Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 7-9-21

Local
Tampa Crossroads Helps Identify Veterans For Utility Bill Program
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Electric are part- nering for the second year in the Share Program, which will pay the utility bills for 31 local veterans during the month of July.
Tampa Crossroads, a non- profit organization serving the Tampa Bay community since 1977, works closely with the local veteran population and is helping to identify potential program recipients.
Tampa Crossroads’ Chief Executive Officer Gwen- dolyn Green, LMHC, MCAP, said, “with this part- nership between TECO and our home team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, we are able to further the work we do at Tampa Crossroads, relieving our Veterans by removing one payment to worry about. We are incredibly thankful for the Lightning and TECO for this
THOMAS BROWN
U. S. Army Disabled Veteran, and Tampa Crossroads’ Veteran Outreach Coordinator
throughout the month of July. Our veterans do so much to protect our freedom every day, and it is our honor to support them as a thank you for their service."
Archie Collins, Presi- dent and Chief Executive Offi- cer of Tampa Electric said, "we are proud to join forces with the Lightning to give back to local veterans in such a pow- erful way, through the Share program.”
Through the Veterans As- sistance Center, Tampa Cross- roads offers outreach and supportive services to veter- ans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their hous- ing. The nonprofit provides veterans with a continuum of specialized housing services, case management, connec- tions to VA and mainstream benefits, and other supportive
services.
Since 2017, the Tampa
Crossroads Veterans Assis- tance Center has served more than 2000 veterans and their families, including: three Ko- rean War veterans, 224 female veterans, 352 minors, and one set of twin brothers who are both veterans.
Other Tampa Crossroads’ programs include the Behav- ioral Wellness Center, known as “BeWell,” which offers drug testing, SMART Recovery meetings, and outpatient treatment; the Career Center with services for adults with disabilities; Rose Manor, a residential treatment center for women only; and Eco Oaks, an energy-efficient af- fordable housing complex in the Tampa area. For more in- formation about Tampa Crossroads, visit www.tam- pacrossroads.com.
opportunity to help our Veter- ans.”
Elizabeth Frazier, Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Initiatives and Executive Director of the Lightning Foundation said, “last year we were proud to partner and support 91 resi-
dents who were impacted by the pandemic and were in need of financial assistance to pay their utility bills. This year, with the launch of the program occurring this 4th of July weekend, we are honored to continue the program with a focus on supporting veterans
FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY PAGE 9-A