Left to right: Chris Preston, Katee Morales, Nicole Beaupre, Roxanne DePew, Sam Bracero, Lazarus Dawson, and Terry Garlets

The Outreach Committee purchased 25 backpacks and school supplies. The backpacks were distributed to TM employees with young school-aged children from preschool through elementary school. There were 16 backpacks with school supplies given to the TM employees. The remaining nine were donated to Good Neighbors to distribute to families that are in transitional housing and could not otherwise afford the backpack and supplies.

Every Saturday a group of volunteers gets together to help distribute surplus food to families in need. TM employee and Outreach member Terry Garlets is one of those volunteers. This particular week,  he was joined by the President of Tampa Microwave, the FSO, and the Chair of the Community Outreach. What a fulfilling experience. Terry arrived with a box truck full of food and we helped to unload, set up and hand out food. When everyone who had come for food was done, we helped pack it back up and put it back on the box truck. It was then delivered to three hotels in the community that house families in transition. The Outreach Committee has challenged TM employees to have at least one TM employee at this event every Saturday for the next 8 weekends. We have four people already scheduled to attend this coming weekend! TM employees are the best!

Once again TM employees made it happen! The Outreach Committee collected small cooking appliances for GoodNeighborsFl.org and the HOB Giveback who work together to get surplus food to families who need it. They are in transitional housing with usually just a small microwave to cook in. These donations will allow GoodNeighborsFl.org to give more of a variety of foods with more food options and allow them to cook foods and in different ways.

Also, three Outreach members used their lunchtime to feed the homeless at Pinellas Hope in Clearwater. This non-profit provides temporary emergency housing and receives a case manager with the goal of self-sufficiency. The residents get assistance with job and house placement and follow up visits. Pinellas Hope provides three meals a day and needed donations of time, money, and meals.

Tampa Microwave donated items for a silent auction and a raffle and all profits went to Reach St Pete, a non-profit that provides free resources to low-income, at-risk, and homeless people. They bridge the gap between people and the resources they need. This includes food, clothing and helping with literacy. Nicole Beaupre is the proud winner of the raffled Yeti cooler.

The month of April was very busy for the Outreach Committee. Four members started the month volunteering at Reach St. Pete. We were joined by Nicole’s two children, Gabe and Lily, and her mom, who is not in the picture. ( L-R Lily, Gabe, Nicole Beaupre, Chris Preston, Katee Morales, and Sam Bracero.) We worked in the warehouse sorting clothing, food, books, and literacy items. Katee is a regular volunteer for Reach St Pete. She helps wherever they need her.

Next up in April was the fundraiser for Warrior Wellness. This non-profit helps veterans with PTSD, depression, and anxiety utilizing alternative therapy in a five-day intensive treatment program. This is free to the veteran. They do not pay for anything from their flights to therapy to meals. The Outreach Committee held a fundraiser that included dinner, dancing with a live band, hatchet throwing, and raffles. Chris Preston, chair of the Outreach Committee, volunteers on Wednesday nights taking the participants of that week’s program, to dinner. They are joined by Chris’s son, David, who is a veteran that went through the Warrior Wellness program. (Pictured: the band Southbound 75; friends enjoying the event; friends throwing hatchets; and Chris’ son David)

Also in April, some Outreach Members, a TM Director, and a spouse attended a fundraiser for Clothes To Kids. This non profit provides complete wardrobes to school age children in our local communities, twice a year and at no charge to the families. (pictured left to right: Chris Preston, Mark D’Angelo, Nicole Beaupre, Katee Morales, and her husband Greg).