PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Amy Moore loves the Palm Harbor Community, where she was born and raised.

Moore has moved around the country for the last 20 years while her husband served in the Army, but the couple moved back home earlier this year. 

What You Need To Know

  • Despite inflation slowing this year, Tampa Bay has the second highest rise in inflation among the country's metro areas, according to WalletHub

  • The Palm Harbor Inn off US-19 has become home for working families who are struggling financially

  • The average rent in the Clearwater metro area is $1,790 for a 933-square foot unit, according to a RentCafe

  • A group of Palm Harbor residents helped their neighbors in need get presents under the Christmas tree

“We’ve lived everywhere from Alaska, Hawaii, New York, Tennessee and this is where we want to be,” Moore said. 

When Moore heard some of her neighbors were struggling this holiday season, she wanted to help. It started with a post in a Facebook group about people asking where they could find an affordable place to live. 

“One of the ladies actually ended up making her own post about an extended stay motel where multiple families lived,” Moore said. “To be honest, I wasn’t aware that was happening in this area.”

Moore and a couple of friends began collecting toys, clothes, school supplies and everyday essentials to give to those families. When they put out a call for some donations, the community answered.

“We weren’t expecting it to get like this,” Moore said. “We thought a few sponsors, a few gifts, someone suggested an Amazon Wishlist. It went from less than 100 things to over 300, 400 things.”

Those hundreds of gifts fill the lobby at the Palm Harbor Inn.

The motel off of Highway 19 North has become home to working families in a tough financial spot. While inflation has been gradually slowing this year, a recent study from WalletHub ranked Tampa Bay second in the country’s metro areas with the highest rise in inflation, behind Miami. 

About 75% of occupants in the motel’s 100 rooms live there full-time and stay for up to two years, according to the property manager. Heidi Meyer moved to the inn last year from Holiday because she couldn’t afford to keep up with rent. 

“This place was affordable and once we moved in here, it’s like one big family community,” she said. “Everybody looks out for everybody. We all do the best we can here, and this is the best we can do right now.”

Meyer works full-time as a security guard. But after paying rent and gas, there isn’t much extra money leftover to spend. Meyer said the gifts from the community will go a long way this Christmas.

“It means a lot to us,” she said. “It’s a godsend. I’m going to cry. It means a lot to all of us. It really does.”

Deb Kurtz has driven by the Palm Habor Inn for years, but never knew families like Meyer’s were living there full time. She and her husband stopped by to donate a few items and a check large enough to cover someone’s rent.

“It’s important to help people who don’t have as much as we do,” Kurtz said. “None of us, at some point, were that far away from being homeless or being in bad shape. Everybody’s been through rough times, so give each other a hand up.”

Moore believes everyone deserves to have a good holiday, no matter what situation they may find themselves in. She is overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers.

“It just shows the kindness of the community and the spirit,” Moore said. “It’s awesome.”

Moore is planning to organize another donation drive for families living at the Palm Harbor Inn around back-to-school time and again next Christmas.