Pinellas County Nonprofit Guide: Where to Volunteer & Where to Get Help
- Jacqueline Roche
- Oct 25
- 7 min read
It takes a village. Somedays you may be flying high on top of the ferris wheel, other days you may need a hand up. If you’re looking for a place to lend a hand or get help, this Pinellas County Nonprofit Guide roundup brings trustworthy, local nonprofits into one easy list.
You'll find food pantries, youth programs, mental health services, housing support, animal rescue, and more, plus clear ways to plug in as a volunteer.
Every organization here is mission-driven and community-rooted. I have only added organizations that I having collaborated with or feel confident in their altruism and mission.
Skim for what you need today, bookmark for later, and share with someone who could use it. If you’re in immediate crisis or not sure where to start, call 2-1-1 to be connected with local resources 24/7.
Pinellas County Nonprofit Guide
Reach St. Pete
Who they serve & how: Neighbors experiencing financial hardship, inequities, or homelessness, connecting them with essentials (food, rent/utility help, tutoring) and removing access barriers.
How to get involved: Donate, volunteer at distributions, help with tutoring, or support special drives.
Website: reachstpete.org
FEAST Food Pantry
Who they serve & how: Food-insecure families in North Pinellas with fresh groceries and pantry staples.
How to get involved: Volunteer for intake, packing, or distribution; donate funds or food.
Website: feastfoodpantry.org
The Kind Mouse
Who they serve & how: Children facing chronic hunger and families in transition, including “Kids Feeding Kids” youth leadership.
How to get involved: Volunteer for packing events, mentor youth leaders, or donate.
Website: thekindmouse.org
Community Dental Clinic (Clearwater)
Who they serve & how: Uninsured, low-income adults in Pinellas County with comprehensive dental care and education.
How to get involved: Donate or support clinic needs; dental professionals can inquire about volunteering.
Website: communitydtlclinic.org
211 Tampa Bay Cares (First Contact)
Family Center on Deafness (FCD)
Who they serve & how: Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and families with programs, advocacy, and community events.
How to get involved: Volunteer for events, mentoring, and youth activities; donate to sustain services.
Lighthouse of Pinellas
Who they serve & how: People of all ages with vision loss through rehabilitation training and support.
How to get involved: Attend an intro tour, volunteer, or donate to programs.
Website: lhpfl.org
Girls Rock St. Pete
Who they serve & how: Girls and gender-expansive youth using music, mentorship, and arts to build confidence and community.
How to get involved: Volunteer as a coach/mentor, help at camp or showcases, or donate gear/funds.
Website: girlsrockstpete.org
Girls on the Run of Greater Tampa Bay
Who they serve & how: 3rd–8th grade girls with research-based lessons that pair social-emotional learning with running.
How to get involved: Coach a team, host a site at your school, volunteer at 5Ks, or donate.
Website: gotrtampa.org
Autism Inspired Academy (AIA)
Who they serve & how: K–12 students with autism through individualized academics, social-emotional learning, and family support.
How to get involved: Volunteer at events, sponsor programs, or support scholarships.
Website: autisminspired.org
Great Explorations Children’s Museum
Who they serve & how: Children and families with hands-on exhibits and play-based learning; AAM-accredited museum.
How to get involved: Volunteer on the floor, help with camps/events, or donate.
Website: greatex.org
ALPHA House of Pinellas
Who they serve & how: Homeless pregnant women/new mothers and infants with housing and wraparound services.
How to get involved: Volunteer for mentoring, donations drives, and in-kind baby items; give financially.
Website: alphahousepinellas.org
AMIkids Pinellas
Who they serve & how: Foster-system youth with education, life skills, and workforce development support.
How to get involved: Mentor, support career readiness, or donate to local programs.
CASA Pinellas (Domestic Violence)
Who they serve & how: Official domestic violence center for Pinellas—hotline, shelter, legal advocacy, and the Family Justice Center.
