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We Are St. Pete Fund

The We Are St. Pete Fund provides critical financial assistance to those who have been most impacted by Hurricanes Helene & Milton in St. Petersburg. The We Are St. Pete Fund is a collaboration between the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF), created to help our community recover from these disasters. The We Are St. Pete Fund exemplifies the compassion, unity, and spirit of our community.

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Total Raised
$1,018,215.73
The figure shown includes pledges and donations, minus credit card processing fees. Current as of 11:59 pm, January 10, 2025.

A Message from Mayor Welch

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the We Are St. Pete Fund created?

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has left thousands of St. Petersburg residents and businesses reeling. With a storm surge exceeding six feet and more than 100 miles of roads flooded, many homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure were severely impacted. Hurricane Milton poses an even greater threat to the place we call home.

While immediate recovery efforts are underway, the journey to rebuild will take time and resources. More than 10,000 homes have been affected, many of which lack sufficient insurance coverage or means to recover quickly. Small businesses, the lifeblood of our community, are struggling to reopen. Furthermore, the dedicated City of St. Petersburg employees, who have been on the front lines of recovery efforts, have also experienced devastating personal losses from this disaster.

Thousands of families are facing the daunting task of restoring their homes, replacing lost belongings, and securing temporary shelter. Small businesses are fighting to stay afloat as they face extensive repairs. These vulnerable communities cannot afford to wait, and their recovery is essential for the well-being of St. Petersburg as a whole. However, recovery is only the first step. As we look beyond the initial crisis, we must also focus on building a more resilient community—one better prepared for future storms and environmental challenges. The We Are St. Pete Fund will provide the flexibility to address both immediate relief and longer-term strategies, from repairing homes and businesses to improving infrastructure and preparing for future disasters.

 

What are some examples of uses of the funding?

Funding will be used to support direct relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of the victims of Hurricane Helene. This includes:

  • Emergency food, water, shelter, and other basic needs
  • Necessary services to vulnerable and at-risk populations
  • Transportation
  • Filling gaps not met by federal and local government relief funding

Can I donate anonymously to this fund?

No. Contributing to this fund may constitute the creation of a public record. Even if you mark your donation as “Anonymous,” PCF will not honor this request in the event that PCF is required to produce a record of donors to this specific fund.

Who will this fund benefit?

City of St. Pete residents, small businesses, and City employees working on the front lines during the storm and storm recovery, who all have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene, will be eligible to receive assistance. Following Hurricane Milton, we plan to offer support to those impacted by either or both storms. We aim to raise sufficient funds to address immediate recovery needs for at least 1,500 uninsured or underinsured families, as well as small businesses struggling to recover.

Your gift will go directly to helping those who need it most—families facing loss and uncertainty, small business owners working to reopen, and City employees who have served our community despite personal losses.

Additionally, as funding allows, we are committed to investing in long-term resilience projects that will help safeguard our community from future disasters. These efforts include helping residents make improvements and take preventative measures to minimize the impact of future storms.

When will I be able to apply for assistance?

We are currently in the donation-seeking phase of launching this fund. This page will be updated as information is available. Please do not reach out to Pinellas Community Foundation with inquiries about financial assistance.

How will the fund be managed?

Pinellas Community Foundation and the City of St. Petersburg have launched this critical fundraising initiative to support those most in need. PCF, with a long history of managing community-focused funds, is the fiscal agent trusted to collect, manage, and steward the We Are St. Pete Fund, ensuring that donations are distributed with transparency and accountability. The City will help manage the eligibility process, providing data to ensure funds go directly to those who need it most.