First Day Ready

08/28/2026

Have you heard the news yet?

We will be opening up donations again on a rolling basis for the residents of the Cobalt Apartments. These will be for the below items only so hang on to them.

We will only be accepting donations of the listed items by appointment so please reach out to Amanda Weaver or Amanda Irizarry to make said donation appointment.

Any furniture donations, please join the Wesley Chapel Cobalt Fire Donations group and link up there for now. 🫶🏽💛🩷💜

08/22/2026

Cobalt Apartments is at capacity for donations.

We CAN NOT accept anymore donations of any kind at this time.

We are working logistics of picking back up in the near future but we cannot take any more.

If you want to help, come up and help sort what we have. If you have a large space where we can tell people to take their donations to, please reach out to me immediately, Amanda Weaver 727-660-5337.

The outpouring of support from this community is amazing and us having to turn your donations away is a good thing.

If you want to donate, United Way of Pasco County is accepting financial donations and they will be distributed directly to the residents.

Again, thank you so much for all of your support.🫶🏽

On August 20th, a massive, devastating fire swept through the Cobalt Apartment Complex of Wesley Chapel...Over 400 Neighbors need us NOW more than ever! Please consider donating to our Donation Fund for the displaced families. 100% of the proceeds will go toward essential supplies and immediate needs for these families, including shelter, food, pet supplies, clothing, toiletries, medical supplies, and other necessities as they begin rebuilding their lives.

❤️ Visit this link or scan the QR code: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-way-of-pasco-county-inc/donation-fund-for-the-displaced-families-of-wesley-chapel-cobalt-apartments

📰 Journal Piece on the Fire: https://www.fox13news.com/news/firefighters-scene-three-alarm-apartment-fire-pcfr

08/22/2026

Yes, another post...I can't sleep.

First Day Ready was there all day with tons of other awesome volunteers and I can say we are going to need another location to store the donations.

The amenity center is at capacity right now with the outpouring of donations coming in from this amazing community.

If anyone knows anyone at a storage facility or warehouse, a church with a large unused area that can store the donations for at least a month, please send them my way.

We are trying to take care of the residents and their immediate needs but it's going to take a while before they can settle in a new place where they can actually take home the items being donated.

We are absolutely at capacity right now with donations at the Cobalt clubhouse. Again, if anyone can help with donating the space to store any other donations, please call or text me at (727) 660-5337 or email me at [email protected]

Thank you WC and all of Pasco & surrounding communities for your help and support.

08/21/2026

First Day Ready has been at Cobalt Apartments all day and will be here throughout the evening.

We've stood next to so many volunteers from individuals just wanting to help to churches and other organizations lending hands to help the families displaced from yesterday's fire. Sorting, organizing and handing out bags and boxes of clothes, hygiene products, blankets and sheets so they have a head start of starting over.

I've cried with residents. I've laughed with the office staff. I've gone through all kinds of emotions today which I'm sure none of them come close to scratching the surface of the residents but the one thing I am stuck on is gratitude.

The way this community has showed up for one another in such a short time frame is phenomenal. I am so grateful for the Wesley Chapel community and so proud of Pasco County and it's citizens. (Peeps from neighboring counties who trekked it out here today, I got mad love for you too!)

06/19/2026

4:38 Update on event. Both the truck and the rescue had to respond to calls.

Dairy Queen is still giving away free cones until 5:30 and we are still here accepting donations if you want to come by and say hello.

06/19/2026

🎉 TODAY'S THE DAY! 🎉

We can't wait to see everyone this afternoon at Dairy Queen in Ballantrae!

🚒 Pasco County Fire Rescue will be on-site with their fire trucks for the kids to explore.

🍦 Dairy Queen will be giving FREE cones to kids from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.

🧦 We're also collecting NEW socks, underwear, boxers and bras in all sizes.

These essential items will be distributed to children in need right here in Pasco County through referrals from school social workers. They are also used in First Day Ready's Rapid Response Program, which provides clothing and hygiene essentials to families displaced by house fires and other unexpected crises.

Every donation helps a child feel prepared, confident and cared for.

📍 Dairy Queen – Ballantrae
🕞 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Can't make it today but still want to help?

💜 Donation Link in comments.

Thank you for helping us ensure local children and families have what they need to be Ready for Today. Confident for Tomorrow.

05/29/2026

🩷 A Community Member Who Helps Others Needs Help

This isn't a First Day Ready assistance request but one of the generous neighbors who has supported FDR is trying to help an employee who is starting over as a single dad with sole custody of his two daughters (ages 4 and 5).

They're in need of basic household items, including:

🏠 Couch
🏠 Kitchen table
🏠 Dressers
🛏️ Bedding
🍽️ Pots, pans, dishes, and silverware

If you have clean, usable items you'd like to donate, please comment below or send us a message and we'll connect you.

We may not be able to help every family directly, but we can certainly help connect good people with other good people.

Thank you for continuing to show what community looks like.🧡💛💜

Send a message to learn more

05/27/2026

🍦🚒 We’re excited to share that Land O’ Lakes Dairy Queen is hosting Pasco County Fire Rescue’s Fire Rescue N’ Cones for Kids event on June 19th — and First Day Ready has been invited to be part of it!

A huge thank you to Mike, the owner and the team at Dairy Queen for allowing us to set up a donation table and collection bin during the event. Community partnerships like this truly make a difference. ❤️

While families enjoy free ice cream, fire trucks and meeting local first responders, First Day Ready will be collecting:

🧦 NEW Socks
🩲 NEW Underwear & Boxers
📏 All sizes needed — children through adults

These are some of the most needed — and least donated — essentials we provide to children and families experiencing hardship, crisis, displacement and emergency situations.

This will also be First Day Ready’s FIRST community event setup, which makes this even more special for us. ☂️

📍 Land O’ Lakes Dairy Queen
17826 Aprile Dr, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
🗓 June 19th
⏰ 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Thank you again to Dairy Queen and Pasco County Fire Rescue for supporting local families and organizations working to help our community. 💛🧡💜

05/22/2026

🧡💛💜 Request Fulfilled! 💜💛🧡

Earlier this week, a local school social worker reached out with an urgent request for shoes for several students in need.

I'm happy to share that every shoe request has been fulfilled thanks to the incredible generosity of a community donor! 👟👟👟

Because of one person's kindness, two teen boys, an 8-year-old girl, a toddler girl and a graduating senior will all have the shoes they need.

This is exactly why First Day Ready exists—to connect needs with people who care.

To our donor: thank you for stepping up and making an immediate difference in the lives of local students. 🫶🏽

And to everyone who follows, shares, donates and supports our mission: this is what your village looks like in action.

Ready for today. Confident for tomorrow.

05/17/2026

❤️ URGENT STUDENT REQUESTS ❤️

We received a few immediate needs from a local school social worker and are hoping our community can help.

👟 Two teen boys urgently need men’s size 8.5 shoes
👟 One 8-year-old girl needs size 2.5 shoes
👟 One toddler girl needs size 10 toddler shoes + 3T girls clothing

We also have a VERY time-sensitive request for:
👞 Men’s size 14 or 15 WIDE dress shoes (black or brown) for a teen graduating soon.

New or gently used is appreciated where appropriate.

If you can help with any of these items, please comment or message the page ❤️

Together, we can help students feel confident and ready for what’s next.