NOTE: The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on May 25 and will reopen on May 26. BayCare Health System, DOH-Pasco’s community partner, will temporarily relocate its COVID-19 testing site to 5637 Marine Parkway (at the corner of George St. and Marine Parkway) in New Port Richey from May 26 to May 29, weather permitting.
BayCare has been providing COVID-19 testing at the Gulf High School parking lot since the end of March. This temporary move will allow students and faculty end-of-year access to the building without the concern of proximity to the testing site.
For information, visit FloridaHealth.gov/covid-19, email , or call (866) 779-6121.
Pregnancy centers still open
The Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers are still open, with some creative and temporary changes.
The staff works everyday continuing pregnancy education with clients.
Each week, for a few hours, each center location opens to provide curbside delivery of diapers, wipes, formula and other baby items for those in need.
The centers still offer decision coaching, pregnancy tests, emergency ultrasounds, and more.
In Land O’ Lakes, call (813) 406-4965. In Wesley Chapel, call (813) 618-5037.
For more information, visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org.
Crisis Center funding
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is committed to ensuring that the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) community in Hillsborough County has access to crisis intervention, resource information and referrals, suicide prevention, and rape crisis services.
United Way Suncoast is providing the nonprofit Crisis Center with $25,000 in emergency funding. The funds are part of a more than $1.2 million in COVID-19 emergency assistance from the United Way Suncoast’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which is being distributed to human services across the Suncoast, to support housing/shelter, food, child care, financial stability and mental health services.
In addition to intervention, resources and referrals, suicide prevention and rape crisis services, the Crisis Center’s Gateway Services 2-1-1 provides 24/7 on-call support for callers who need help with basis needs, such as housing and food access.
For information, visit CrisisCenter.com.
Pharmacy hours back
As of May 16, Publix stores reopened daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and its pharmacies returned to regular operating hours.
Pharmacy hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For hours on Saturday and Sunday, visit your locale store’s website.
Pharmacy hours at hospitals will vary by location.
For customer updates, visit Publix.com.
Virtual chat
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Hillsborough and NAMI Pasco will host a lunchtime chat on May 21, May 26 and May 28, at noon, on Facebook or YouTube.
Those that tune in can hear from local business officials, peers and family members on a variety of mental health issues.
For example, the May 14 episode was provided by nationally certified intervention professional Stephen Sundquist on not only addiction but the importance of recovery, too.
YMCA blood drives
The YMCAs of the Tampa Bay area will continue to host blood drives, in partnership with OneBlood.
The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA and the YMCA of the Suncoast will host blood drives at 11 YMCA locations across Hillsborough, Pinellas and East Pasco counties on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The East Pasco Family YMCA, in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, at 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills, will be one of the donation sites.
All donors will receive a OneBlood T-shirt, and a free wellness checkup including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.
For information and other locations, call (888) 936-6283.
Virtual classes
The Gulfside North AHEC (Area Health Education Center) will host free virtual Tools to Quit classes, covering all forms of tobacco.
The classes will provide information about the effects of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting, and will provide assistance to develop a personal quit plan.
A workbook and materials will be provided, along with nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges, if necessary.
The upcoming classes are on May 26 from 10 a.m. to noon; May 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and, May 29 from noon to 2 p.m.
Preregistration is required by calling (813) 929-1000.
Once registration is received, a ZOOM link will be provided to join the conference via video or audio.
