UWF psychology students help to furnish transitional living home Set Free Refuge
Five University of West Florida students recently collected donations to help furnish Set Free Refuge, a transitional living home in south Santa Rosa County for sex trafficking victims.
The endeavor was the result of a spring semester service learning project in professor Jane Halonen’s positive psychology course. Renee Shomaker, Raleigh Gharbi, Mary Hunt, Savannah Burtschell and Dalia Fort-Frazee teamed together to help Set Free Refuge.
Set Free Refuge provides young women who are aging out of foster care transitional housing for up to one year in a safe, home-like environment. The Refuge, which can house up to three women at a time, helps stabilize and equip sex trafficking survivors to plan their next steps toward a normal life. Set Free Refuge is the only home of its kind in Northwest Florida that specifically provides care to child victims who are aging out of foster care.
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The students collected furniture, household items and clothing from friends, neighbors, employers and other community contacts and delivered the donations to the home, which was empty until the students stepped in.
Visit uwf.edu/psychology or setfreerefuge.org for details.
AIA Florida Northwest’s PensaCan 2022 accepting build team registrations
Build team registrations are being accepted for PensaCan 2022 — an event led by the American Institute of Architects Florida Northwest to fight hunger in the community. This year PensaCan will take place Sept. 29 through Oct. 7. Teams are strongly encouraged to register in August, though teams will be accepted through Sept. 9.
PensaCan is a competition where local architectural firms, businesses, organizations, and amateur groups create impressive structures made entirely out of full cans of food that are then donated to Manna to feed the hungry in Northwest Florida. Businesses, organizations, civic clubs, schools or any other groups are welcome to register their teams for the event. Build teams are encouraged to design food structures for display at Cordova Mall, however permissible off-site locations, such as offices, are also acceptable. Digital designs are welcome too.
Following a week-long display of the structures (and posters with images of digital designs and off-site builds) at Cordova Mall, all food is then donated to Manna for distribution to hungry neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
A panel of judges will vote on the structures Sept. 30 in categories such as Best Nutrition Award, Best Graphics Award, and Structural Ingenuity Award. People’s Choice Award votes will be accepted online at mannahelps.org from Sept. 30 through Oct. 7.
Visit mannahelps.org/events/pensacan for details.
Escambia County launches Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
Escambia County recently launched the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. The program is designed to provide assistance for homeowners struggling to pay mortgages or utilities due to COVID-19.
Funded under the Community Development Block Grant Corona Virus Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, eligible households may receive assistance of up to but not exceeding three months' costs, or $8,000. Payments will be made directly to the lending institutions and utility companies.
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In order to apply for the program, residents must provide documentation to determine eligibility, including qualifying COVID-19 impact or financial hardship; proof of identification for applicant/co-applicant and all household members over 18; and current proof of income for all household members.
Visit MyEscambia.com/EMAP for details.
Appointee sought for Escambia County Merit System Protection Board
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Merit System Protection Board.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment on the Merit System Protection Board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business on Monday. Resumes should be submitted to Jose Gochez, program coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to boardapply@myescambia.com.
Be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
Santa Rosa County Animal Services seeks medical fosters for kittens
With kitten season in full swing, the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter is looking for "medical fosters" who can help care for sick kittens that are not old enough to adopt.
These kittens need a safe place to rest and recover until they are well and/or 8 weeks old. Medical fosters will be responsible for administering treatment, bringing fosters to shelter appointments, and providing a loving environment for recovery. Medical treatment and supplies are provided by the shelter, at no cost to the foster parent.
For more information on fostering or to sign up to be a kitten foster, visit santarosa.fl.gov/727/Foster-Program.
Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF students furnish transitional living home Set Free Refuge
