Exciting News for the New Year

The new year is already off to a meaningful start across Tampa Bay. From supporting seniors and veterans to mentoring students and hosting community service projects, Seniors in Service volunteers are stepping into 2023 with purpose and compassion. Whether distributing donations, creating uplifting cards, building sleeping mats for people experiencing homelessness, or strengthening leadership skills, volunteers are continuing to show how connection and service create stronger communities for everyone.

Seniors in Service volunteers launch the new year by supporting veterans, students, seniors, and community service projects across Tampa Bay.

▲ Operation: Veteran Connect Members and community volunteers made sure that food and furniture donations were distributed to those in need at Madison Highlands Senior Apartments.

Handmade Spanish-language greeting cards created by Plant High School Hispanic Honor Society for Seniors in Service clients and volunteers.

▲ The Hispanic Honor Society at Plant High School in Hillsborough County gifted us a huge stack of uplifting cards to distribute to all of our Spanish-speaking clients and volunteers! A HUGE thanks for helping us pass out Cards That Care!

Readers in Motion volunteers present a vision board during an in-service training focused on setting goals and strengthening volunteer leadership.

▲ Readers in Motion volunteers brainstormed and created vision board during their in-service trainings. They are excited to have clear goals to put into action as they focus on this new year of purposeful service.

Seniors in Service staff members and community partners gather at the Nonprofit Leadership Center conference to strengthen leadership and collaboration.

▲ The Seniors in Service team learned new skills for leading with cultural competence, building networks, developing strong teams, and acting with intention at the Nonprofit Leadership Center's Leadership Conference: Call to Action. Thank you Nonprofit Leadership Center for organizing an inspiring event to develop and help Tampa Bay's nonprofit leaders grow!

Seniors in Service volunteer displays a sleeping mat crocheted from recycled plastic bags during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

▲ Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service (MLK Day) is the only federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” Seniors in Service partnered with Mercy Mats and Metropolitan Ministries to bring together volunteers of all ages on this day of service. They recycled plastic bags by crocheting them into sleeping mats for individuals who are homeless.

We also partnered with OneBlood to host blood drives in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough County. Every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Blood only has a shelf life of 42 days so it’s critical for people to donate often.