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Bay News 9
St. Petersburg organization still sees high demand, despite increase to SNAP benefits
"It's important to know that we serve families who are working hard to make ends meet ... our working-class families, a lot of them, they want to be independent and they want to provide for themselves. However, they're not earning enough to pay for the rising costs of a home and insurance and transportation, and child care." — Karen Rae Selm, Executive Director
FOX 13 News
February 27, 2026
From hot wheels to hot meals: St. Pete Grand Prix leftovers feeding hundreds of families
Once the engines cool after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the impact of race weekend won't end at the finish line. Positive Impact Ministries is turning leftover race weekend food into free meals for hundreds of families in south St. Pete.
FOX 13 News
December 12, 2025
St. Pete's long-awaited Tangerine Plaza development gets another extension
The St. Petersburg City Council is moving forward with plans to revitalize a crucial area in South St. Pete. Residents have been waiting for a grocery store in their neighborhood for seven years — and Positive Impact Ministries continues to serve the community every Saturday while the city works toward a permanent solution.
FOX 13 News
2024
St. Pete organization helps feed thousands living in low-income areas
"Our mission is to ensure that everyone has equal access to nutritious food, and no child goes hungry," said Karen Rae, Executive Director of Positive Impact Ministries. "I always describe Saturdays as both heart-wrenching and heart-warming because it's heart-wrenching to see how great the need is, but it's heart-warming to be able to serve our community and help meet the need."
Bay News 9
June 3, 2024
Tampa area school districts and non-profits working to end summer hunger
"It helps me out a lot because it's hard to get food," said Nicole Willingham, a St. Petersburg mother who depends on Positive Impact to help feed her 3-year-old son. "It really helps me to be able to come here every Saturday to get food." More than 700 people line up every Saturday morning at Tangerine Plaza for free groceries.
FOX 13 News
May 24, 2024
Nonprofit launches 'Re-imagine St. Pete' to address food desert and hunger in South St. Petersburg
"This is about reimagining what hunger relief looks like in our city and removing the stigma associated with food insecurity," said Karen Rae. "We want to have this area thrive like it has in the years past, and we believe that we can help make that happen."
St. Pete Catalyst
May 22, 2024
Positive Impact Ministries launches 'Re-imagine St. Pete' initiative
"This will allow individuals and families to select the foods they want and have a dignified shopping experience," Rae explained. "When an individual brings their child to grocery shop at our store, that kid's experience isn't any different than any other kid that they go to school with." — Ashley Morales, St Pete Catalyst
FOX 13 Tampa Bay
March 26, 2024
St. Pete to discuss Tangerine Plaza's future, non-profit offers to buy space
"We are right in the middle of a food desert," said Karen Rae. "Our neighbors can shop with dignity. They can come in, they can select the foods that they want, as well as the foods that they need to meet their personal dietary needs."
CTN — Bay Focus
March 13, 2024
Learn more about Re-imagine ST. PETE
A campaign to re-imagine what hunger relief looks like in St. Petersburg, FL — from neighborhood markets rooted in dignity, to a culinary arts center and family kitchen rooted in innovation.
St. Pete Catalyst
March 9, 2024
Five ways you can make a positive impact in St. Pete
In partnership with Publix, Sam's Club, Aldi and The Fresh Market, Positive Impact Ministries distributes free groceries every Saturday at Tangerine Plaza in St. Petersburg. Volunteers are needed to help sort food, pack boxes of groceries and lift them into cars for recipient families.
St. Pete Catalyst
February 2024
Nonprofit has a plan, money to transform Tangerine Plaza
Positive Impact Ministries hands out fresh food at Tangerine Plaza every Saturday, and will soon submit a proposal to acquire the much-maligned city-owned site. Co-founder Dr. Karalynne Brubaker told the Catalyst that the St. Petersburg-based nonprofit now has a plan — and the money — to transform the deteriorating site into a community amenity.
ABC Action News
2024
Local nonprofit presenting plans to build a free grocery store at Tangerine Plaza in South St. Pete
"Our neighbors can shop with dignity," said Rae. "They can come in, they can select the foods that they want, as well as the foods that they need to meet their personal dietary needs." Positive Impact has plans to build a neighborhood market on the lot that will mimic a grocery store where people can get fresh food for free.
ABC Action News
2024
Local charity with big plans to help hundreds of families in need seeks community support
"Look at this. Every Saturday, we have 700 or more families in need in line for our food distribution," said Karen Rae, executive director of Positive Impact Ministries.
News Channel 8 (WFLA)
2024
Positive Impact Ministries may be forced to relocate for weekly food giveaway
Positive Impact Ministries, which serves hundreds of families every Saturday at Tangerine Plaza in south St. Petersburg, faced the possibility of having to find a new location for its weekly free food distribution event.
News Channel 8 (WFLA)
2024
St. Pete non-profit hopes to address food desert
A non-profit is working to ensure everybody who needs fresh and healthy food in St. Petersburg has access to it. One of those food deserts is in South St. Petersburg where Positive Impact hosts a free grocery distribution event every Saturday at Tangerine Plaza.
USA Today
December 25, 2023
Positive Impact Worldwide gave away over 600 free pies to families in need in St. Petersburg, Florida
The organization partnered with the city's police department and Domino's Pizza to put together the drive. Karen Rae, the non-profit executive director, said the event was a major success as all the pizzas ran out within a few hours.
WFLA News Channel 8
December 2023
Free pizza giveaway in St. Pete feeds hundreds
"You just drive up and we hand you a pizza and you drive away so there are no questions asked," said Karen Rae. "Everyone is welcome." Nearly 300 cars full of hungry families and about 100 walk-ups lined up for a free pizza giveaway at Tangerine Plaza.
FOX 13 News
St. Pete food pantry seeing growing demand from families during pandemic
A St. Petersburg food pantry is seeing a growing demand from families struggling during the pandemic. Positive Impact Ministries is working to meet the need by expanding its food distribution efforts across the community.
Bay News 9
January 15, 2021
Growing St. Petersburg non-profit finding the need is great
Bay News 9 interviews Founder Dr. Karalynne Brubaker discussing the need for food throughout St. Petersburg, Florida and what they're doing to help.
Great Day Live
Free healthy meals across the Bay
Great Day Live interviews Positive Impact Worldwide's Executive Director, Karen Rae. Local non-profit Positive Impact Worldwide is changing eating habits by providing free healthy meals to hundreds of families across the Tampa Bay area.
ABC Action News
St. Pete church prepares to give out hundreds of Thanksgiving meals
ABC Action News interviews Founder of Positive Impact Worldwide, Dr. Karalynne Brubaker, and discusses how they are helping provide Thanksgiving meals for people in their community.
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