Daystar Life Center, Inc.

What Daystar Life Center, Inc. does

Daystar Life Center, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, that delivers social services to families experiencing food insecurity and financial hardship in Pinellas County. The organization's service portfolio includes a Healthy Food Pantry, a volunteer-harvested Food Pantry Farm, rent and utility financial assistance (with 2-year and 3-year repeat-applicant waiting periods respectively), nutritional and financial education programs with a registered dietician on staff, a clothing closet, hygiene and infant care items, secure mail services, benefits application assistance, health screenings, and a Traveler's Aid program delivered in partnership with Pinellas County for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The organization reports assisting approximately 26,000 families annually — over 25% of food-insecure households in Pinellas County — and states that 5 out of 8 served households achieve greater financial stabilization through its programs. Its underlying technology stack is limited to third-party Charity Tracker software used to manage assistance applications; no proprietary technology platform, AI/ML systems, or mobile applications are disclosed. Daystar Life maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn, and uses its website, monthly newsletter, and community events including the Empty Bowls fundraiser for outreach.

The business model is donation-funded across three streams: individual contributions (including the Circle of Hope monthly giving program), business and civic group contributions, and in-kind goods (food, hygiene, clothing). All services are provided free of charge to eligible individuals, with eligibility requirements for specific financial assistance programs. The organization is governed independently by its own board, employs approximately 20 staff, and operates from a single physical location with limited weekday hours. It holds Candid's 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator's highest 4-Star Rating, and is registered as a Florida charitable organization (CH17465) compliant with USDA non-discrimination requirements.

Name

Daystar Life Center, Inc.

Legal name

Daystar Life Center, Inc.

Website

https://daystarlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Daystar Life Center, Inc. is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based nonprofit founded in 1982 that delivers food assistance, financial aid, and supportive services to approximately 26,000 families facing food insecurity and financial hardship in Pinellas County annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Food assistance services
• Financial assistance programs
• Community social services
• Poverty relief nonprofit
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Daystar Life is funded primarily by donations from individuals in the community. The organization runs a monthly giving program called 'Circle of Hope' for ongoing donor support.
2. Business and Civic Donations: Funding received from businesses, churches, and civic groups in the community.
3. Goods Donations: The organization accepts donated goods including food, hygiene items, clothing, and other essentials from community members, which are then distributed to families in need.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Daystar Life Center is a community-based nonprofit that provides essential resources to combat poverty for Pinellas County residents facing food insecurity and financial hardship. Core offerings include a Healthy Food Pantry and on-site Food Pantry Farm, rent and utility financial assistance, nutritional and financial education (including cooking classes with a registered dietician), a clothing closet, hygiene and infant care items, secure mail services, benefits application and ID assistance, health screenings, and a Traveler's Aid program for responsible relocation of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Product overview

Daystar Life Center, Inc. is a community-based non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of social services to combat poverty in Pinellas County, Florida. The organization operates as a single integrated service platform rather than a modular product architecture, providing food assistance through its Healthy Food Pantry and Food Pantry Farm, financial assistance including rent and utility support, nutritional and financial education programs, health and wellness services, and specialized programs such as the Traveler's Aid. Services are delivered through its physical center location and are supported by donation programs including the Circle of Hope monthly giving and Packs & Snacks for Kids initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthy Food Pantry Client-choice food pantry providing nutritious food options to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Pinellas County, assisting approximately 26,000 families per year.
• Financial Assistance Program Provides rent and utility financial assistance to help eligible individuals transition from financial crisis to independence, with a 2-year wait between utility requests and a 3-year wait between rent requests.
• Food Pantry Farm Volunteer-harvested edible garden providing fresh produce directly to neighbors every Thursday morning at 9AM.
• Nutritional and Financial Education Programs No-cost programs including nutritional education, interactive cooking classes with a registered dietician on staff, and financial coaching.
• Traveler's Aid Program Supports individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused by arranging responsible travel with verified destination housing, in partnership with Pinellas County.
• Clothing Closet Client-choice clothing closet providing gently used clothing and shoes donated by individuals.
• Secure Mail Service Safe and secure mail service allowing eligible clients to receive their mail through the center.
• Health and Wellness Services Community health services including blood pressure and diabetes screening, with scheduled community partners available on the calendar.
• Benefits Application Assistance Assistance with benefits applications through scheduled appointments.
• Circle of Hope Monthly Giving Program Monthly giving program providing ongoing donor support to families facing food insecurity and financial hardship.
• Packs & Snacks for Kids Program providing food assistance specifically for children facing food insecurity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,000 families assisted annually, representing over 25% of food-insecure households in Pinellas County
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pinellas CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaystar Life partners with Pinellas County for the Traveler's Aid program, which supports individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused. The program works to confirm safe, stable housing is available at the destination before arranging travel, focusing on responsible relocation plans.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Metropolitan Ministries: Tampa Bay-area nonprofit providing food, housing, and financial assistance to families in crisis. Closely comparable to Daystar Life's wraparound service model covering food, rent/utility assistance, and family stabilization programs.
• Feeding Tampa Bay: Regional food bank serving the Tampa Bay area including Pinellas County, distributing food to families facing hunger. Directly comparable to Daystar Life's Healthy Food Pantry mission and scale, and a primary competitor for food-insecurity donor dollars in the same geography.
• St. Vincent de Paul CARES: Pinellas and Tampa Bay social services nonprofit providing emergency assistance, housing, and food programs. Operates in the same geography with a similar mix of food, financial, and housing-related services to low-income families.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg: Faith-based social services organization serving Pinellas County with food pantries, financial assistance, and refugee/immigrant services. Directly comparable client base and service menu, and a major competitor in the same donor pool.
• Pinellas Opportunity Council: Pinellas County Community Action Agency providing food, utility assistance, and case management to low-income residents. Operates in the same geography with overlapping benefit-assistance programs, making it a direct peer for both clients and funders.
• Religious Community Services (RCS) Pinellas: Pinellas County-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, and emergency assistance to those in need. Closely comparable service mix and clientele, and a direct competitor for both volunteers and donors in the same local market.
• Good Samaritan Ministries: Faith-based Pinellas County nonprofit providing food, financial assistance, and supportive services to families in crisis. Highly comparable mission, service menu, and geographic footprint to Daystar Life Center.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Suncoast: Large regional funder and convener in the Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas County. While not a direct service provider in the same way, it is a major allocator of donor dollars that could otherwise flow to Daystar Life and funds many of the same partner agencies.
• Salvation Army Tampa Area Command: National nonprofit with a strong Tampa Bay presence providing food, rent/utility assistance, shelter, and emergency social services. Comparable service offerings with much broader geographic reach and brand recognition, competing for the same donor and client base.

Emerging players

• Meals on Wheels of Tampa Bay: Nonprofit delivering meals and nutrition services to seniors and homebound individuals in the Tampa Bay area. Comparable food-security mission but narrower client focus (seniors/homebound), making it a partial overlap rather than a full competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_DaystarLife
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DaystarLife_StPete
• Facebookfacebook.com/DaystarLifeInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/daystarlifecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/daystarlife_stpete

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daystar Life Center, Inc.