clinica Guadalupana the fourth free medical clinic within the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

    Deacon Rick Wells with the Diocese says the partnership reflects a commitment to dignity and care for all.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Motorcycle toy run gathers over 2,000 gifts for children in need

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hundreds of people fell just short of smashing a Guinness World Record in Pinellas County on Sunday, but helping kids in need was the real motivation.

    Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson hosted its ninth annual motorcycle toy run on a mission to break the record for being the largest ever, which was set in 2014 in the United Kingdom.

    What You Need To Know

    • 1,200 people participated in Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson ninth annual motorcycle run 

    • More than 2,000 toys were collected and will be donated to Lealman Fire District to be distributed to kids in need

    • Participants were hopeful to break the Guinness World Record for the largest motorcycle toy run, but were short on toys

    • Thousands of dollars were also raised to support veterans and first responders


    1,200 motorcycles took part in the massive event.

    Donna Henry brought lots of holiday cheer with her festive attire and motorcycle decked out in tinsel and lights.

    “This is decorated more than our house is,” Henry said about her motorcycle. “Biggest turnout I’ve ever been to and I’ve been doing these for quite some time.”

    The riders brought more than 2,000 toys to be donated to Lealman Fire Rescue. They will get them to kids in need. It’s the most toys this motorcycle run has ever collected.

    To break the record, all the toys had to stay strapped down to the motorcycles for the entirety of the ride across Pinellas County. The ride was roughly 15 miles, and it took about two hours to complete.

    “It makes this year even more special because not only with our ninth annual, but it’s a chance to really hit something big for the whole world. For the USA to get a world record for giving toys to kids, what a cool thing, it’s the greatest,” said Bert King, owner of Bert’s Barracuda Harley Davidson.

    They’ve gotten close to the record over the years, but this is the first time a Guinness adjudicator was there to take down the official count of participants and toys.

    “I’d love to be where the kids are when they get these gifts. I’d love to see the smiles on their faces, that means a lot to me,” Henry said.

    They were short 49 toys to break the Guinness record.

    They also raised more than $17,000 for Bert’s Barracuda Charity, which supports veterans and first responders.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Lecanto High School welcomes home actor, alumni Miles Teller

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    LECANTO, Fla. — Lecanto High School faculty and students had a very special guest on Friday — alumni and actor, Miles Teller.

    What You Need To Know

    • Actor and Lecanto High School alumni Miles Teller returned to his hometown Friday for a special assembly with students

    • Lecanto High School announced the dedication of the Miles Teller Theatre at the Curtis Peterson Auditorium Friday
    • Teller and his wife — Keleigh Teller — presented a check during the assembly, donating $50,000 to the Citrus County Education Foundation
    • Teller’s visit celebrates the 20th anniversary of his high school graduation and honors the venue where he first began his acting career


    In a packed auditorium at Lecanto High School, the current crop of Panthers students welcome Teller home.

    Teller returned to his alma mater for a student assembly to celebrate the naming of the school’s theater in his own name.

    “I guess it was nice to know I’m still popular with the youth,” Teller said.

    Teller walked out to thundering applause on the very stage he once performed on as a student at Lecanto High School. And now, 20 years later, it has been named in his honor.

    “I was just in the dressing room earlier tonight and I was having all of these memories,” said Teller, who graduated in 2005. “I mean, that’s where I got ready to go on and perform. So, you think actors come from maybe certain drama high schools that have performing arts schools that have a lot of money put in the program. We just did it based on passion.”

    It’s that passion that drove Teller to pursue acting. Having starred in his high school’s rendition of “Footloose” where he played Willard Hewitt.

    It was a role he wold also play on the silver screen. To recognize Teller and his achievements, Lecanto High School announced the dedication of the Miles Teller Theatre at the Curtis Peterson Auditorium.

    “From now on, anyone who performs on this stage can begin dreaming their own dreams and may become the next Hollywood superstar,” said Dr. Scott Hebert, superintendent of Citrus County Schools.

    And that’s not all. Teller and his wife — Keleigh Teller — presented a $50,000 donation to the Citrus County Education Foundation during the assembly. 

