Juvenile Welfare Board, fire department and city highlight holiday service and child‑safety partnership

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Representatives from the Juvenile Welfare Board and the Pinellas Park Fire Department used Tuesday’s council meeting to highlight ongoing partnerships that serve families and children in the city and to preview upcoming programs.

Council members invited Juvenile Welfare Board CEO Mkhurak and community engagement manager Yaya Garcia to the dais. Garcia and Mkhurak described the board’s work with local leaders and thanked the city for support, saying they look forward to new joint announcements, including initiatives to address cyberbullying and human trafficking.

Fire Department speakers described an annual Thanksgiving shopping and meal‑delivery program that pairs off‑duty crews with families who applied for holiday support. Lieutenant Bill Weaver and Lieutenant Tim Brook discussed the physical demands of firefighting and the ways improved fitness benefits crews and the families they serve; Weaver said changes to his fitness routine helped him lose 72 pounds and renewed his on‑the‑job energy.

Why it matters: The presentations showcased interagency collaboration and local social‑service efforts that support children and vulnerable families during the holiday season.