Edition 9 of The Lealman Voice
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Credit: Leo Gomez Studios
Hello there.
Welcome to our new and returning readers!
The 9th Edition of Lealman Voice is full of events, opportunities, and news curated by the Lealman Community.
Our mission is simple: To help connect the people of Lealman.
The Voice of Lealman is growing; if you have news, ideas, or events you'd like to share, please click the button below and send it our way. Please forward this email to a friend so they can subscribe here.
Pinellas County Animal Services and SPCA Tampa Bay team up to provide essential veterinary services in the Lealman community
Pinellas County’s two largest animal shelters hosted their first collaborative vaccine clinic at the Lealman Exchange on Saturday, May 20th. Pet parents and their furry family members lined up beside the colorful Pinellas County Animal Services trailer parked near the main entrance of the Lealman Exchange building. When their numbers were called, owners verified their information and purchased a Pinellas County animal license for their pet. Then their animals were seen by SPCA Tampa Bay veterinary staff who administered a free rabies vaccine and free microchip. Rabies vaccines protect pets from the fatal rabies virus and prevent its spread to other animals and humans. While rabies vaccines are legally required for cats and dogs, microchips are not. However, microchips are highly recommended for pets because they are a permanent identifier that can reunite lost animals with their families. That’s especially important in a community facing frequent significant weather events and possible evacuations.
Pinellas County Animal Services and SPCA Tampa Bay are pleased to provide necessary veterinary care for the community. They look forward to hosting more vaccine clinics at the Lealman Exchange on July 15th, September 16th, and November 18th. For more information, contact Pinellas County Animal Services at AnimalRequests@pinellas.gov.
Drop-In Adult Pickleball
Mondays & Wednesdays, 9 AM - 11AM
FREE for community members. Open to ages 16 & up.
Family Night Open Gym
Fridays, 6PM - 8PM
FREE for community members. Open to all ages.
June 10th @ 9AM
June 23rd
July 4th @ 6pm
Lealman Independence Day Celebration
July 15th @ 9AM
Mobile Pet Clinic
Share your story for future generations
Are you a long-time resident of Lealman, or were you born and raised here? We are collecting Lealman memories for our cultural history project to be shared with friends, neighbors, and future generations of this vibrant community. We want to preserve the community's local history through written and spoken stories; landmarks such as buildings, parks, restaurants, or businesses; and traditions such as food, festivals, and other events of the community or of individual families. Share your memories and experiences of local culture and traditions. For more information or to book a time to share, click here.
Area organizations collaborate to support Lealman Residents
In a heartwarming display of unity and compassion, members of the community recently joined forces at the Lealman and Asian Neighborhood Family Center (LANFC) to make a significant impact on the lives of families in need.
Among the organizations, Farm Share played a vital role by providing food, while the LANFC graciously offered its premises as the event venue. The Florida Dream Center also deserves special recognition for providing expertise and heavy equipment whenever required.
Over 400 families were directly assisted on the day of the event, receiving essential supplies and support. Additionally, an impressive 400+ bags of food were prepared and will be distributed to families over the coming days, bringing the total number of families helped to an astounding 800.
The outpouring of generosity and the willingness of community members to extend a helping hand have undoubtedly made a lasting difference in the lives of these families. The ripple effect of their collective efforts will continue to resonate throughout the community, reinforcing the importance of unity and compassion.
Volunteers from Seniors in Service Tampa Bay, Juvenile Welfare Board, and Evara Health joined the organizations. They were supported by Senator Nick DiCeglie, County Commissioners Rene Flowers, and Charlie Justice, School Board Member Caprice Edmond, and Representative Linda Chaney’s office.
Photo provided by Representative Lindsay Cross
Habitat ReStores Receive Large Donation of Hotel Furniture from Sheraton Sand Key Resort
National Homeownership Month is underway and Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties' ReStores received a large donation Monday morning courtesy of Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. The Sheraton is currently undergoing major room renovations. Habitat team members collected chairs, desks, lamps, end tables, entertainment centers, and bathroom vanities.
