Oct. 11, 2019
By Camila Cernawsky Nakandakari
Donate for Braids
In the wake of a hurricane, many people don’t realize how difficult it is to get basic necessity products like diapers and tampons.
Many families still lack those basic products after Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas in August. Two local businesses are working together to help deliver products to women in need in the Bahamas.
“We serve women,” said Kelly Sultanfuss, Crown & Mane co-owner. “We thought it was only natural to gear the items we are collecting from donations towards women.”
Crown & Mane is partnering with B.A.E. Beauty Bar to gather feminine hygiene products, toiletries, baby products, unused blankets, sunscreen, and other items essential to women and their children.
“When something like this storm that went through the Bahamas leaves total devastation, of course our hearts go out to them,” said Sultanfuss. “And we want to do anything that we can to help.”
You can donate for the hurricane relief at Crown & Mane’s Tampa location at 1625 West Snow Circle. In St. Petersburg, B.A.E. Beauty Bar is accepting donations at 1800 Fourth St. N.
All items are sent to women in need in the Bahamas. Customers that donate items get a coupon for a free braid at either location. Both locations are open seven days a week to drop off donations.
To learn more, visit www.crownandmanetampa.com or call (813) 254-6263.
Geared Up for the Holiday Season
A nonprofit called On Bikes has its wheels in gear for this holiday season. Their mission is to make sure kids in need get a bike during the holidays.
“We provide at-risk and foster kids with bicycles during the holiday season,” said co-founder Julius Tobin.
Every year during the holiday season, On Bikes hosts the Santa’s Bike Shop at Amalie Arena, where kids and their families can participate in an assembly line to build their own bikes. Thousands of volunteers sign up to gather to assemble hundreds of bicycles each year.
“Last year, we had over 1,200 volunteers sign up in 24 hours,” said Tobin.
The nonprofit also hosts the Winter Wonder Ride event after Santa’s Bike Shop, where over 5,000 bikes take the streets of Bayshore Boulevard. This is a charity, costumed-themed bike ride that funds the purchase of bicycles and helmets that are donated.
The party doesn’t stop there, On Bikes also partners with Glazer Museum to create a post-ride celebration at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The party has a fun zone where kids and their families can dance the night away.
The event is geared for at-risk and foster kids, but Tobin said it is also for the parents who can’t afford something like this.
This year On Bikes is celebrating its ninth event. The Winter Wonder Ride will be hosted on Dec. 14 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The headliner for the show is Ceelo Green! For more information, visit www.onbikes.org.
Anchor: Natalie Conkel
Reporter, videographer, editor: Natalie Conkel
Reporter, videographer, editor: David Jones
Faculty Advisor: Cathy Gugerty
Faculty Advisor: Jeanette Abrahamsen
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
