Thursday, July 9, 2026 ☀️ 97°F Ruskin, FL

Community Resources

Often-needed community and social-service contacts for South County, from The Observer News Welcome Back edition.

Abandoned baby program

  • For help or information211

Abuse — child & adult

  • Abuse Reporting Hotline800-96-ABUSE

Addiction & substance abuse

  • Al-Anon / Alateen813-881-9372
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (24 hours)813-933-9123
  • Florida Substance Abuse Hotline800-662-4357
  • Narcotics Anonymous813-879-4357

Child care & youth services

  • Child Development Information (GROW)813-425-4769
  • Big Brothers & Big Sisters813-769-3600
  • Child Care Resource & Referral813-744-8942
  • Phone-Friend (reassurance & homework help)813-681-6543

Counseling & mental health

  • Adult Emergency Services813-272-2958
  • Children's Crisis Center813-272-2882
  • Southshore Coalition for Mental Health & Aging813-419-4902
  • Tampa Veterans Center813-238-8557
  • National VA Call Center (24 hours)877-424-3838

Education

  • Adult & Community Education813-740-7750
  • Hillsborough Community College813-253-7000
  • Hillsborough County Public Schools813-272-4000
  • Hispanic Services Council813-936-7700
  • Public Library Cooperative813-273-3652

Employment

  • AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program813-962-4600
  • The Centre813-251-8437
  • Employment Opportunity Program813-272-5040
  • Vocational Rehabilitation813-233-3600

Financial assistance

  • ACCESS Florida Information Line / DCF866-762-2237
  • SouthShore Community Resource Center813-671-7647
  • Social Security Administration800-772-1213
  • Women, Infants & Children (WIC)813-307-8074

Food

  • Community Food Bank813-960-1848
  • ECHO Emergency Care Help, Riverview — 7870 Capitano St. · www.echofl.org813-685-0935
  • Food Stamps866-762-2237
  • Metropolitan Ministries — Outreach & Prevention813-209-1044
  • National VA Call Center (24 hours)877-424-3838
  • Our Lady's Pantry813-633-2384

Homeless / transitional services

  • Homeless Recovery Program813-276-2976
  • Homeless Veterans Program813-979-3563
  • Mary & Martha House (women & children)813-641-7027
  • Metropolitan Ministries813-209-1200
  • Hope House — men's transitional813-226-0055 ext. 264
  • National VA Call Center (24 hours)877-424-3838

Housing / housing counseling

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services800-251-2227
  • Volunteers of America813-282-1525
  • Florida Housing Search877-428-8844

Legal assistance

  • Bay Area Legal Services813-232-1343
  • Children's Justice Center813-272-7179
  • Child Support Enforcement800-622-5437
  • Consumer Protection & Professional Responsibility Agency813-903-3430
  • Guardian Ad Litem813-272-5110
  • Hillsborough County Victim's Assistance813-272-6472
  • Lawyer Referral Service813-221-7780
  • Mediation & Diversion Services813-272-5642
  • Public Defender813-272-5980
  • State Attorney's Office813-272-5400

Medical & dental services

  • All Children's Hospital727-898-7451
  • Children's Medical Services813-396-9743
  • Consult-A-Nurse800-257-0944
  • Florida KidCare863-660-3047
  • Healthcare for Homeless Veterans813-979-3563
  • Hillsborough County Health Department813-307-8000
  • Find a Hillsborough County Health Center813-307-8074
  • Joyce Ely Health Center, Ruskin813-307-8056
  • Hillsborough Healthcare813-272-5040
  • James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital813-972-2000
  • LifePath Hospice813-877-2200
  • Moffitt Cancer Center813-745-4673
  • Ruskin Health Center813-349-7800
  • Suncoast Community Health Center, Inc.813-853-6100
  • Shriners Hospitals for Children813-972-2250

Parenting services

  • Fathers Resource & Networking Center813-356-1293
  • Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health813-622-7930
  • South County Family Support Resource Center813-641-5600

More community resources continue in the printed Welcome Back edition (page 14 onward). Send additional listings to news@observernews.net.