THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE HOT LINE

A struggling family needs groceries and the food stamps are depleted. Another has no money to pay rent that’s already a month behind. Someone else has an overdue utility bill and service is about to be cut off. Still another needs transportation to visit a dying parent up north.

These are but a sampling of the heart-wrenching telephone calls that come in every day, all day to our Emergency Hot Line at our District Office, where volunteers assist families who are in dire need of assistance.

Aided by a huge map of South Pinellas County where the boundaries of the Conferences are color-coded, the volunteers pinpoint where the caller is located and then refer him or her to the nearest Conference. The Conference, in turn, will assign two Vincentians to schedule a home visit with the individual or family to determine how they can help.

In addition to the Conferences, Hot Line callers may also be referred to other Pinellas County social service agencies that have special expertise in given areas.

For emergency assistance, please contact 727-825-0725.