As if hurricane-affected St. Petersburg residents need another reason to participate in a free sign-up for FEMA benefits ... now there's Jameis Winston.
The Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner will be on hand at 5 p.m. Friday to greet city residents and be part of an expanding people-helping-people operation that has attracted hundreds of city residents during the last two evenings.
The FEMA sign-up continues Friday evening at 6090 Central Ave., bigger and better -- serving free hot meals to the first 500 people compliments of Heavy's Food Truck, Johnny Newsome BBQ and Rush Hour Chicken & Waffle.
Click here to review what FEMA applicants should bring with them.
The brainchild of St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Rick Baker, the registration center in the heart of Midtown began as a partnership among NAACP St. Petersburg, state Rep. Wengay "Newt" Newton, businessman Bill Edwards and Baker.
Now the center is also supported by Lewis Stephens Jr. and other St. Pete pastors -- plus I Support YOUTH, Billy Hazellief, Ashley Holden and Deveron Gibbons.
"This has been wonderful," St. Petersburg resident Cora Alcott told Sunshine State News. "To see citizens like Mr. (Rick) Baker, Mr. (Bill) Edwards and Maria Scruggs (NAACP) out there so quickly trying to help our neediest and most afflicted people ... with meals in air conditioned surroundings ... these disasters bring out the best in people."
The center will close Friday at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile -- two days later -- Mayor Rick Kriseman, who faces Baker in the nonpartisan mayoral election runoff in November, has only just established a city Disaster Relief Center to help complete FEMA applications at the Enoch Davis Center.
