Sunstar Volunteers Help to Improve Lives

May 29, 2022

Every day, around the clock, Sunstar saves lives. But did you know that in addition to providing lifesaving EMT and Paramedic services, Sunstar improves the lives of Pinellas County residents through extensive volunteer work?

Charlene Cobb, NR-EMTP, Sunstar’s community outreach coordinator, says that Sunstar has some of the most generous employees in the county.

“They give back at work and also during their off hours,” she explains. “Employees and their families never hesitate to give their time or money to help those in need.”

Check out some of the ways that Sunstar employees and their families support the Pinellas County community.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County

Sunstar employees have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County for the past several years. Sunstar provides a team of volunteers, and Habitat assigns projects according to the team’s skills.

In 2012, 15 employees and their families worked on a townhome community in Dunedin. They painted, installed lighting fixtures and closet systems, and worked on interior and exterior cleanup.

In 2013, 16 employees volunteered to work on a home in St. Petersburg. The employees were from all parts of the Sunstar organization: field EMTs and Paramedics, office and administration personnel, and even Sunstar CAO Debbie Vass. The Sunstar crew put up trim, finished cabinetry, installed closet systems, and fitted hurricane shutters. They also painted the home’s exterior and cleaned the job site.

Cobb says that working with Habitat for Humanity really shows the Sunstar team spirit. “We are a company that looks for opportunities to help make a difference in our community. Habitat is an exceptional organization that provides a great service, so it is a natural fit for us,” she says.

Team member Kim Gargiulo sums up why Sunstar employees love volunteering with Habitat for Humanity: “It’s nice to do a project with your family and create a good memory,” she says. “It feels good help those in need.”

Sunstar plans to schedule another Habitat for Humanity day in the spring of 2014.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, visit www.habitatpinellas.org.

Pinellas Hope

This year will be the fourth that Sunstar has cooked and served a meal for the residents of Pinellas Hope in Clearwater, which provides temporary tent housing for more than 250 homeless men and women. Case managers meet with Pinellas Hope residents regularly to help them set self-sufficiency goals and assist with job and housing placement. All residents are screened for substance abuse, and case managers follow up with residents after they’ve left the camp.

Cobb says that Sunstar supports Pinellas Hope because the charity is dedicated to helping people get back on their feet again.

When Sunstar serves a meal at Pinellas Hope, about 10 or 15 employees help cook all day and then serve the meal that evening. Some Sunstar employees come in on their off hours to serve the meal. Last year, Sunstar served pulled pork sandwiches, salad, and bakery items. This year’s menu has not yet been determined.

Cobb notes that Sunstar team members find it rewarding to see the people they are helping and to know how hard they are working to improve their own lives.

For more information about Pinellas Hope, visit www.pinellashope.org.

RCS Grace House Diaper Drive

Sunstar recently completed a diaper drive benefiting RCS Grace House, which provides emergency apartment-style shelter to homeless families with children.

The RCS Grace House program works with its families one-on-one to provide education, job readiness skills, and financial counseling. According to the RCS Grace House website, 90 percent of families who complete the program move on to stable housing.

This year, Sunstar employees donated more than $1,300 worth of essential baby products including diapers, wipes, hygiene products, and baby food. Food stamps do not cover these necessities, leaving many lower income families without the ability to purchase them. RCS Grace House often needs support providing such items to the families it helps.

For more information about RCS Grace House, visit www.rcspinellas.org/grace-house.

Taking it to the Streets Food Drive

Sunstar organizes a food drive with Metropolitan Ministries that benefits Pinellas County residents through “Taking it to the Streets,” a nonprofit founded in 1999 with a mission to help Pinellas County residents in need of assistance. Last year, Sunstar volunteers filled an entire van with food, and they intend to do the same – or better – this year.

For more information about Taking it to the Streets, visit www.takingittothestreets.org.

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