What we’re about
Follow us:
- Website: [TampaVolunteers.com](http://tampavolunteers.com/?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=social)
- Facebook Page: Tampa Volunteers
- Facebook Group: Tampa Volunteers
- Instagram: Tampa Volunteers
- Linkedin: Tampa Volunteers
Hello volunteers,
Welcome to Tampa Volunteers. I created this new group to share fun and social volunteering opportunities that I have discovered in the Tampa Bay area. I hope to meet people who love volunteering and socializing.
I hope to add 3-4 volunteering events per month to this meetup along with 1-2 social events every month. The nature of the service will vary depending on the needs of the organizations that are looking for volunteers. This group is not associated with any specific organization, instead the goal is to help the organizations whose mission align with the members of this group.
Meetup Rules/Policies:
- Respect the RSVP -- This is very important for this group. The event organizers depend on an accurate number of volunteers to run their events and a no show can affect their event in a serious manner. If you are not sure you can attend an event please do not respond to it as going or change or your status to not going if already RSVP'd. If you are unable to attend an event that has people on waitlist, please update 2 days before the event. To RSVP for events, it is sometimes required to provide your full name, contact or other information. If the information is not provided, your RSVP will be moved to 'not going'. Please provide that information by messaging the event host in private or in the RSVP prompt. This information is requested by the event organizers to sign up volunteers for their event.
- No-show? No good -- 3 no-shows and you will be suspended from the group. No-shows negatively impact the non-profits and take opportunities away from waitlisted volunteers.
- Active Participation -- The goal of Tampa Volunteers is to create an active, engaged, committed, and trusted community. To do that, we need to make sure that people in the group are active participants. So, if you have not attended at least one event in the last 12 months, you will be suspended from the group. Being in the waitlist counts as participation.
- Social Events -- Social events are for volunteers only unless otherwise stated. Please only RSVP for them if have volunteered in the past or are signed up for an upcoming event. Social events do not count towards active participation.
- Notifications -- Update your notification settings for mobile and/or web to avoid missing important event updates. Notifications can also help in avoiding no-shows and inactivity, both of which can lead to suspension. https://www.meetup.com/account/comm/tampa-volunteers/
You have to turn on the following notification settings:- My RSVP is confirmed
- Changes to event time or location
- New comments & chat messages
- Event reminders
- Event rating requests (highly appreciated but not required)
- Event updates from organizers
- No Harassment -- While some of the attendees are single, this is not a singles/dating group. Tampa Volunteers is about volunteering, having fun, and building great relationships. If people happen to end up liking each other and dating, that's great, but that is not the purpose of the group. If someone persistently makes you uncomfortable, please let me know and I can talk to them and remove them if necessary instead of you not coming back again.
- Liability Waiver -- Tampa Volunteers and the organizers of Tampa Volunteers are not liable for any damage to any volunteer or anything at the events. Tampa Volunteers' sole focus is connecting volunteers to events that need volunteers. Tampa Volunteers does not take responsibility for the event or the volunteers.
- Profile Picture -- Please make sure you have a profile picture on your meetup account that is recent and accurate.
- Feedback -- Your feedback is very much appreciated! This is my first time organizing a meetup, and your feedback will make me and this group better. If you have suggestions regarding an event, an idea on how to improve event description and titles, or group questionnaires all of that feedback is helpful. Also, reach out to me directly if you would like to organize events for this meetup. I would love to have more people helping me with organizing the meetup. The more the merrier!
By joining this group, you are agreeing to abide by the rules/policies stated above.
Happy Volunteering,
Zabi
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Tour and Help Suncoast Primate SanctuarySuncoast Primate Sanctuary, Palm Harbor, FL
Meet at the front gate promptly at 9:45 a.m. so we can take a group photo and get a brief introduction of the sanctuary and instructions.
We will volunteer (details below) for 3 hours. We are welcome to bring picnic lunches to have lunch at the sanctuary after volunteering and can stay to explore the sanctuary on our own after we finish our tasks.
Bring water, hats, and sunscreen – we will be outside the entire time. And, as a reminder, people should wear closed toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty. If you have work / gardening gloves and tools bring them.
Age requirement: School age children (5+) are welcome but must be with the adult at all times. Let me know if bringing children to find special projects to do if we have a group of children.
What we would be doing:
We will break the volunteers into a few groups with different activities. You will most likely either be painting, or doing landscaping, cleaning, organizing, etc.If you have any particular talents like plumbing, woodworking, painting, etc., please let me know in advance and we can create a special project.
This is an odd request, but they always have a need for weed-eating... so if anyone has a weed eater they would be willing to bring and use that would be great.
Parking:
Sanctuary is located at 4600 Alt. 19 in Palm Harbor, just south of the Klosterman / Alt. 19 intersection. If your GPS can’t locate it, the actual name of Alt 19 is Palm Harbor Blvd. The entrance gate is located along Alt. 19 and there are parking spaces along the road. However, most of us will park in the volunteer parking lot. Please fill that first and keep the spaces directly in front of the gate open for handicap visitors. The parking lot is through a gate just south of the main gate, and they will have a sign posted.Wish List:
Please bring any of the items from the wish list below if you can remember/afford. It's certainly not required, but if you want to help the monkeys and don't know what they need, they've provided this wish list:- Unsalted mixed nuts - all kinds.
- Garbanzo beans
- Cheerios
- Gluten-free oatmeal and rice cakes
- Unsalted roasted peanuts in the shell
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Unsweetened apple juice
- Sugar free Gatorade
- Sugar free drink mixes (we have a lot of diabetic monkeys)
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Kitchen sponges
- Garden hose nozzles
- Garbage bags
- Outdoor paint in white or beige (half full cans are great - if anyone has leftover paint in their garage!)
- Paint brushes
- Blank canvases (the chimps love to paint)
- Non toxic paint (for the chimps to paint)
- Ziplock snack bags
- Colored pencils
- Long handled cleaning brushes
- Long handled plastic large spoons
- Post it notes
- Zip ties
- Bungee cords - all lengths (used are fine!)
- Disinfecting wipes
- Cleaning supplies
- Outdoor rated electric cords (used are fine!)
Their Amazon wish list link (which includes toys the primates would like) can be found on their Facebook page and website.
About the Sanctuary
https://www.suncoast-primate.org/
The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 volunteer-run organization. The Sanctuary provides a home to more than 100 animals, including chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, reptiles, tropical birds and more. Whether rescued from private pet ownership, the exotic pet trade, research laboratories, or retired from the film industry, the Sanctuary provides these magnificent animals with a safe haven where they can live with peace and dignity. With help from our community, through financial donations and volunteering, the Sanctuary is able to maintain a special place for primates, educate the public about zoological and environmental issues and provide community service opportunities and educational internships.
