Help Wanted. Challenging Work. No Pay.

You might think a request like this would fall upon deaf ears, but not at ASPEC. Our members volunteer their services to community organizations individually, and as groups representing the Academy. Thousands of hours as well as materials and financial support are given by dedicated, compassionate members. We consider involvement in the community part of our "lifelong learning."

The Academy also has a team of volunteer carpenters, mechanics and laborers that help many of the small agencies in St. Petersburg where the need is greatest, improving the physical conditions they operate in.

Our team call themselves the "Applied Technology Group" and are famous for repairing the large fleet of yellow bikes that are the innovative ”green” transportation system used by students to get around the Eckerd campus. If you see a yellow bike you can ride it to your classroom or your dorm, and leave it there until the next student uses it. The bikes suffer considerable damage form constant use and our members have repaired and recycled hundreds of bikes.

In the community our members have renovated the offices of many not for profit organizations. The Director of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, which aids the jobless, the homeless, and people with medical needs, was delighted with the work dove by Academy members. Director Jane Egbert said:

"The ASPEC team created much needed additional office space used for meeting with patients and renovated a break room used by staff and volunteers into a considerably more welcoming space. We are grateful for the work by ASPEC members and really appreciate their support and talents!"

Likewise at the St. Petersburg Daystar Life Center, who also provide support services to the community (a postal address, access to phones, the internet), our team expanded their undersize office by converting a closet.

Most recently our team improved the offices of the St. Petersburg Red Cross and are planning their next community project.

Well over 100 community organizations benefit from the contributions made by ASPEC members, including:-

• City of St. Petersburg, Florida Orchestra
• St. Petersburg Community Chorus
• St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts
• Goodwill Foundation
• Gulfport Historical Society
• Habitat for Humanity
• League of Women Voters
• March of Dimes
• Meals on Wheels
• Rotary Club
• United Nations Association
• Pinellas Public Library
• Science Center of Pinellas County
• All Children's Hospital
• Hospice of Florida
• Ronald McDonald House
• Hadassah.org

If you are a community organization and need help, do contact us, our members thrive on "making a difference" in our community.