Mackenzie Parrish, University of Tampa student, was a volunteer at the Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center, also known as the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center. A student who excels in academics, Mackenzie Parrish also strongly values community service as a character building tool and a way to gain experience beyond academics. “Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center provides incredibly valuable programs to families and communities in the area,” stated Mackenzie Parrish. Mackenzie Parrish also volunteered with Clothes for Kids, another nonprofit in the area.

Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center is an important center in Safety Harbor, Florida that provides a multitude of support services to children, youth, adults, their families, and their communities. They provide education and collaborative partnerships to improve quality of life and foster independence amongst these communities. The center was founded in 1994, and their mission is to strengthen families and children through programs promoting and improving physical, mental, and moral development. A group of concerned citizens formed a coalition in the mid-1990s to address a local problem with substance abuse. The group realized that to deal with substance abuse, they needed to locate and rectify the underlying causes. They applied for and received a grant from the Juvenile Welfare Board to fund the community center, and they have successfully continued operating into the present.

The Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center receives funding from a variety of sources, including the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, the cities of Safety Harbor, Clearwater, and Oldsmar, along with grant support, private donations, gifts, and sponsorship for special programs and events. The center offers many services, including a food pantry, their Women Infant & Children program, diabetes testing assistance, clothing closet, and hygiene closet. The Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center also offers programs such as family support services, holiday assistance, and back to school programs.

As a volunteer with the Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center, Mackenzie Parrish assisted with these important programs. Mackenzie Parrish is a strong supporter of high school and college students doing volunteer work. Mackenzie Parrish believes that students often lack a balance between academic commitments and community involvement, and she believes that both are necessary to gain experience.