The City of St. Petersburg, Florida, has partnered with the Pinellas Community Foundation to establish the We Are St. Pete Fund. This initiative aims to raise funds for disaster relief in response to Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted residents, small businesses, and city employees.
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch emphasized the importance of community support during this challenging time. “Many of our St. Pete residents and small businesses are facing devastation after Hurricane Helene – now is the time to come together as a community,” he stated. He further highlighted that the fund would address immediate recovery needs and help prepare for future disasters.
The city itself has contributed $200,000 to the fund. Half of this amount will cover administrative costs so that all donations can directly benefit those affected by the hurricane. The other half will be distributed directly to disaster relief recipients.
In addition to the city’s contribution, three major pledges of $100,000 each have been made by The Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, Tampa Bay Rays, and local residents Trevor Burgess and Gary Hess.
Hurricane Helene caused significant damage in St. Petersburg with a storm surge exceeding six feet and over 100 miles of roads flooded. Many homes, businesses, and infrastructure were heavily affected.
For more information on how to contribute to the We Are St. Pete Fund or learn about ongoing recovery efforts, individuals can visit WeAreStPete.org or StPete.org/Helene.
