Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace restaurant collects toys for annual holiday drive

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Dec. 22, 2025) – Employees at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille in Jungle Terrace
got into the holiday spirit by collecting 50 unwrapped toys for children in Pinellas Park in December. It
was the restaurant’s first time participating in the annual Paving the Way for Holiday Magic toy drive
sponsored by the Pinellas Park Fire Department.

“Our employees really care about supporting our community and are always finding ways to give
back,” said Dustin Rickards, general manager of Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace location. “They came up with
the idea of hosting the toy drive.”

The event, in its 10th year, brings residents together to make a positive and lasting impact on families during the holiday season. Toys and gift cards are collected for hundreds of children, ages six months to 16, and distributed during the annual Breakfast with Santa.

Volunteers from Doc Ford’s have also partnered this year with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, completing weeding and planting projects at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and the historic Palm Harbor Museum. Team members also participated in a summertime beach cleanup.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is managed by HM Restaurant Group, which has a long history of philanthropy and community outreach, assisting local charitable groups committed to conservation,
community, education and the environment. Restaurants in St. Petersburg and Southwest Florida have
raised over $133,000 for local children’s hospitals through $1 donations from the sale of select cocktails.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Jungle Terrace Doc Ford’s was voted the area’s best waterfront restaurant, receiving a 2025
Besties Award from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. A favorite spot for viewing spectacular sunsets, the
restaurant is nestled along a long bayou and offers docks for boat-in customers.

Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Beloved
for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatán shrimp served daily, Doc Ford’s is highly regarded by locals
and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. The restaurant is a perennial TripAdvisor Travelers’
Choice winner. The St. Petersburg Pier location was named the No. 1 restaurant for Best of the Best
Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.

Contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758,
[email protected]