Help Us Gather - HUG

02/06/2026

Dear HUG Community-

As HUG sunsets today, my heart is full of gratitude for the incredible years we’ve shared together. What we built from 2017 to 2026 was more than a program. It was a family.

While HUG events and calendars have concluded, my email and the HUG page will remain available during this transition. If you need help reconnecting with a HUG friend, you are welcome to reach out, and I will do my best to guide you.

Most of all, I hope you continue gathering, supporting one another, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. Things may look different, but the family we created remains, and the joy we shared will always matter.

With love and deep appreciation,
Robin 🧡

02/05/2026

Reminder: HUG is opening its doors one more time for our final Farewell Celebration this evening from 4-7 PM!

Stop by HUG's office to say goodbyes, take some photos, bring HUG souvenirs home, and enjoy a bit of togetherness. We look forward to seeing you there 🧡

02/04/2026

"The only time you should ever look back is to see how far you've come." 🧡

We've taken a stroll all the way back to our early beginnings: the first time HUG hit the national news. 30 Stories/30 Minutes with FOX reached viewers across the nation, and features Robin and Rick sharing a bit of their story and the inspiration for HUG.

👉 Watch the clip here:

Help Us Gather, HUG, is a nonprofit organization that advocates for inclusion and connects individuals with disabilities to social events and activities in t...

02/04/2026

Hi HUG community- Robin here!

I have been overjoyed to hear that some of you are interested in starting your own social groups as a way to remain connected in light of HUG sunsetting!

Reminder: simple, small gatherings can be just as fun and impactful as larger events (HUG was once just a handful of friends hanging out) 🤗

Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any questions or are seeking mentorship on getting started. 🧡

02/03/2026

For many years, HUG held Beyond Incredible (also known as Beyond Beautiful initially in 2018). Beyond Beautiful was a glamorous and highly anticipated event that celebrated our friends with disabilities. ✨

These black-tie events included red-carpet entry, professional photos, glam stations for ladies, spiff-up stations for men, a catered dinner, an inspiring program, and dancing. They embodied all that HUG stood for, and are events we reflect back on fondly. 💜

HUG hosted this gala so people of all abilities could experience the glitter of a special event and feel loved, pampered, and most of all, socially included.

🎥 Take a look back at the event from 2018 in its earliest form:

Help Us Gather, or HUG, is a nonprofit organization in Tampa, Florida. HUG's mission is to advocate for inclusion and connect individuals with disabilities t...

02/02/2026

Over the past year, so much joy happened inside our Friends of HUG Social Group 💛

HUG’s Sarah Bryan has been busy creating a beautiful recap page that captures the past 12 months of laughter, connection, and unforgettable moments shared together.

Take a stroll down memory lane, find your favorite event and relive the fun. These moments mattered. And they always will.

https://helpusgather.org/friends-of-hug-social-group-event-recaps/

Friends of HUG Social Group Join us for a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the last year of dancing, friendships, and iconic memories made at HUG events. Inclusive Beach...

02/02/2026

Some conversations stay with you. 💭 Throwing it back to 2021, when HUG had the honor of interviewing Senator Tom Harkin, author of the ADA, and learning what fueled his lifelong advocacy. If you have not watched this one in its entirety, we highly recommend you do. Understanding how one man’s love for his brother helped change the lives of millions puts the power of advocacy into perspective. Watch HUG’s full 24 minute video here: weinclude.org/senator-tom-harkin

01/27/2026

We're having fun turning back the clock five years to revisit our awesome trip to Clearwater Marine Aquarium! The photos? Amazing. The memories? Even better. CMA's generosity in comping our entire day and sending us all of these epic photos? Unforgettable.

01/24/2026

As we prepare for HUG’s farewell celebrations, we are looking back at some of our favorite memories from over the years. The day HUG Ambassador Dirk Howard threw out the first pitch at the Tampa Bay Rays in memory of his dad ranks pretty high. If you have 3 minutes to watch, this story will touch your heart. 🧡

01/20/2026

Following my recent update, I want to share details about HUG’s upcoming Farewell Celebrations.

I’ll be opening the HUG office on three different days to welcome friends who’d like to stop by, say goodbyes, reflect on eight years of special memories, and spend some time together.

🧡 Friday, January 23rd: 4-7 PM
🧡 Wednesday, January 28th: 4-7 PM
🧡 Thursday, February 5th: 4-7 PM

We will provide light refreshments, and run our photo booth so you can take pictures and have them printed/framed. We are also excited to offer HUG souvenirs for you to take home (we are cleaning out the closet and want you to have merch and fun items that hold precious memories from our events).

Whether you stay for a few minutes or hang out for a bit, the HUG team would love to see you and celebrate all that HUG has meant to us.

Please RSVP to let us know which of the three days you’ll be dropping by the office by emailing [email protected] or calling HUG at 727-489-5885.

With gratitude,
Robin

01/20/2026

With a full heart, I want to share an update about HUG.

The past eight years have been an absolute honor and one of the greatest joys of my life. What began as a simple idea grew into something far more meaningful than I ever imagined. HUG became a place of connection, belonging, laughter, and joy that touched many lives, including my own.

Next month, the HUG program will be coming to an end. After eight years of serving as founder and day-to-day volunteer, I have reached a point where it is time for me to step back and restore balance in my life. I am ready for a season that allows space for my health, other projects, and time with family and friends.

This decision comes with deep gratitude. I am incredibly proud of what we built together and of the memories, friendships, celebrations, and joy that defined HUG. It has always shown what is possible when people truly show up for one another, and that impact will continue far beyond this chapter.

Over the coming weeks, I will open the HUG office on several days to welcome friends who would like to stop by, say hello, share stories, or simply spend some time together. Details about those gatherings will be shared soon.

With so much appreciation,

Robin

01/12/2026

Picture this: 200 HUG friends having fun in the sun, birthday cupcakes and beach sandwiches, a stunning sunset, a summery dance lesson, Sand Key’s mobility mat ensuring accessibility for all, live magic, a fierce limbo and tug-of-war competition, and sand games galore! 👏

All of this and more took place this past Saturday at HUG’s Inclusive Beach Party at Sand Key Park. 🏖☀🌴

Thank you to the Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources Department for ensuring Sand Key Park's Mobility Mat was extended and ready just in time for us!

We want to give a special shout out to the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation for gifting us an adaptive soccer ball that was a prime highlight of the afternoon, as well as Publix for a generous donation that helps us make events like this one happen. 🙌

HUG is so grateful for each and every smiling face that came out to hang, brought the energy and vibes, and helped us celebrate Robin's birthday early! 🥳

Thanks for partying with us, and we hope you had as much of a blast as we did! Be sure to tag HUG in your photos from the event, let us know what your favorite activity of the afternoon was, and drop your photos/videos in the comment section below. 🤗