A nonprofit already feeding more than 500 children in Manatee County needs Lakewood Ranch-area residents' help stocking its next fundraiser.
The Kind Mouse, a St. Petersburg-based organization that expanded into Manatee County in 2025, is collecting gently used handbags, jewelry and fashion accessories for its Bags & Baubles event, according to Pulse of Manatee. The donated items will be sold at a Nov. 7 shopping event, with all proceeds funding the group's food programs for children facing food insecurity locally.
The donation deadline is Sept. 30. Residents can call 727-575-7834 for details on how to contribute.
Feeding kids through schools
Founded in 2012 by Gina Wilkins, The Kind Mouse has fed more than 1.3 million children since its start, working through 30 partner schools, after-school programs and community agencies rather than operating a walk-in pantry.
The Manatee County chapter, guided by a 12-member local advisory board, launched in response to what the nonprofit describes as growing food insecurity among children in the county. That mirrors a problem the group has tracked in Pinellas County, where 1 in 8 children faces hunger, according to the organization's website.
The Kind Mouse also received a grant through United Way Suncoast's 2026 ACE Grants program, which distributed $450,000 to 22 nonprofits across a five-county region. Individual grants did not exceed $20,000.
The event
The Bags & Baubles shopping event takes place Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at The Blu Halo in St. Petersburg. Attendees can browse and purchase the donated handbags, jewelry and accessories, with each sale directly funding meals for children in Manatee and Pinellas counties.
Ticket and admission details have not yet been posted.
Upcoming community dates
- Sept. 30 — Donation deadline for The Kind Mouse Bags & Baubles drive (call 727-575-7834)
- Nov. 7, 2 p.m. — Bags & Baubles shopping event at The Blu Halo, St. Petersburg