How to get involved: Volunteer at the thrift store, FJC, or events; donate or attend trainings.
Website: casapinellas.org
College Fund of Pinellas County
Who they serve & how: Pinellas residents with financial need via renewable scholarships toward a bachelor’s degree.
How to get involved: Donate to scholarships or become a volunteer supporter/advocate.
Community Law Program
Who they serve & how: Low-income Pinellas residents and nonprofits with free civil legal services and pro bono clinics.
How to get involved: Attorneys and law students can volunteer; community members can donate.
Website: lawprogram.org
Creative Clay
Who they serve & how: Artists with disabilities through inclusive studios, exhibitions (Good Folk Gallery), and arts employment.
How to get involved: Volunteer in studios/events or donate art supplies/funds.
Website: creativeclay.org
Dunedin Fine Art Center
Who they serve & how: All ages with classes, exhibitions, and a children’s art museum, regional hub for visual arts.
How to get involved: Volunteer as gallery/class support, teach, or donate.
Website: dfac.org
Florida Dream Center
Who they serve & how: At-risk neighborhoods (e.g., Lealman) with Adopt-A-Block, mobile food, case management, workforce help.
How to get involved: Join Saturday outreach, assist with food distribution, mentor job-seekers, or donate.
Website: floridadreamcenter.org
NOMADstudio (Nomad Art Bus)
Who they serve & how: Brings mobile art education to youth and underserved sites; includes an in-facility justice studio program.
How to get involved: Volunteer as a teaching artist/helper or support with donations, attend events! Kids can paint a bus (how cool is that?!)
Website: nomadstudio.org
PARC Center for Disabilities
Who they serve & how: Children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, early intervention, employment, residential, and life skills.
How to get involved: Volunteer with programs/events or donate to services.
Website: parc-fl.org
Project Prosper
Who they serve & how: Immigrants and refugees with 0% interest micro-loans, mentoring, and financial education.
How to get involved: Volunteer as a financial coach, help translate/teach, or donate.
Website: projectprosper.org
Seniors in Service (Health Buddies)
Who they serve & how: Homebound seniors and older adults through friendly calls, wellness check-ins, and support from 55+ volunteers.
How to get involved: Become a Health Buddy or support other intergenerational programs; donate.
Website: seniorsinservice.org
Sing Out and Read (SOAR)
Who they serve & how: Struggling early readers using a sing-to-read model to boost literacy and engagement.
How to get involved: Volunteer with classroom sessions or support program expansion through donations.
Website: singoutandread.org
Starting Right, Now
Who they serve & how: Unaccompanied homeless youth with housing, mentoring, academic and life-skills support.
How to get involved: Become a mentor, speak/host drives, or donate.
Website: startingrightnow.org
Tampa Bay Watch – Discovery Center (St. Pete Pier)
Who they serve & how: Public environmental education about the Tampa Bay estuary via interactive exhibits and hands-on programs.
How to get involved: Volunteer for restoration projects (oyster bars, plantings, cleanups) or support the Discovery Center.
Website: tbwdiscoverycenter.org
Ronald McDonald House (Tampa Bay)
Who they serve & how: Families with hospitalized children—home-like lodging and support near care sites across Tampa Bay.
How to get involved: Prepare meals, host donation drives, volunteer at houses, or give. Great for families wanting to volunteer together.
Website: rmhctampabay.org
Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center
Who they serve & how: Families and children in Safety Harbor and nearby areas with wraparound support, family services, youth education/after-school, food pantry, and clothing closet.
How to get involved: Volunteer (pantry, programs, events) or donate to sustain services.
Website: mwnfc.org
Oldsmar Cares
Who they serve & how: Oldsmar and surrounding ZIPs (34677, 34695, 33635, 34684) with a food pantry, clothes closet, and stop-gap rent/utility assistance, 100% volunteer-run.
How to get involved: Volunteer at the pantry/closet or help at events; donate funds or in-kind items.
