16 Dec Tracey Keim, founder of the Green Devil Pantry & Closet (GDP&C)
Tracey Keim, founder of the Green Devil Pantry & Closet (GDP&C), will share the inspiring journey of this impactful local nonprofit. What began in 2006 as a small project to provide students with formal attire for dances and job interviews has evolved into a vital resource for students and families facing challenges like homelessness and financial hardship.
Operating out of a modest 6’x9’ space, GDP&C serves hundreds of individuals annually, providing essentials like food, household supplies, school necessities, and even SPHS merchandise—all without question or judgment. The success of this initiative is thanks to the generous support of “Closeteers,” including SPHS alumni, local organizations, and community members.
Learn how Tracey’s passion and dedication have built a community of care, and discover how you can help empower local families to succeed in school, at work, and beyond. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and support a meaningful cause.
More about our Speaker
Tracey Gross Keim has dedicated her life to education and service, with a career spanning nearly two decades at St. Petersburg High School (SPHS), her alma mater. A 1987 graduate of SPHS, Tracey attended Troy University in Alabama on a full leadership scholarship, earning her bachelor’s degree. She later achieved a Master’s in Management from Troy University’s Tampa campus in 2000 and will soon complete a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Tampa on December 13, 2024.
Since joining SPHS in 2005, Tracey has not only taught English and English as a Second Language but has also become a three-time Teacher of the Year. Her classroom, affectionately called the “Keimdom” by her students, is a place where everyone is set up for success. Her unique teaching methods and educational activities, for which she holds nine copyrights, inspire teachers and students alike around the globe.
Tracey’s legacy extends far beyond the classroom. In 2005, she founded the “Green Devil’s Pantry and Closet,” a 6-by-9 space that has transformed countless lives by providing students with essentials such as food, clothing, and toiletries. This initiative has inspired similar programs across the country and earned Tracey the nickname “Mama Keim” among her students, both past and present.
A fifth-generation St. Petersburg native, Tracey cherishes her deep roots in the community. Her grandmother graduated from SPHS 50 years before her, further solidifying her connection to the school. Married to Cliff Keim since December 4, 2004, Tracey balances her professional dedication with her personal life, continuously uplifting those around her with compassion and innovation.
Through her teaching, advocacy, and the love she shares in the “Keimdom,” Tracey Keim exemplifies the profound impact one educator can have on a community and beyond.
Mission Spotlight:
“To provide food, household/school supplies, SPHS merchandise, and other needed items to any member of the Green Devil family without question or judgment, promoting success in school, at work, and in the community.”
In the spirit of the holidays, we are sharing a list of the immediate needs of the organization, if you are inclined to bring something to the meeting:
• Hair ties, headbands, hair clips. No combs or brushes, please.
• Ramen—chicken or spicy chicken only. Bricks or in cups.
• Saltine crackers. Peanut butter crackers. No cheese and crackers.
• Instant mashed potatoes. Heat-and-eat flavored rice and noodles.
• Backpacks and reusable shopping bags. Cosmetic bags. Unopened cosmetics.
• Tuna salad kids, tuna, mayo, Vienna sausages.
• Cereal and individual grits. No oatmeal.
• New wash cloths. Bath puffs. Liquid body soap. No bar soap, please.
• Dollar snacks and Num Nums that a teen or a family might enjoy as a snack or meal.
• Only canned green beans, corn, spinach. Chef Boyardee. Small fruit cups in juice.
• Gently used or new refillable water bottles.
• Deodorant: solid-stick only.
• Cleaning supplies. Dish soap. Liquid hand soap. Shampoo and rinse.
• Scrub brushes for bath or kitchen.
• Hand and body lotion (hotel or regular size).
• “Surprises” a teenager might enjoy. Regifts graciously accepted.
• Gift cards you won’t use or that have even a small balance remaining.