Clearwater, Fla. – On August 8th, RCS Pinellas and St. Petersburg College will hold a press conference to announce their partnership and the creation of the RCS Express Center. The RCS Express Center will provide prompt services as such as small meal ingredients, immediate turn-around referrals, and direct support related to homelessness, domestic violence, and energy assistance.
The press conference will be held on Aug. 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Community Room at the St. Petersburg College Midtown Center, located at 130 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg, Florida 33712. Speakers will include St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams, Florida Representative Wengay Newton, and RCS President and CEO Kirk Ray Smith. The event is open to the public and press is encouraged to attend. Please contact Lauren Misa to RSVP and let us know of any special needs.
We are hopeful that The RCS Express Center will improve the lives of over 3,000 residents in Pinellas County annually. Hours of operation are planned for every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Programming will expand to additional locations as needed through strategic alliances and partnerships.
President & CEO of RCS Pinellas, Kirk Ray Smith weighs in, “Through this amazing partnership with SPC, we can create wins each day. We can provide immediate support services to students and the local community quickly. We can put out the ‘fires’ and help rebuild lives in short-order; in an express kind of way.”
Dr. Tonjua Williams, President of St. Petersburg College, also shares, “We are excited to be partnering with RCS Pinellas to bring these important, and much needed services to our students and community. We know that nationally, over 50 percent of community college students are dealing with food insecurity and 14 percent have experienced homelessness in the last 12 months. This partnership will address the basic needs that often threaten the well-being of students and will support their ability to stay in school and graduate, helping them start on the path to economic prosperity for themselves and their families.”
RCS Pinellas has provided help & hope to people in need for 50 years. RCS’s mission is to feed the hungry, help families facing homelessness return to self-sufficiency, and empower survivors of domestic violence. Over 130,000 Pinellas County individuals are served annually with dignity to accomplish this mission at the RCS Food Bank, the RCS Grace House, The Haven of RCS, RCS Affordable Housing, RCS Energy Assistance Program, and RCS thrift store partnerships.
For more information on RCS, visit www.rcspinellas.org or call 727-584-3528.
St. Petersburg College alumni rank 1st in the state of Florida for possessing the most valuable job skills among two-year colleges. Founded in 1927, SPC is Florida’s first two-year college and the first to offer bachelor’s degrees. We offer more than 110 degree and certificate programs, including many high-demand, high-skill industry-recognized workforce certifications. Our career-focused curriculum is created with input from industry experts to give students the skills they need to meet the needs of today’s employers. Our new Pathways Program gives students a clear roadmap to success to ensure they are taking the right courses – in the right sequence – to meet their goals.
For more information on St. Petersburg College, visit www.spcollege.edu or call 727-341-4772.