The League of Women Voters, a not-for-profit voter advocacy group, strives to help voters make informed decisions during elections and encourage people to be active in local politics. The league is open to both men and women, despite the name. It meets in different areas throughout the St. Petersburg area, and events are listed on the website. Its office is located in the St. Pete Sunshine Center.
Mary's Outreach offers free pregnancy tests and abortion alternatives including referrals for adoption services and financial assistance.
As stated on its Web site, the mission of the Pinellas Opportunity Council (POC) is "to alleviate poverty and promote self-sufficiency." The POC develops and administers programs focused on generating resources to reduce poverty and to provide skills to enable the underprivileged to become self-sustaining members of society.
Among the programs administered by the POC are Head Start, Community Services, Chore Services and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. The POC also offers an emergency services program to provide assistance in emergency situations, a family development program that helps adults acquire skills necessary to function in a job and a credit union that offers low-cost financial services.
Literacy Services of United Methodist Cooperative Ministries is part of a network of religion-based social services for the Gulf Central District. The South Pinellas County Office is located conveniently near the Publix Shopping Center off of 4th Street where there is bus transportation. The office is church-based and oversees a series of free literacy programs for people learning English as a second language, including refugees and other recent immigrants to the United States.
This charitable organization services over 7000 people a year who find themselves without shelter for a variety of reasons. ASAP provides temporary shelter--up to 30 days--as well as clothing, personal items, and counseling to those in need. The three primary programs are the women's and children's shelter that provides emergency shelter, the drop-in-center that provides showers, clothing, food, and bus tokens, and the Hands United in Business that provides employment training. Funding for ASAP is provided by grants and private donations.
This northside location is one of 11 Boys and Girls Club (BGCS) locations in Pinellas County that include over 5500 members countywide. The BGCS is well-known in the United States for its after-school programs that provide children with productive supervised educational and sporting activities. Every child can become a member; membership fees are nominal. Among the programs offered at this location are Project Learn, computer learning centers, and sports league participation. The goal of the BGCS is to help children who might otherwise lack structure and supervision in their lives to become responsible, disciplined adults.
Northside Lodge is steeped in local Masonic history. It was founded in 1948 by brethren meeting at Brewer's Garage on Haines Road. In 1949, the Lodge found a permanent home on 1st Street NE. It is located next to the Masonic Home, which has a residential facility for aging members. The Lodge accepts new members, and has an online application that potential members are welcome to fill out.
The St. Petersburg Pregnancy Center is a nonprofit Christian organization that offers physical, emotional and spiritual support services for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. The organization also offers support for those who have experienced a negative test result, an abortion, an STD and more. All services are free and confidential.