    “There’s kids that are going to high school here that are truly homeless that are living in the woods who were abandoned by their parents,” Teller said. “It’s a horrible circumstance, bad hand to be dealt. And so any time I think you can help people that are underprivileged, everybody should have a right to an education and clean clothes and food.”

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Parrish Grandma Club celebrating the holiday season

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    PARRISH, Fla. –– A group of high school seniors in Manatee County started a club three years ago where the requirement for membership is to invite a grandma and love on them.

    Hence the Grandma Club began.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Sandy Angilly moved to Florida after retirement and needed to meet new friends

    •  Sandy’s granddaughter Mia decided to form a school club to help other grandmas connect with friendships

    •  The Parrish High School Grandma Club has grown and is connecting a multigenerational group of women


    Sandy Angilly is excited this holiday season to be decorating with a group of multigenerational friends.

    As she was crafting an ornament, she said it is a “great experience for someone at my age looking to be taking on something this new.”

    She is referring to her new social club.

    Sandy moved to Florida from Rhode Island in 2022.

    She is a retired nurse who cared for cancer patients and is no stranger to challenging moments.

    “Everyone would say, ‘well how could you do that?” she recounted. “Well because maybe you could brighten somebody’s day who is going through a terrible time.”

    Mia Polseno is a senior at Parrish Community High School in Manatee County.

    With graduation months away, students need to complete community service and other requirements to be eligible for scholarships and other awards. But this requirement is not just a task to check off.

    If you listen closely to Mia, she takes after her grandma, Sandy.

    “It’s a lot more than just signing off the hours on paper and turning it into the office,” said Mia. “We wanted to do something that we could see make a difference because it brightens our day.”

    To create a social network for Sandy as a new Floridian, Mia and a group of her friends created the Grandma Club in 2022.

    “I hadn’t had to think about how to make friends in a long time,” said Sandy.

    From making Christmas cookies to crafting decorations, the club does more than just bring the ladies together. The ladies meet new friends and spend time with other young women once a month in different social settings.

    Other events include making floral arrangements, pottery painting, bracelet making, etc.

    “You know what, sometimes it’s good to be put outside of your comfort zone,” said Sandy.

    What Mia did not realize is how many other women in the community would appreciate a club like this, such as 92-year-old Marion Balancia.

    The high school girls often pick up Marion and give her a ride to the events, which take place once a month.

    “It’s nice seeing our acts of kindness like trickle down to areas and people reaching out help us,” said Mia.

    Mia is referring to the support the club has received from other organizations and businesses. One of them is the Parrish Fire Department which provides the community room at the fire station where meetings happen.

    For Sandy, the time spent in her new social club has translated to new friends. But most importantly, Sandy has shared more time with her granddaughter Mia.

    “It’s a wonderful experience all those generations melding together, you know,” she said. “The kids are great.”

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    Roy De Jesus

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  • Pasco County entrepreneur opens new spa after turning her life around

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    LUTZ, Fla. — A new business owner is grateful for a new beginning as her dreams of opening a spa come true.

    What You Need To Know

    • Elizabeth Remis is opening Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa in Lutz

    • Remis overcame addiction and served a year in state prison before turning her life around

    • Only 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, according to RAND Corporation

    • Remis hopes to help others find their best selves through her new business

    “It’s very empowering. Like this is really happening for me,” said Elizabeth Remis. “Like, wow.”

    The empowered entrepreneur is getting Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa ready to open at the beginning of the new year.

    Remis is focusing on rebirth as she continues a 26-year recovery journey.

    “When those steel doors closed in on me in prison, that was like an aha awakening for me that life has to change,” said Remis. “I need to do something different, this is not working out for me.”

    Remis was in and out of the Hillsborough County Jail and served a year in state prison on a felony charge.

    She says she turned to drugs after the deaths of several relatives and surviving sexual assault.

    “(I was) using substances to cope with life and became a very unhealthy individual and did some very unhealthy things,” said Remis.

    She got healthy, got clean behind bars and started concentrating on therapy and healing.