"For more than 47 years, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort has been an organization rooted in the Pinellas County community," said Dominic Provenzano, GM of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. "It is the home to our resort and where so many of our associates live and raise their families. Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco’s mission of building 'strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter' resonates with our company culture of giving back to the community we live and work in. It is an honor to partner with Habitat and contribute to the good that they do for so many throughout Pinellas County."
"As we kick off National Homeownership Month, we are blessed to have community partners like the Sheraton Sand Key Resort supporting our mission through the Habitat ReStore," said Habitat President & CEO, Mike Sutton. "This generous donation will help stock the ReStores, where all proceeds will help us build safe and affordable homes for deserving families".
The hotel items will be available for purchase at Habitat ReStores in Clearwater and New Port Richey. Both ReStores offer free donation pick-ups. Those interested in scheduling a donation pick up can do so at habitatpwp.org/restore/donate-items or by calling (727) 209-2199.
As trash problems pile up in Lealman, residents plead for help
LEALMAN — Standing on an embankment below a bridge in Raymond H. Neri Community Park, David Lee pointed to the bend in Joe’s Creek where a mound of plastic foam, aluminum and other detritus had formed.
“All the stuff here should have been picked up,” Lee said. “This is where it wound up.”
The exact location of this trash was a consequence of recent heavy rains, Lee said. But it only remained in the neighborhood, he said, because of the problems he and his neighbors have complained about for months: sloppy, inconsistent service from the waste management company that took over the community’s trash collection around the beginning of this year.
The company, Boca Raton-based Coastal Waste & Recycling, sent apology letters a few weeks ago to more than a dozen homes in the unincorporated Pinellas County community, acknowledging its employees had come to pick up trash on the wrong days.
But Lee, a neighborhood organizer, said the problem is more pervasive. Driving around the community Tuesday, he pointed out the symptoms.
A mattress leaned against a street sign in front of one home, and grass grew up around an armchair left on another curb — signs, he said, that Coastal hadn’t been picking up bulk waste. Smaller bits of trash accumulated in the drainage ditches that line many streets in Lealman. Lee attributed that litter, too, to haphazard collection by Coastal.
Volunteers needed for local events
With more events coming to the Lealman Community, area organizations need your help! Have a few hours to spare to support your community?
Independence Day Celebration Lealman - event support needed, groups or individuals Email zelda@floridadreamcenter.org
Zelda O'Connell
Please introduce yourself to your neighbors.
My name is Zelda O'Connell, I am the Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Dream Center, Executive Director of the Lealman Community District Services, and a committee member for the newly formed Lealman Engagement Committee.
How many years have you lived in Lealman?
I have been serving in Lealman since 2015
What organizations are you involved in?
Florida Dream Center, Lealman non-profit organization that supports residents into self-sufficiency through various programs. From a mobile food bank to an accredited trade school. Our organization
What gets you out of bed every day?
Life, love, family, and hope.
What is one thing you've seen change for the better in Lealman in the last few years? Neighbors are helping neighbors, there is a sense of community. When Adopt-a-Block first came to Lealman in November of 2014 neighbors were not talking to each other within many neighborhoods in the area. As community-based outreach and events grew neighbors felt more comfortable supporting one another.
What's next for you?
Staying active. Enjoying family and friends. Volunteering. Working with local groups to make a difference in Lealman and getting more events in Lealman for residents to enjoy.
Career Corner
Join the team at Lealman Exchange!
The Needs Navigator helps clients get the support they need to access the wrap-around services available through the Collective Impact Model at the Lealman Exchange. Needs Navigator is committed to remove the client barriers to assistance by identifying critical resources for clients, helping them
navigate through the services and systems, and promote the client’s long-term and sustainable
success in finding, receiving, and benefiting from available services.
Specialist - Resource Room
This position supports the team by providing training, guidance and other services to various CareerSource Pinellas participants to assure job placement and retention while meeting customer satisfaction goals. This position explains and informs participants of the various programs available at CareerSource and provides referrals for accessing community resources. This position will perform data entry, make phone calls, make copies, send emails, and file documents needed.
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