Website: oldsmarcares.org
Suncoast Center
Who they serve & how: Individuals and families across Pinellas with community behavioral health care, therapy, case management, peer support, suicide prevention, and the county’s Sexual Assault Services Center.
How to get involved: Support access to care by donating and sharing 24/7 help resources.
Website: suncoastcenter.org
Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch (WWAR)
Who they serve & how: Military veterans, especially those with visible or invisible injuries, through adaptive sports, clinics, and community events in Pinellas.
How to get involved: Volunteer at events or lend skills; help fundraise or sponsor activities.
Website: woundedwarriorsabilitiesranch.org
Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP)
Who they serve & how: Adults, families, and veterans experiencing homelessness, housing plus wraparound services (basic needs, health, workforce, and more).
How to get involved: Volunteer (meals, thrift, maintenance, admin, garden, veterans & workforce support) or donate.
Website: hepempowers.org
Friends of Strays Animal Shelter
Who they serve & how: St. Pete’s oldest no-kill shelter connecting homeless cats and dogs with loving homes.
How to get involved: Apply to volunteer at the shelter or special events; donate or adopt. (Note: volunteer applications may open/close, check the page.)
Website: friendsofstrays.org
Pinellas PAL (Police Athletic League)
Who they serve & how: Underserved youth (K–12) with after-school programs, mentoring, academics, arts, and sports in Lealman and mid-Pinellas.
How to get involved: Volunteer with elementary, middle, or high-school programs, mentoring, and events.
Website: pinellaspal.com
Edible Peace Patch Project (“The Peace Patch”)
Who they serve & how: Title I elementary schools in Pinellas,school gardens that teach nutrition, science, and leadership through hands-on learning.
How to get involved: Join garden workdays (planting, weeding, harvesting) or support supplies/funding.
Website: (program info) edibleschoolyard.org/program/edible-peace-patch-project
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco–Pinellas (AAAPP)
Who they serve & how: Seniors and caregivers in Pasco & Pinellas, resources, referrals, Medicare counseling (SHINE), and aging-services coordination.
How to get involved: Volunteer with SHINE/other programs or intern to support older adults.
Website: agingcarefl.org
Community Tampa Bay
Who they serve & how: Youth and adults, cultivating inclusive leaders and ending discrimination through dialogue-based programs like ANYTOWN®.
How to get involved: Volunteer as a mentor/facilitator or help with community programs and events.
Website: communitytampabay.org
St. Vincent de Paul CARES
Who they serve & how: People experiencing homelessness (including veterans and families) with Housing-First programs, emergency shelter, food center, and supportive services.
How to get involved: Volunteer (shelter/food center, admin, thrift) or donate funds/food/supplies.
Website: svdpsp.org
Hope Villages of America (formerly RCS Pinellas)
Who they serve & how: Neighbors facing hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence through food bank, housing stability, and The Haven DV services.
How to get involved: Volunteer across programs (food bank, Grace House housing, The Haven) or organize drives.
Website: hopevillagesofamerica.org
Great Explorations Children’s Museum (Low-Income Access)
Who they serve & how: Kids and families, with expanded access for low-income households via free/discounted admission through Museums for All (EBT/WIC), special free-admission days (e.g., “10 Tuesdays”), and no-cost opportunities like field trips, memberships/passes, outreach, and camp scholarships.
How to get involved: Volunteer on the floor/events, or donate to access funds (e.g., 3 Wishes Fund) to underwrite admissions and memberships for families-in-need.
Website: greatex.org
Honorable mention:
Cypress Wellness Center: offers several mental health services on a sliding scale basis. Website: https://www.cypresswellnesscenter.com/
Community care is a team effort. Whether you donate an hour, share this guide, or reach out for support, you’re helping move our county forward.
I’ll keep this list current and growing. And if you volunteer with one of these organizations, I’d love to hear about your experience so others can jump in, too. :)
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