Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities, Diocese St. Petersburg.
The Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg is hosting its annual Easter drive to support children in homeless or low-income housing.
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By Madison Overmier
TAMPA, Fla. – Community members across Tampa Bay are coming together this Easter season to support nearly 1,000 children in need through the Easter Basket of Plenty Drive.
The Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, organizes the drive, which is now in its sixth year. It was created to support the 300 migrant farmworker families living at Catholic Charities-run San Jose Mission Apartments in Dover, FL.
Amber Jane Turenne, the Social Media & Digital Engagement Coordinator for the church, said that, because of the excitement from the first drive, they decided to continue and expand it for all Catholic Charities clients.
“These families are often low-income and facing significant hardship, and we wanted to bring the community together to support them in experiencing some of the small, everyday joys — like receiving an Easter basket,” said Turenne.
The drive mainly supports children in their low-income housing program, San Jose Mission, and the Pasco Family Shelter.
The church hosts a family event at San Jose Mission Apartments on Holy Saturday, where the children receive their Easter baskets along with games, food, music, an egg hunt, and an appearance from the Easter Bunny. This year, the event is on April 4.
Turenne said they have up to 30 volunteers who help assemble the baskets and help with the Holy Saturday event.
“We rely on a wide network of volunteers from schools, parishes, and local organizations who support the collection of items and assembly of the baskets,” said Turenne.
Along with local churches and schools, they also receive support from the apartment complex Cortland Westshore in South Tampa.
The baskets include many items that children typically receive on Easter, including books, crayons, small toys, blankets, candy, and grooming products.
“The children receiving these baskets are truly the poorest of the poor,” said Turenne. “These baskets may seem simple, but to the children and families receiving them, they represent care, community, and celebration.”
Catholic Charities operates six homeless shelters with 2,000 units across five counties. Turenne said the greatest obstacle for the unhoused community in Tampa Bay is the ability to find quality, affordable housing.
“Many individuals and families are just one unexpected event away from losing their housing, and recovery can be difficult,” said Turenne.
Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative conducts a yearly point-in-time count of the unhoused population in Hillsborough County.
In February 2025, they found there were 1,796 unhoused people, 950 who were sheltered and 846 unsheltered. That included 181 families, and the most unsheltered people were in the 33602 Zip code.
The 2025 point-in-time count in Pinellas County counted 1,863 unhoused individuals; 1,325 were sheltered, and 538 were not.
Homelessness is not just an issue in the Tampa Bay area, but across Florida. A 2025 rental market study by the University of Florida found roughly 29,849 individuals in Florida are homeless.
“This includes 23,799 sheltered and unsheltered individuals and 6,049 unaccompanied youth doubled up with others and in hotels and motels,” said the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.
While homelessness remains a challenge across Tampa Bay, organizations like the Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, aim to bring the community together and make a difference. Donations are being accepted until March 23.
More information on items and drop-off locations is available on their website and Amazon Wish List.
Easter Basket of Plenty Drive flyer. Photo courtesy of Amber Jane Turenne, Catholic Charities, Diocese St. Petersburg.