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Monthly Archives

December 2021

Dec 16
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3 Ways To Give After #GivingTuesday

By Fundraising Events, In The News

You can support our one-to-one mentoring programs while shopping for Christmas and holiday gifts this year. We are proud to continue our partnerships with Nordstrom Rack & AmazonSmile, and excited to announce a new partnership with eSmart recycling. Here are three ways you can give back to your community and donate to a local charity.

Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack will donate 70% of their funds earned until December 31 to the BBBS agency in that store’s zip code. As a new option this year, online customers will also have the option to make a donation on the website. (Does not apply to mobile app purchases. Please use your web browser [Google Chrome or other] to make your purchases or head to your local Nordstrom Rack.)

AmazonSmile

Simply shop at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile on in the Amazon Shopping app to give back on (most) of your everyday purchases. Choose Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay as your charity of choice and a portion from each purchase made is donated to us. When you shop at smile.amazon.com we receive 0.5% of eligible purchases at no extra cost to you! You can also browse our Amazon Charity Wishlist to donate an item and have it delivered directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay via Amazon.

eSmart Recycling

Planning on replacing your laptop, television, or iPad this holiday shopping season? Don’t toss your old tech — donate it to eSmart Recycling and help our organization keep kids connected with their mentors. When you contact them to schedule a pickup, be sure to mention it is on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. As one of our newest partners, eSmart Recycling has already donated 15 laptops to our mobile computer lab. Now, our Littles will be able to chat with their Bigs during lunch hours while at school.

Thank you in advance for believing in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay this holiday season and throughout the year. It truly takes a village to make impactful and lasting changes in our communities.

Dec 13
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December Match of the Month

By Match Stories

Meet one of our newest matches, Big Sister Nora and Little Sister Tiffany. They are now Matched thanks to our new School-to-Work partnership with the Pinellas County Government.

You’re probably wondering why Tiffany is holding a pair of bundled-up eggs in this photo. As part of a school assignment, Tiffany had to care for her “twins” and take them everywhere, including to work at the courthouse. However, Nora is actually a twin in real life. We think these “twins” ended up being paired together rather serendipitously!

Thank you to Nora and all of our new Bigs at the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit & Comptroller and the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is honored to launch this School-to-Work program in Clearwater with the hopes of setting up mentoring relationships across the county of Pinellas and beyond.

Do you want to provide support, share power, and expand possibilities for a child in your community? Does your employer offer paid volunteer time? Find out how to state your case to become a mentor, or Big, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay? Attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training session to get started. 

Dec 03
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December Conversation Starters

By Resources

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has provided a variety of free to low-cost activities for the holidays that you and your Little to enjoy. Read more:

December 7th is Write a Letter Day: Who might be someone that would love to get a letter from you? A relative, teacher, Santa??

December 10th is Nobel Prize Day: Research what the Nobel Prize is and some previous winners. How did those winners change history?

December 16th is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day: What are your favorite chocolate-covered foods? Can you think of anything wacky to cover chocolate in that you haven’t tried?

December 25th is Christmas Day: Share your Christmas traditions. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, do you celebrate another holiday this time of year?

December 28th is National Playing Card Day: What card games do you know? What card games can you teach your Big/Little?

December 31st is New Years’ Eve: Talk about your New Years’ Eve traditions and how you ring in the New Year. Research different calendar systems used around the globe.

 

Free activities and things to do. 

Visit the Manatee Viewing Center: The Manatee Viewing Center’s mission is to educate the public about the Florida manatee and its habitat. The center is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary. During the center’s open season, Nov. 1 through April 15, displays, interactive exhibits and more teach visitors of all ages about the life cycle of the manatee and the challenges they face. FREE Admission. 6990 Dickman Rd. Apollo Beach, FL 33572

St. Petersburg Holiday of the Arts—Dec. 11-12th: This art festival transforms Williams Park into an outdoor gallery of original and handmade art created by extraordinary artists in painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, photography, digital art, mixed-media, metalwork, woodworking, and more. FREE Admission. 350 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL. Click here for more details.

The North Pole Experience, Saturday, December 11: Times are available from 8:30am -3:00pm. Estimated event time is 1 hour. Santa will be there on his sleigh and each child 11 years old or younger will receive a gift. Everyone can participate in the amazing Christmas fun of traveling through the North Pole!  This is a walk-through event this year with stations to stop at. Seating will be available throughout the experience. Strollers and wheelchairs are more than welcome. There is a limited number of ticket reservations.  Everyone attending must reserve a free ticket (This includes all adults).  When you register you will receive in your email a ticket for each attendee.  YOU MUST BRING THE TICKET with you on the day of the event. Kirk Church, 2686 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, FL. Click here for more details.

Jingle Bell Bazaar at Ybor 2021— Dec. 12th: The Largest Annual Holiday Festival in Ybor City is Back! Come enjoy a day of live music, shopping, food trucks, and pics with Santa Claus. 1800 E.8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605. Click here for more details.

Christmas is Near— Dec. 23rd: For 9 years Christmas Is Near has been the Premier Christmas Event for the whole family. FREE Admission. 303 Lemon St, Plant City, FL 33563

5-7:15 pm: Kid/Youth Zones and Photo Opportunities
5-7:30 pm: Pre-Show on the Main Stage with Kenzie Wheeler and Rekindled Bluegrass
7:30 pm: Christmas Concert and Candlelight Service

Click here for more details.

 

Low-cost arts and crafts activities. 

-Make Holiday Cards: Get some art & craft supplies and make homemade holiday cards with your Little to give to family members, teachers, and friends.

-Decorate a Christmas Tree: Invite your Little to accompany you and pick out a tree. Decorate it together and talk about holiday traditions carried down from your families.

-Create a Gingerbread House: Pick up a gingerbread house kit so that you and your Little can build and decorate it together!

 

Dec 01
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International Human Rights Month

By Resources, Uncategorized

In addition to many holidays, the month of December is also a time to observe Universal Human Rights Month. This month is a reminder that the United Nations General Assembly codified the basic human rights of every person. It is also a time to reflect upon the rights that we do have and what these freedoms mean to us. Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of America, was an influential figure involved in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  She asks, “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Here are some excellent book recommendations that you and your Little can read together to learn more about the importance of Human Rights.

  • We Are All Born Free by the Amnesty International
  • I Have the Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres
  • A Life Like Mine by DK

This is also a great opportunity to give back to your community through volunteering for a local nonprofit! Below are some organizations that are always accepting volunteers of all ages:

The Declaration of Human Rights was created to be a ‘common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations’. This document has been translated into over 500 languages and is the most downloaded document in the world. While many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the many December holidays we celebrate, it’s also the perfect time to reflect on our rights and think of how we can make a more equitable world for everyone.

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