Beth Ross is pleased to share that, despite all that happened in 2020 with the coronavirus and social distancing, the community was able to step up and share 3,400+ blankets with Blanket Tampa Bay. For a short time, Blanket Tampa Bay had to prioritize the safety of volunteers and the homeless by finding alternative ways to interact with the community and those in need. Blanket Tampa Bay volunteers began collecting items and assembling blessing bags. Area businesses sponsored bags and provided contents to help reach thousands. Additionally, Blanket Tampa Bay was able to partner with Trinity Cafe to streamline distribution when we couldn't be at our normal site. This gave homeless individuals and families access to food, comfort items and blankets all at once. In December, the Suncoast News published a story that helped us reach our end-of-year blanket goal and shared our mission with others. They thoughtfully mentioned a goal that is significant to us, the idea of the Urban Rest Stop in not one but two locations. We are so pleased that some of our sponsors were mentioned in the article and would like to thank ALL of our sponsors, donors, and our amazing volunteers who helped us meet many of our goals during a difficult year! We are eternally grateful for all that was done and the encouragement to continue forward.

As some may know, our CEO Beth Ross has undergone back surgery and is currently recuperating. But that hasn't stopped her or Blanket Tampa Bay from going full steam ahead with plans to distribute blankets and blessing bags at Trinity Cafe this Christmas Eve. In addition to the blankets, Beth hopes to provide other comfort items that will help through the winter months. The Tampa Free Press shared an update about everything we're doing this December and how you can get involved. For those who don't know, Trinity Cafe is part of Feeding Tampa Bay. It is a free, full service restaurant open 365 days a year to help those in need. Because of the coronavirus, Trinity Cafe will be offering take-out meals to be safely enjoyed elsewhere. For some, elsewhere may be the streets this December. and that is why our volunteers are working so hard to make sure that we give out blankets and more in conjunction with Trinity Cafe's generous and nutritious meals. With the steep rise in joblessness, this may be the first year some are homeless and they need every bit of support we can manage. There are two year-end goals that we need your help with to make Christmas Eve possible: First, Beth originally set a goal of collecting and sharing 3,000 blankets. Unfortunately, she's about 2,400 shy. If you have spare blankets or collect them from friends and neighbors, please do so safely and then drop off new or gently used blankets at the locations below. These boxes will be available until Friday, December 18th, 2020. The collection locations are: 1. 205 S. Hoover St-Ta”mpa Bay Marina 2. 8729 Gunn Hwy -Bru Growler Bay 3. 3251 W. Hillsborough Ave – Powerhouse Gym 4. 4218 Henderson Blvd – Salon Eunoia 5. 18105 Gunn Hwy -Keystone Prep Tampa 6. 408 Limona Rd - Limona Village Chapel 7. 11001 N Florida Ave- Maus Nissan If you are a business owner and would like to set up a collection box in front of your building please send an email to our co-founder Ray Ross at Zampard123@aol.com with the address of the business, name of the business and contact name and number. Second, we have a fundraising goal of $2,500 that is part of our year-end Christmas Charity campaign . Fundraising for nonprofits has been pretty dismal this year, and we are seeking support to help meet our operating and our program costs. We do our best to obtain donated items throughout the year, but when there are shortages having the funds to meet basic needs is vital.

This year has thrown some curve balls, and our Blanket Tampa Bay team is working to adopt new ways to deliver our mission of serving the homeless of Tampa Bay. Recently, Julie Salomone of WFTS-ABC Action News interviewed BTB founders Beth and Ray Ross as they distributed soup, blankets, and blessing bags at a Pasco county gas station. The interview touched on many important parts of what we're doing now and why. Watch the interview here: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/everybody-has-a-story-pasco-county-couple-hands-out-bl... As temperatures dipped into the 30's and 40's, Beth and Ray took to the streets to provide items to the homeless. Before the pandemic, our team was blessed to have many organizations sharing the news about our Monday events at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Tampa. Now, we are actively serving the homeless as we can and sharing more information about where to find our volunteers. We continue to collect donated items, such as blankets and items for our blessing bags. To help us with our blessing bags or to make your own, please visit our wish list or see how one corporate partner got involved . The Green Committee of Moffitt Cancer Center was also featured in the interview as they graciously made sleeping bags out of blue surgical material that is both waterproof and windproof, perfect for the cold nights the homeless are facing this winter. Learn more about Dr. Kris Lombardi and the idea behind the sleeping bags here.

Blanket Tampa Bay and corporate partner Humana Insurance bridge a gap with blessing bags.

By Dalia Dangerfield | July 28, 2018 @8:08 AM A Bay area woman is working to create a rest stop for the homeless. Beth Ross got idea for urban rest stop during Seattle visit She already has non-profit Blanket Tampa Bay Ross applying for grants, meeting with local leaders Beth Ross wants to create Tampa's first urban rest stop. "It's going to be a place where the homeless can go, take a shower, do laundry," she said. Ross got the idea while visiting Seattle. A stop there has been providing free services for homeless individuals and families for nearly 20 years. "It's kind of like a full circle of solving a community's problems," Ross said. She has already been helping the homeless with shampoos, conditioners, toiletries and blankets through her first non-profit, Blanket Tampa Bay. The urban rest stop would be the next step. "There are so many people every Monday night that are looking for work, that want a job. If we can get them cleaned up, get them clothes for interview, get them a job, they'll be off the street." But she will need money. She has been applying for grants and doing whatever she can to make it a reality. "I'm just thrilled. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I just know it's going to come," Ross said. She is hoping to have the urban rest stop ready to go by next year. It will take about $50,000 to get started, she said. Ross has also been meeting with local leaders to get political support for the project.

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Lisa L. Demmi spoke with Beth Ross about Blanket Tampa Bay's current lifesaving efforts and vision for an Urban Rest Stop.