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Charities Struggle As Need Rises And Donations Fall

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2008

America's Second Harvest

Purpose: Serves as a distribution point for food banks in 10-county area. A typical November brings in 650,000 pounds of food. This November there were 600,000 pounds of food.

How to help: Participate in Food for Families, buying bagged food at Publix, Sweetbay and Winn-Dixie stores, or go to www.a2htampabay.org. By mail, send checks to 5300 E. Adamo Drive, Tampa FL 33619
Trinity Cafe
Purpose: Offers cafe meals, unconditionally, to homeless people who visit the Salvation Army in Tampa. In 2007, Trinity took in $32,128 in donations. In 2008 to date, it has received $8,386 in donations.

How to help: Send donations to P.O. Box 320146, Tampa FL 33679-2146
Metropolitan Ministries
Purpose: Serves poor and homeless men, women and children in the Tampa Bay region. Average individual gift in 2007 was $94. Average gift in 2008 is $75.

How to help: Send donations to 2002 N. Florida Ave., Tampa FL 33602

Emergency Care Help Organization

Purpose: Provides free groceries, clothes and household items to needy families once every six months, no more than four times in a lifetime. In the last quarter of 2007, ECHO served 3,911 clients. So far this quarter, ECHO has served 4,736 clients.

How to help: Donations can be made online at www.echofl.org or mailed to 507 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon FL 33510.

St. Vincent dePaul Society
Purpose: Volunteers serve the needy with donations of food and clothing. In 2007, the society served about 20 families three times a week. In 2008, that number nearly has doubled to 38 families.

How to help: Take food and clothing donations to St. Vincent DePaul Society, 12310 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa FL 33612. Cash donations can be mailed to the same address.

United Way Tampa Bay

Purpose: An umbrella organization for charities that helps people overcome challenges and barriers to succeed.

How to Help: Make a donation online at www.uwtb.org/impactfund.asp or mail a donation to United Way of Tampa Bay, Donations Team, 5201 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 600, Tampa FL 33609.

Unity in the Community

Purpose: Contributes to Meals on Wheels, United Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of Plant City. In 2007, Unity collected and distributed $33,000. In 2008, Unity expects to collect and distribute $22,000.

How to help: Send cash donations to P.O. Box 524, Plant City FL 33564

Yvette C. Hammett

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