Hurricane preparedness is not over...
Since the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, we have received several texts and phone calls from our deaf clients regarding the loss of their belongings.
We were overwhelmed by the cries for help from the Deaf community. Many were left without power for days, resulting in lost food. Some had to evacuate to hotels due to water intrusion in their homes, and many are unsure when they will be able to return home. We can’t fully grasp the extent of the damage or how many homes were affected by flooding. Clients have applied to FEMA and their insurance for assistance, but the approval process can take days or even weeks.
In response, Off-The-Grid, Food For the Poor, Operation BBQ Relief, and Deaf & Hard of Hearing organizations united to provide hot meals for the Deaf community. They were thrilled to receive the free items they needed. We assisted around 30 Deaf individuals, which was heartwarming to witness.
Since then, we have helped other clients remove their belongings from their houses, placing the unsalvageable items at the curb. It was heartbreaking to see what they couldn’t keep. Some belongings were salvageable, which we helped load and unload from a U-Haul to their storage unit, where they received a month of free storage.
Now, we hold hope for our clients as they work towards returning to their homes or finding new ones. We may not know how long it will take — some estimate it could take one or two years before they can return. We are committed to supporting our Deaf clients until they can go home again.
Your donations would significantly impact our Deaf clients by providing them with what they need most: hotel stays, food, and essential items. From our hearts to yours, we sincerely appreciate your support.
15th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction
Please save the date for our annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, which takes place on the first Friday of November each year. We are excited to gather donations from local businesses, restaurants, and theme parks for our silent auction and baskets. You can bid on items related to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, and more. We also have a lottery tree and holiday cheer basket for you to try your luck with.
We welcome everyone to join us for a fun evening of wine tasting, where you can choose from red or white wines and enjoy the cheerful atmosphere with friends and family. If you’re interested in attending or contributing items for the auction or baskets, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The more the merrier, as they say!
You can also purchase a ticket to attend our wine tasting – click here.
Carrie Esposito honored as Lightning Community Hero
The $50,000 Lightning Foundation grant will be donated to Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services of Florida, Alzheimer’s Association, Ian’s Way, and Pinellas Park Library’s Deaf Literacy Center.
Here is the link for you to read all about Carrie Esposito and why she was nominated. Lightning Community Hero – Carrie Esposito
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Our Mission Statement
To provide the highest quality of services and programs to promote empowerment, equal access, education, independence, and integrity to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and speech impaired.
Safety Information
In order to protect the health and safety of DHHSFL employees, those who access our locations must self-screen for symptoms and other risk factors of COVID-19. If you answer any of the questions, you should NOT be in the DHHSFL office. The screeners are accessible on our COVID-19 Screeners page.