Lighthouse of Pinellas

06/17/2026

Thank you, Parkside Café, for your partnership and support of Lighthouse of Pinellas' Transition Program students!

We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity for our students to gain valuable hands-on work experience, build confidence, and develop skills that will help them succeed in the future. Opportunities like these make a lasting impact, and we couldn't do it without community partners like Parkside Cafe.

We can't wait to stop by, enjoy a meal, and support both our students and the wonderful team at Parkside Cafe throughout the next few weeks. If you're in the area, we encourage you to visit, grab a bite to eat, and help us celebrate this meaningful partnership!

A Special Summer Welcome ☀️❤️

This summer, the Parkside Cafe is proud to partner with Lighthouse of Pinellas and welcome two students from their Transition Program twice a week as part of a work experience opportunity.

Over the next few weeks, you'll see our interns learning workplace skills, building confidence, and gaining hands-on experience in a real restaurant environment. We are honored to be a small part of their journey and excited to have them as part of our team!

We'd like to ask our wonderful guests to join us in giving them a warm Parkside welcome. As they learn new tasks and responsibilities, your kindness, encouragement, patience, and friendliness will mean more than you know.

At the Parkside Cafe, we've always believed that community is about lifting one another up, and we're grateful for the opportunity to help these young adults gain valuable experience while sharing the welcoming atmosphere that makes our restaurant so special.

Thank you for helping us make this a positive and memorable experience for everyone involved. ❤️

06/16/2026

We're proud to share Lighthouse of Pinellas' 2025 Impact Report.

This report reflects the collective impact of our clients, staff, donors, volunteers, community partners, and supporters who help make our mission possible. Together, we're advancing independence and improving quality of life for individuals, of all ages, who are blind or visually impaired throughout Pinellas County.

Thank you for being part of this important work. We invite you to explore the report and see the difference we've made together.

06/16/2026

Thank you to the Town of Kenneth City for hosting the Senior Expo 55+ this past weekend!

Lighthouse of Pinellas was honored to participate and connect with community members while sharing information about our programs and services for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Events like these provide a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and ensure that people experiencing vision loss know they have access to resources that can help them live independently and confidently.

We are grateful for our partnership with the Town of Kenneth City and look forward to future opportunities to serve our community together!

06/15/2026

Our Teen STEAM Summit students have been busy learning, exploring, and building confidence through hands-on experiences!

During the Resource Fair, students participated in a variety of interactive activities, including making ice cream, cracking geodes, painting, robotics, exploring accessible technology, and even comparing heart rates after tasting sweet, spicy, and salty foods.

Students also had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Cary Supalo, a chemist, entrepreneur, and accessibility innovator who shared his journey as a blind scientist and encouraged students to pursue their passions without limits.

The week continued with engaging activities including LEGO robotics, Dogs Inc., the WeWALK smart cane, and a pig dissection led by former Lighthouse of Pinellas student Michelle Thompson, now a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). The day wrapped up with some well-deserved fun in the pool!

Next, the teens are off to Universal Studios!

06/14/2026

We’re honored to be featured in the Tampa Beacon for our recent Spring Picnic with the Largo Lions Club! This special day brought together our clients, families, and community for fun, connection, and celebration and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of the Largo Lions Club. From their generous partnership to the joy they help create year after year, we are truly grateful.

Thank you for continuing to “serve” alongside us and make moments like these so meaningful. Read more: https://www.tampabaybeacons.com/2026/06/11/around-town-largo-news-briefs/

Largo Lions Club cooks for Lighthouse picnicLighthouse of Pinellas, Inc. held their annual Spring Picnic April 25 at Walsingham Park in Seminole. The Largo Lions have cooked and provided the food for the annual picnic for over 20 years. Lighthouse of Pinellas provides free services for the blind and...

06/12/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church for their generous in-kind and monetary donations to support our clients at Lighthouse of Pinellas.

Your kindness and commitment to our community help us continue providing critical services and resources to those we serve. Because of partners like you, lives are changed and brighter futures are possible.

06/10/2026

Statewide Teen STEAM Summit 2026 is underway! Our Lighthouse of Pinellas Transition Program students have officially kicked off their adventure at the Statewide Teen STEAM Summit 2026 in Central Florida, joining more than 80 teens from across the state who are blind or visually impaired for an unforgettable week!

🛒 Day 1 highlights:
The group got started right away with grocery shopping: practicing budgeting, decision-making, and teamwork. After settling into their Airbnb, students unpacked, met their roommates, and enjoyed some downtime playing UNO and connecting with new friends.

This is just the beginning! Throughout the week, students will dive into hands-on learning and life-building experiences, including:
✅ Meal planning, budgeting, and meal prep
✅ Independent living skills (cleaning, hygiene, laundry & more)
✅ Orientation & Mobility skills, including map reading
✅ Team-building with peers from across Florida
✅ Career exploration, workplace readiness, and self-advocacy

They’ll also explore STEAM careers through incredible opportunities like:
🔬 Presentations and hands-on activities with blind and visually impaired professionals
🤖 LEGO robotics activities
🎓 A Full Sail University tour with interactive media experiences
🎢 Universal Studios behind-the-scenes career tour
🎥 Discussions around All the Light We Cannot See and representation in media
🧪 A STEAM Resource Fair connecting students to future career pathways

Stay tuned all week long as we share more moments from their Teen STEAM Summit adventure!

06/10/2026

We were honored to host the bi-monthly Coffee An' Networking event for the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce and welcome so many local business and community leaders to our campus.

It was a pleasure to share more about our programs and services for individuals who are blind or have low vision, while also providing a few hands-on sensory experiences during the networking portion of the event. These activities offered attendees a glimpse into some of the daily challenges our clients may face and highlighted how Lighthouse of Pinellas empowers people of all ages to live independently and confidently.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We appreciate the opportunity to build new connections, increase awareness, and strengthen partnerships throughout our community.

06/09/2026

This week, we proudly recognize Vision Rehabilitation Week, a time to celebrate the life-changing work happening across our field every day.

At Lighthouse of Pinellas, we see firsthand how vision rehabilitation empowers individuals to live independently and confidently. From adaptive skills to personalized support, this work transforms lives.

Join us in honoring the professionals, clients, and advocates who make this impact possible. Learn more about Vision Rehabilitation Week: https://visionservealliance.org/visionrehabilitationweek2026/

06/08/2026

Looking for a guest speaker for your organization?

Did you know Lighthouse of Pinellas offers presentations to community groups, businesses, senior organizations, civic clubs, healthcare providers, schools, and more? Whether you're looking for a speaker for a lunch-and-learn, community meeting, health fair, or professional association, we'd love the opportunity to connect with your group.

Help us spread awareness that no one has to face vision loss alone.

To schedule a presentation, contact us today by calling 727-544-4433 or visit us online www.lhpfl.org