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Local Charity Effort Passing The Plate

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By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 19, 2007

HOLIDAY - Fresh Start for Pasco, a philanthropic effort that provides a variety of services for those in need, is planning a massive West Pasco Holiday Center distribution of food and toys for more than 500 disadvantaged families. First, though, the agency needs the support of Pasco County residents to aid their distribution, conducted in conjunction with Metropolitan Ministries.

"Without community support, we can't do efforts like this one," said the Rev. Dan Campbell of Community United Methodist Church of Holiday. CUMC is one of about 10 area churches that hosts Fresh Start for Pasco, which was started this summer and modeled after the efforts of Metropolitan Ministries.

Specifically, Fresh Start needs about 10 tons of food and 4,000 toys to meet the needs of families registered for the distribution, which started Sunday and is to run through Saturday at the church.

"Aside from the families registered, we're still getting calls every day from families desperate for help," Campbell said. "We've set up a waiting list for the other families."

Requested donations include turkeys, new toys, gift cards and checks made out to Fresh Start for Pasco or First United Methodist Church of Holiday with the memo "Holiday Center."

"A donation of $35 is needed to fund a Box of Hope, which is a box of food for a family in need," Campbell said. "A donation of $50 is needed to fund a Box of Joy, which consists of two new toys and a filled Christmas stocking. A donation of $185 would take care of a whole family."

In addition to contributions, volunteers are needed to accept and distribute toys and food at the Holiday Center.

Aside from donations, families registered for the center event will be treated to a health fair, a prayer room, gift-wrapping services, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"We want this to be an enjoyable experience for these families," Campbell said.

Earlier this year, Fresh Start for Pasco held another family-oriented event, a summer camp for homeless children. Campbell said one of the families that was helped at the summer camp returned this month to donate to the Holiday Center.

Others who wish to support the Holiday Center effort can bring their donations to the Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, 3214 U.S. 19 (south of Moog Road on the east side of U.S. 19), or to Ferman auto dealerships in west Pasco.

To sign up for a volunteer position at the West Pasco Holiday Center, call Nancy Dougherty at (727) 937-3268. For more information, visit www.cumcholiday.org.

"The families who are signed up are counting on us, we don't want to turn any of them away - our prayer is that the Pasco community will rally in these last days so we will have enough food and toys to call the families on the waiting list and bless them too!" Cathy Stone, strategic planning officer for Metropolitan Ministries, wrote in a news release.

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