{"id":87779,"date":"2025-12-18T08:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/87779\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T08:39:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:39:11","slug":"tampa-bay-28-gives-donation-benefits-kids-and-canines-reading-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/87779\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay 28 Gives donation benefits Kids and Canines reading program"},"content":{"rendered":"

THONOTOSASSA, Fla. \u2014 Earlier this year, Tampa Bay 28 Anchor Lauren St. Germain brought our viewers a story about a nonprofit called Kids and Canines.<\/a> <\/p>\n

It has multiple programs that go into schools and group homes throughout Hillsborough County. Tampa Bay 28 witnessed how this organization helps young students become more confident readers, so St. Germain met up with the executive director to give Kids and Canines a surprise.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Tampa Bay 28 Gives donation benefits Kids and Canines reading program<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay 28 Gives donation benefits Kids and Canines reading program<\/p>\n

At the start of the school year, Tampa Bay 28 brought viewers to Thonotosassa\u00a0Elementary School.<\/p>\n

\u201cShaggy, this is about a bunch of dogs. Small dogs. Big dogs. Fast dogs,\u201d said a student to the dog Shaggy.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of the many schools where Kids and Canines brings its literacy program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t interrupt me, but sometimes they want belly rubs,\u201d said another student.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it hard to read and belly rub at the same time?\u201d asked St. Germain.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d replied the student.<\/p>\n

Kelly Hodges is the Executive Director of Kids and Canines.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are accomplishing amazing things every day in our programs, and I love being a part of it and knowing that we are making a difference in these children\u2019s lives,\u201d said Hodges.<\/p>\n

Kids and Canines also has summer camps, programs focused on teens and mental health, and works with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Tampa Bay 28 told Hodges we wanted to do an update on our original story, so we met her at their headquarters, where some of the dogs were getting a well-deserved play day.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is 100% play day, so they are excited,\u201d said Hodges.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe loves the reading program. He gets to get all the belly rubs, but he\u2019s a loud snorer and he falls asleep fast, so we have to watch him,\u201d laughs Hodges.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we do have a little surprise for you \u2013 the whole point of the shoot today. On behalf of Tampa Bay 28 Gives and the Scripps Howard Fund, we want to give Kids and Canines a check for $2500,\u201d said St. Germain.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my gosh, you didn\u2019t even say that!\u201d exclaimed Hodges.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, it\u2019s a surprise!\u201d said St. Germain.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my gosh, you guys are amazing. I want to hug you, but I don\u2019t want to get in trouble,\u201d said Hodges.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can hug me!\u201d laughs St. Germain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. This is so amazing. Thank you because we really have been trying to expand where the needs are, but it’s been pushing my budget, so you really could not have come at a better time and give me better news, so thank you so much,\u201d said Hodges.<\/p>\n

Now, the love of man\u2019s best friend can help even more young people in the new year.<\/p>\n

Kids and Canines is always looking for volunteers, for more information click here. \u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Share Your Story with Lauren

Our health and our home are two things that impact our lives the most. And Tampa Bay 28 Anchor Lauren St. Germain is focused on both. From highlighting the latest medical breakthroughs to helping you navigate the housing market; Lauren wants to hear for you. Use the form below to send her a note.<\/p>\n

Contact Lauren St. Germain<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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After confusion, state issues guidance on what license plate frames are legal in Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THONOTOSASSA, Fla. \u2014 Earlier this year, Tampa Bay 28 Anchor Lauren St. Germain brought our viewers a story…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":87780,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[47756,1550,28,47757,10880,629,2889,1718,7327,3384,135,137,136],"class_list":["post-87779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-anchor","tag-dogs","tag-florida","tag-gives","tag-giving-back","tag-hillsborough","tag-holiday","tag-nonprofit","tag-reading","tag-students","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}