This holiday season, many of our neighbors are finding they need support when they never have before, and organizations across our community have stepped up to the place, bending over backwards to make sure they can still provide services to the people who need them most.

I got to see several of these first hand this week, and I was so impressed with the passion of the staff and volunteers. All of these organizations are taking their COVID-19 safety precautions seriously keep their processes efficient and safe for everyone involved.

HCC gave me a tour of their technical educational facility where they teach skills to future auto mechanics, welders, and firefighters. These facilities are vital tools for these students.

Donn with ACLU Florida hosted a Criminal Justice Town Hall where I was able to talk directly with members of the community about criminal justice reform and where we can start right now. Earlier this year I participated in the Black Lives Matter Tampa Protests, and now that I'm a part of the legislative process its time to get to work. 

The team at the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) gave me a walk through of their facility where I was able to meet some of the drivers who keep our community moving. Public Transport has always been important, but in difficult economic times many more people rely on this industry. HART has been a leader in the state for enacting precautions to keep their riders and staff safe during the pandemic.

I spent Wednesday afternoon at the Feeding Tampa Bay Warehouse where John showed me how to sort and pack donated goods so they could be distributed to those experiencing food insecurity. COVID-19 has tripled the number of people in our community who rely on food banks, but this team has met the demand and is pushing harder than ever towards a hunger free Tampa Bay by 2025.

ECHO of Brandon is an incredible local organization that specifically helps those in crisis situations. On Tuesday, Miriam gave me a tour of their facility including a Clothing Center and Food Pantry, as well as an Opportunity Center where they teach GED classes and offer free career matching assistance. Diane from the Opportunity Center told me they have been able to place 34 jobs in the Brandon Area since July. 

ECHO always needs toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razors). Learn more about how to donate HERE!

There are dozens of organizations like these and hundreds of people like Donn, John and Miriam who are dedicating their time during this holiday season to help those of our neighbors who just need a little extra support. I applaud the work of HART, ECHO of Brandon, ACLU Florida, Hillsborough Community College, and Feeding Tampa Bay and all their volunteers and employees for taking COVID-19 precautions seriously and continuing to provide for our commuinity.

If you want to get involved or have the means to contribute time or resources over this holiday season, you can find out how to do so at their websites above!

Happy Holidays,