    “There was a time that I would never anticipate that I would have or own a spa,” said Remis.

    This entrepreneur has beat the odds. Just 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, that’s according to RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization.

    Allie Markham and Abe Brown Ministries serve up to 350 clients coming out of incarceration. Their job placement program InspHire helps employ people with a history of criminal charges.

    “Breaking down those barriers is a challenge, trying to get employment, housing, a lot don’t even have credit when they come out, so establishing all of that takes time,” said Markham, who is the program manager.

    Time and faith are what Remis has relied on.

    She hopes to help others find their best selves, and she’s getting used to being called an entrepreneur.

    “I’m just really filled with a lot of gratitude today, you know, because life could have been really different for me,” said Remis.

    Grateful for a new beginning in her new spa and safe haven.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Tampa nonprofit provides jobs for adults with disabilities

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Thanksgiving, dozens of adults with disabilities are thankful for newfound purpose after a Tampa nonprofit just opened its fifth coffee shop uniting people.

    What You Need To Know

    • Coffee Uniting People (CUP) provides jobs for adults with disabilities across Tampa

    • CUP says 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed, but not unemployable. That’s why they’ve opened five coffee shops around the area

    • Tampa General’s Outpatient Center in Brandon serves as the newest CUP location


    It all starts with freshly ground beans, but there’s something special about every cup of coffee from Tampa-based Coffee Uniting People (CUP).

    “It’s going to be strong coffee. It’ll wake you up,” said Justin Scarle, who has worked for CUP for five months.

    The group, launched by a local attorney and his wife, opened its newest location at Tampa General’s Outpatient Center in Brandon last week.

    CUP employs adults with disabilities and gives them so much more than just a paycheck.

    “Statistics show that about 80% of the folks are unemployed, but not unemployable. We started CUP to address that issue here in Tampa and here we are five coffee shops later,” said founder Greg Jones.

    Alli Schulte, 22, just started working for CUP. She and Scarle are two of more than 60 currently employed by the 501 (c)(3).

    At $14 an hour, Jones says they have a waitlist in the triple digits. So far, Tampa General is loving its new blend of caffeine and care.

    “Honestly, it’s been really, really rewarding. A lot of their team members have faced a lot of adversity throughout their life. But the amazing thing is their outlook on life. They have this positive outlook, they’re always smiling, they’re always in a good mood, and that kind of outlook is really infectious,” said Marion Dawkins, senior vice president of ambulatory operations.

    A bug they don’t mind spreading all across the hospital.

    “If you wake up in the morning and you’re feeling really tired, there’s a cup that can fulfill your needs,” Scarle said.  

    CUP has four other locations across Tampa, with another slated to open in the first quarter of 2026. 

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    Andy Cole

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  • Metropolitan Ministries provides Thanksgiving meals to thousands of families

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Metropolitan Ministries experienced a 300% increase in families seeking assistance with their Thanksgiving meal this year. 

    They say thanks to the generosity of the community, they were able to meet everyone’s needs, and on Thursday, they served thousands more a hot, Thanksgiving Day meal.

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan Ministries experienced a 300% increase in families seeking assistance with their Thanksgiving meal this year

    • They provided over 14,000 meals to families across Tampa Bay

    • Metropolitan Ministries is still taking Christmas applications from families needing assistance, but say they’re filling up fast


    For the last 36 years, Joyce Keller has spent her Thanksgiving volunteering with Metropolitan Ministries. 

    “I just said, for my heart, this is what I want to do,” she said.

    On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers served people a hot meal with turkey and all the sides at the Portico Café in downtown Tampa. The doors were open to anyone: people facing homelessness, hunger, or who just needed a meal and someone to share it with. 

    “Very nice of them, very nice of them, very Christ-like,” said Rocky Carson, who came to enjoy Thanksgiving lunch. 

    Carson said he didn’t know where he would’ve spent Thanksgiving had it not been for Metropolitan Ministries, and Keller says he’s not alone. 

    In her nearly three decades of volunteering, this year, “More people.  You know, more issues, snap problems, a lot of kids.”

