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Drive Aims To Assist Needy Kids

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 18, 2008

Last year, Projects of Pasco distributed free school supplies to 1,286 children in Dade City, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Land O' Lakes. The group is kicking off its fifth year of working to ensure east and central Pasco County youngsters are prepared for school.

The need is greater than ever this year, according to chairwoman Anna Fulk.

"This year, we expect to have 500 to 1,000 additional children to help," she said.

During the past few weeks, the nonprofit Projects of Pasco has set up collection bins in area Sweetbay supermarkets and Big Lots and Kmart stores.

"They're big supporters," Fulk said.

The community will have another opportunity to support the organization from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and July 26 and 27, when school-supply collection sites will be set up at Big Lots, 12820 U.S. 301 in Dade City; Kmart, 22920 State Road 54 in Land O' Lakes; and Big Lots, 2414 Land O' Lakes Blvd. (U.S. 41) in Land O' Lakes.

In August, the group will set up more school-supply collection points. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug 2 and 3 and Aug. 9 and 10, Projects of Pasco will collect school supplies at Sweetbay at Old Pasco Road and County Road 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) in Wesley Chapel.

Residents are being asked to donate pens, pencils, scissors, rulers, spiral notebooks and erasers at these collections, and especially backpacks, graph paper, calculators and alphabet printing books.

"The ABC printing books are for students grades pre-K through first to teach them how to print and write," Fulk said. "Graph paper is needed by eighth- through 12th-graders, and it's pricey."

Aiding Projects of Pasco on these days will be representatives of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

"They're one of our main supporters and will be out there with us collecting at all locations," Fulk said. "I can't say enough about these fantastic people."

People also can bring cash donations to collection sites, or they can make deposit donations at any Wachovia Bank, with checks made out to Projects of Pasco.

"Many people choose to donate anonymously, but anyone who wants a receipt can call with their name and address," Fulk said.

Fulk and co-chairmen Kevin Connell and Suse Hilton also are accepting calls from those who wish to qualify and register to receive school-supply donations.

"One of us will qualify you and register you over the phone," Fulk said. "If need be, leave a message and someone will phone you back within 24 hours."

Connell can be reached at (813) 778-6264; Fulk at (813) 788-3038; and Hilton at (813) 842-3566.

In addition, families can pick up applications at school-supply collection events.

The Projects of Pasco distribution event will take place 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at Wesley Chapel Elementary School in the Wesley Chapel schools complex, on Wells Road off Curly Road.

Other groups aiding the Projects of Pasco effort include area Rotary Clubs, east Pasco firefighters, Storsafe, the Dade City Police Department and Metro Storage.

The families who receive help, Fulk said, greatly appreciate the effort.

"So many parents have come to me year after year saying that their child is harassed at school because he or she is the one who has to go to the school-supply closet," Fulk said. "When they receive our donations, they get along better at school and their grades go up. They're more willing to sit down and learn."

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