Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 7-26-19

Features
6th Annual Back To School Giveaway Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, July 27th, a local organization will once again host its Annual Back To School Giveaway. The event will be hosted by Pastor Ho- race Drew and the staff of Rays Of Hope Outreach Min- istries.
This event will mark the 6th consecutive year that Rays Of Hope Outreach Ministries has given back to the commu- nity in this manner. The event will take place at the Rays Of Hope Ministry, 211 S. 22nd Street, Tampa, 33605. It will take place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Pastor Drew said, “We hope to provide supplies for
PASTOR HORACE DREW Rays Of Hope Outreach Ministries
about 100 students on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. We are asking that all children be accompa- nied by a parent or an adult.”
In addition to giving away the school supplies, Pastor Drew said they will also give- away some non-perishable food and clothing for those in need.
Pastor Drew further said, “We are having our event come rain or shine and we encourage everyone to come early. If they come at 1 p.m., there may not be any- thing left.”
Each year, the organiza- tion hosts this event to help provide some of the items children will need in the up- coming school year. It is also part of its mission to give back to the community.
In addition to the book bags, those in attendance will also receive food designated for anyone who attends the event.
The event is free and open to the public. For additional information contact Pastor Drew at (813) 531-5636.
2019 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this year, Gover- nor Ron DeSantis signed into law a three-day sales tax holiday. The “Sales Tax Holi- day” will begin at 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 2, and end at midnight, Sunday, August 4, 2019.
The sales tax holiday will include such items as cloth- ing, shoes, handbags, back- packs, and other items that cost $60 or less. It will also in- clude pens, pencils, binders, lunchboxes, and other school supplies that cost $15 or less.
This year, computers that cost less than $750.00 will qualify for the “no sales tax” exemption. The taxes include clothing for the entire family and is not limited to school uniforms or clothing for chil- dren and teenagers.
Some of the items that qualify for the sales tax are: items for the hair, neckwear, scarves, baby clothes, back- packs, belts, bibs, book bags, coats and wraps, dresses, jeans, leg warmers, shirts,
uniforms, sports uniforms, underclothing, etc.
Some of the school sup- plies that can be purchased are binders, calculators, tape, colored pencils, compasses, composition books, construc- tion paper, crayons, folders, rulers, glue, highlighters, legal pads, markers, notebooks, filler paper, scissors, etc.
During the designated weekend, merchants will not collect sales tax on qualified clothing items. The sales holi- day tax also applies to lay- aways. The exempt items can be placed on layaway or picked up during the week- end.
However, items such as computer paper, printer paper, staplers, or staples will be taxed.
Merchants will collect sales taxes on all computer- related items with the excep- tion of blank CDs.
Additionally, items pur- chased at theme parks, enter- tainment complexes, public lodging establishments, or airports do not qualify for the sales tax exemption.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2019