Casting a line for Gulfside
The Bay Area Bassmasters, a local fishing group, made its annual donation to Gulfside Hospice in the amount of $8,714.25. The funds were raised during the group’s 2019 fishing season through the Ina Mahoney Hospice Challenge. Each angler donated $1 per pound for each fish that is caught, which was then pooled with the club’s annual fundraiser/prize drawings. The group has donated more than $42,000 since 2010. From left: Tom Mahoney, Pamela Hardy, Carla Armstrong and Tom Craigshead.
Reading program for NICU babies
The NICU team at the Medical Center of Trinity has launched its Itty Bitty Book Club, championing a bedside activity that will provide developmental benefits to its youngest and most fragile patients, while promoting parental involvement in care.
The hospital’s staff partnered with parents and volunteers to initiate a NICU reading program designed to promote bonding, and foster a healthy habit and love of reading.
Reading to neonates helps advance brain development, and enhance vocabulary, listening, language and memory skills.
The new book club began on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2.
The program’s goal is that each NICU graduate and their family receive the gift of reading. The hospital’s first supply of books has been graciously donated by the Medical Center of Trinity Volunteers.
Volunteer at Gulfside
Gulfside Hospice is looking for individuals who are passionate about helping people to join its team of volunteers and help with a variety of tasks.
Volunteer opportunities include patient care tasks, as well as positions that do not require working directly with patients.
Volunteers can offer companionship to patients at the Gulfside Centers for Hospice Care or at the patient’s home, offer respite care to give caregivers a break, staff the thrift shops, help at community and fundraising events, and more.
Those interested can complete an application online at Gulfside.org.
All new volunteers must complete an interview, background check, and various training based on the applicant’s choice of tasks.
For information, contact Laura Wright at (727) 845-5707 or .
Learn to quit smoking
The Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida program offers Phone Quit, Group Quit and Web Quit services, in addition to individual tools like text support, a Quit Guide and helpful emails.
Free nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, also are available to tobacco users who are age 18 or older, if medically appropriate.
For information, visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com/quityourway.
