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Community Redresses Grinch's Naughty Deed

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

There was an early Grinch who stole our church trailer and "Thanks-For-Giving Bags" being collected by members of our parish to be distributed to needy families through our Community Cupboard Food Pantry ("Church Bemoans Theft Of Trailer Full Of Holiday Fare," Metro, Nov. 14).

The media got the word, and the response has been amazing. To date we have received tons of non-perishable food items and over $32,000 in cash donations. These gifts came literally from all over the United States.

We were able to provide more than 300 families with Thanksgiving meals. We will also be able to provide Christmas Day and New Year's Day meals.

Calvary's Community Cupboard provides food for over 25,000 people each year. It is because of the generosity of caring and compassionate people like those who stepped forward with bags of food, checks and even the $1 donations that the often overlooked and ignored in our community have been blessed. In return we all have been blessed.

I would like everyone to be assured that every dollar donated to turn this "Grinch moment" into a "grace moment" will be utilized for providing sustenance for those less fortunate in our surrounding communities. Because of the generosity of so many, we were also able to provide food and funds to another church whose food pantry experienced a similar tragedy shortly after ours.

This Christmas season, please take the opportunity to look beyond yourself and give to those who often do not have the voice or means to assist themselves. Thank you for being the "image of Christ" in south county. Thank you to all for your support, gifts and prayers.

A blessed Christmas to everyone!

REV. JACK R. PALZER

Apollo Beach

The writer is pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church.

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