‘Give BACK Tampa’ Gears Up to Distribute Hundreds of ‘Blessing And Care Kits’ to the Homeless in Hillsborough County

Volunteers will be heading for Ginger Beard Coffee & Pourhouse at Grand Central on May 21 to fill backpacks with donated items to help the homeless. It’s part of the effort of “Give BACK Tampa” and its corporate sponsors, which include MCA-Russell Johns (http://www.myclassifiedads.net).

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) May 18, 2016

Give BACK Tampa, a community outreach program designed to help the homeless, presents #LUVDAY on Saturday, May 21, 2-5 p.m. Ground zero for the operation is Ginger Beard Coffee & Pourhouse; details are available at https://www.facebook.com/events/121450664925083.

MCA-Russell Johns (http://www.myclassifiedads.net) a full-service ad agency, is helping get the word out about #GiveBACKTampa. B.A.C.K stands for “Blessing And Care Kit.”

Chad Haynie launched Give BACK Tampa last fall when more than 200 backpacks filled with useful items for the homeless were donated and distributed in Hillsborough County. The charitable organization expects to more than double the number of distributions this go-around.

“During the (May 21) event we will assemble the final BACKpacks, enjoy food, craft beer, wine and music,” said Haynie, a businessman who moved to the Bay area from Kansas.

#LUVDAY takes place at Ginger Beard Coffee & Pourhouse at Grand Central, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602.

Everyone who has donated items will receive raffle tickets for prizes, including gym memberships, personal-training sessions, yoga sessions, high-end salon gift certificates, tanning services, restaurant and bar gift certificates. In addition, two well-known Bay area artists—Jason “Skel” Skeldon and Erin Michael—are donating pieces for the May 21 raffle.

Haynie summarizes the L.U.V. outreach this way:

LEARN how you can help the homeless.

UNDERSTAND the challenges they face.

VALUE them as human beings.

Items donated for the homeless include: Ponchos, umbrellas, socks, sport water bottles, travel coffee mugs, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, flashlights with batteries, prepaid phone cards, antibacterial wipes, travel pillows, light blankets, Advil, aspirin, Band-Aids, Neosporin, nail clippers, brushes, combs, Ziploc baggies, bicycle locks/padlocks, bottled water, phone chargers, headphones, food, dried fruit, nuts, beef jerky, granola bars, snacks in single-serve packages or re-sealable packages, nonperishable foods that don’t need to be cooked, feminine hygiene products, kids toys, school supplies and, of course, backpacks.

Also accepted are gift cards to Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Dunkin Donuts, Great Clips, Supercuts, Subway, McDonalds and other fast-food establishments.

Haynie was born in Korea and later adopted into what he described as “a loving family” in Kansas, where he learned the value of helping others. He brought those life-lessons with him when he re-located to the Tampa Bay area. He came up with the backpack idea after talking with homeless people about their needs.

Corporate sponsors helping the 41-year-old businessman include Smallcakes Tampa, Eddie & Sams NY Pizza, The Transformation Place, Geoffrey's Cuisine by Design, and Lindsey Meyer of MeyerInspired.com. Meyer is an on-location photographer who specializes in what she calls “unique photography and editing that create a one-of-a-kind image.” Categories include family portraits, events, glamour images, landscape, and corporate images.

For details about “Give BACK Tampa” and its outreach efforts, visit https://www.facebook.com/GiveBACKTampa.

ABOUT: MCA.com (http://myclassifiedads.net) is a full-service advertising agency based in Tampa. As part of its corporate mission, along with Russell Johns Associates, MCA-RJ uses a portion of its resources on a regular basis to spotlight inspirational stories like “Give BACK Tampa.”

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/volunteers/homelessdistributemay21/prweb13422480.htm