    Metropolitan Ministries provided more than 14,000 meals to families across Tampa Bay. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Fallon Silcox)

    Metropolitan Ministries served more than 200 people in downtown Tampa, and thousands more at locations across Tampa Bay.

    “It was really shocking with the government shutdown, delays in snap benefits, as well as just the general challenges people are having with the economy, we had a huge increase in need.  The first week of November we had a 300% increase, quadruple the number of people coming in for help,” said Christine Long, Executive vice president and Chief Programs officer for Metropolitan Ministries.

    She doesn’t expect it to slow down for Christmas, and now, Keller is looking ahead and said they’ll need some extra help.

    “Be thankful for what you have, not everybody is. Come volunteer at the ministry, we have opportunities seven days a week,” said Keller.

    Right now, Metropolitan Ministries is still accepting applications from families who may need some extra help this Christmas, but they expect to fill up fast. 

    If you’re able to help, they’re collecting toys and food throughout the holiday season.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • 96-year-old among many taking part in Clearwater’s annual Turkey Trot

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    LARGO, Fla. — Clearwater’s annual Turkey Trot kicks off Thanksgiving morning with people of all ages taking part.

    What You Need To Know

    • 96-year-old Ethel Lehmann is taking part in Clearwater’s annual Turkey Trot

    • Staying active keeps Ethel running events like these

    • Ethel is still a multi-sport athlete that plays softball and bowling  


    Among all the participants running the 5k tomorrow, at least one will be in their mid-90s.

    That person is Ethel Lehmann.

    The trot has become an annual tradition for Ethel and her family.

    At 96 years old, she has always been an athlete.

    Staying active is why Ethel says she can still take part in these kinds of events.

    “I believe the exercise, doing it all that I do, definitely keeps me going at my age,” she said.

    Twice a week, she visits John S. Taylor Park in Largo for a jog to stay in shape.

    Ethel said she may not run as fast as she used to, but she doesn’t want to stop moving.

    “It’s a good two or three miles,” Ethel said, describing her jog.

    With her grandsons, son, and others taking part tomorrow as well, her goals are simple.

    “This year, I hope I do well,” she said.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation helps families fill their shopping carts

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    TAMPA, Fla. — For a lot of families, being offered a shopping trip with Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is music to their ears. But the shopping trip they’re taking isn’t what one would typically think of when it comes to filling up shopping bags. But for Mickesha Leggett, it’s right on time.

    “Being that we just went through a government shutdown, it’s a big relief off of some of us parents that’s going through a lot,” she said.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation assisted 250 families at the Silver Oaks Apartment complex

    • Families could choose groceries ahead of Thanksgiving, alleviating financial stress

    • The foundation’s efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to the community since last year’s hurricanes

    With the help of the foundation, Legget was able to pick out the items she wanted ahead of time so she could get items her family would eat. She already had her menu planned out.

    “Macaroni, yellow rice, chicken, string beans, cornbread and a chocolate cake,” she said.

    Leggett is one of about 250 families from the Silver Oaks Apartment complex that the Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is helping this holiday season. It’s part of a commitment organizers here made to those living in the low-income housing complex a year ago.  

    “We’ve been working with Silver Oaks since last year in October after the hurricanes,” said Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation Managing Director, Madison Gergely. “When we went to the community, the members and individuals really touched our CEO and founder, Taneka Bowles. A lot of the residents came to her about how much it meant.” 

    With this food market, the Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is using an approach they know well — shopping in person and filling up grocery bags with what they need.

    “It doesn’t feel like charity. It feels like I’m able to support my family and I’m able to go shopping and get things for my family and for my kids without it being handed to them,” said Gergely.

    It’s a shopping trip Leggett says she couldn’t be more thankful for.

    “They have been amazing. They are great. I mean from the day we started this program until now. I can call on them for any and everything,” she said.

    The S.O.U.L. Food Market shopping experience accepted community donations to help fill the shelves for these families the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

    The Tampa Bay Fashion Experience was founded by Taneka Bowles, wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach, Todd Bowles.

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    Saundra Weathers

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