While many St. Petersburg residents have stepped up to help those in need in the wake of COVID-19, Reach St. Pete has connected people with necessary resources since its inception in 2016. The approach of Executive Director Alexia Morrison and co-founder Mariana Bichette is dynamic. “We are constantly shifting our programs to adjust to the statistics of the needs in our city,” Morrison says. “Our focus has gone from alleviating the burdens of the homeless community to striving to end homelessness in the future.”
Care & Advocacy Build Hope
The organization has provided substantial assistance when it is most sorely needed. “We worked with a family who had a 5-year-old child living in a homeless shelter, and they informed us they would be kicked out because it was taking them longer than four weeks to find a job,” Morrison says. “We stepped in and worked alongside them, providing a bus pass for an interview and reaching out to local business owners to see if anyone would give them a chance. Within two days, the husband secured a job, they were able to stay at the shelter, and within two weeks he was moved up to a manager because of how hard he was working.”
This is just one of many stories of Reach St. Pete’s life-changing work. “Just goes to show how we are better together, and that sometimes people just need someone to advocate for them to see their full potential. When you are in a scary and seemingly hopeless situation, it’s easy to feel inadequate. We strive to make sure those people feel seen, heard, loved, and valued.”
Photos by Kelly Nash Photography
Adopt A Need
Reach St. Pete has jumped into overdrive in the past few months. “Since COVID-19,” Morrison says, “we created an online application for our Adopt A Need program that was specific to those in low-income situations who were now at risk of losing services and housing due to job loss.” Since March, the organization has filled these gaps by giving out more than $22,000 in groceries and rent and bill assistance. Reach has also adjusted its distribution methods to avoid large group gatherings, instead providing necessary items via drop offs and car lines for those who are able. To protect the street homeless of St. Petersburg, it has installed portable hand-washing stations.
Funding Important Work
Applications for support have gone from about 50 a week to more than 100 a day. “Our biggest challenge at the moment is funding,” Morrison says. “As we are a community-driven nonprofit without government funds, we rely heavily on community partners, local foundations, and private donors.”
Want to help support our neighbors in need? Visit www.reachstpete.org to donate, learn more about its Adopt A Need program, or shop its Amazon gift list to have necessities like shampoo and toothpaste shipped straight to Reach. For additional updates, follow Reach St. Pete on Facebook and Instagram.
