TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa police arrested a woman after she was caught on video attempting to steal six containers of baby formula from the downtown Publix.
Police tell us she’s believed to have been involved in a string of baby formula shoplifting incidents in the Tampa Bay area.
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Following this incident, a local nonprofit is speaking up to let people know they’ve got plenty of free formula for those in need.
“We have an abundance of formula so we give it to anyone in the community,” said Jennifer Stracick, with Alpha House of Pinellas County.
Alpha House of Pinellas County is a nonprofit maternity home for women in need. They provide housing for abused and trafficked women, but they also provide formula, clothing and furniture for mothers who can’t get it otherwise.
“You can come and get formula every 30 days, you can come every 60 days and get clothing, you can come every 90 days and get a crib or a bouncy or baby furniture,” said Stracick.
Stracick said the need for formula among mothers in the Tampa Bay area is significant.
“On a monthly basis, we are serving between 62 and 78 on average,” she said.
She wants to make sure the community knows about Alpha House and knows that they want to help.
“I know the desperation a mother can have when she needs something for her baby and that you’ll do anything for your child, but you can come to us, you don’t need to get a criminal record,” said Stracick.
Their services are available to all mothers in the community. All you need to show when you arrive is your I.D., as well as your child’s.
For more information, visit their website.
