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For The Joyless, Joy; The Hopeless, Hope

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

HOLIDAY - They show up with tales of abuse and neglect, loss and financial hardships.

They leave with a box of hope, a bag of joy and the Lord's blessing.

For the past week, a coalition of religious and civic organizations have been making this Christmas special for hundreds of needy families.

From under a red canvas tent, outside Community United Methodist Church on U.S. 19, volunteers have handed out in excess of 10 tons of food and more than 4,000 toys.

And today they'll be out there again.

"The parents and kids have been so grateful," said Nancy Dougherty, one of the effort's coordinators. "It's giving them something to celebrate at a difficult time of the year."

Local businesses, churches and restaurants provided most of the donations.

"The outpouring of community support has been wonderful," Dougherty said.

Families are provided with food (a box of hope) and children's toys (a bag of joy) and offered access to counseling, social service networks and faith-based organizations.

"There's a clear need in Pasco," said Cathy Stone of Tampa-based Metropolitan Ministries, which teamed with Fresh Start for Pasco to organize the food and toy drive.

"As hard as it is for many of us to comprehend, there are a lot of families in this county that are poor or homeless and can't meet the basic needs of their kids," she said.

Community United Methodist is one of about 10 area churches that host Fresh Start for Pasco, which was started this summer and modeled after Metropolitan Ministries.

More than half of the estimated 3,000 people living on the streets across Pasco are young adults and children, according to data from the local homeless coalition.

Some come from struggling families; others live in cramped mobile homes and motels, homeless shelters and squatter camps.

Some are disabled and poor, others abused and neglected. All are in need.

As the county's underfunded social service system struggles to care for an increasing homeless population, churches and faith-based groups are increasingly filling the void.

Over the summer, Community United Methodist hosted its first summer camp for homeless and underprivileged kids. Congregants from a dozen west Pasco churches joined the effort.

Organizers already are planning next year's summer camp and say they want it to be a genesis for a long-term countywide effort to provide for the families throughout the year.

"These people need our help year round," Dougherty said. "Not just on the holidays."

TO DONATE, VOLUNTEER

Donations can be dropped off at Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, 3214 U.S. 19 (south of Moog Road on the east side of the highway). For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Dougherty at (727) 937-3268.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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