Pinellas Hope needs volunteers at Tent City homeless shelter

-Pinella Park Beacon
PINELLAS PARK – Pinellas Hope, the tent city homeless community that has been assisting the needy for nearly two years, needs volunteers, personal items and clothing.

Angelia Mosley, manager of the shelter at 5726 126th Ave., said while the client base has been increasing, donations have not.

“We have a real need for personal items such as clothing, tennis shoes, blankets and other items,” Mosley said.

Also needed are volunteers to help cook and serve meals and perform other chores.

The shelter was open with the expectation of handling about 200 people. It has since been expanded to 300, with 265 individuals and couples living in tents and in a handful of small shed-like structures.

“The demand for assistance is incredible,” Mosley said. “We are doing the best we can to help everyone.”

The clients are brought to the facility mainly by homeless outreach police teams from St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Lealman and other parts of the county. But there are weeks when too many people show up and some must be turned away.

Homelessness in this era of hard economic times has been steadily increasing. Some officials believe that more people will be on the streets as jobs dry up and there is no money to pay for lodging and the simple necessities of life.

Pinellas Hope allows individuals and couples only. The facility does not accept families with children. They are referred to other agencies that are equipped to meet the needs of family units.

Persons or organizations interested in helping with donations, cooking and serving meals or volunteering for other services should call the shelter at 564-2727.