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Need For Donations Widens This Year

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2008

Although Pasco County's shelters, food banks, churches and nonprofit organizations may serve different populations, one thing they have in common this time of year is a need for donations.

Last month, Land O' Lakes' Suncoast Harvest Food Bank provided 160,000 pounds of food to 20,000 people. The food bank hands out food to those in need and to nonprofit agencies. Now, it needs help - specifically, nonperishable food.

"Our shelves are empty," said Liz Fields, the food bank's executive director.

Sunrise of Pasco County in Dade City also needs nonperishable food, along with clothing and twin-sized bedding. The agency operates a shelter for abused families and housed 213 people last year.

"We get most of our food items from church drives and Suncoast Harvest Food Bank, and there's been a marked decrease in anything coming in," said Trish Kley, Sunrise's development director.

Gulfcoast Community Care's shelter for homeless women and children in Hudson needs meat, household items, clothing, Christmas toys and ornaments

"We used to get so many donations; we would overwhelm other help agencies with our overflow," said Angela Littlefield, executive director of the 24-bed shelter. "Now we get two bags a day."

Even faith-based groups are hurting.

Dade City's Daystar Hope Center food pantry distributed 7 tons of food to 1,645 people in September. One loyal supporter delivered $1,000 worth of hams to the center, but more nonperishable food donations are needed, as the center sees new clients every day.

"We're looking for people grateful for what they have, who give thanks by helping others," said Sister Jean Abbott, the agency's personal director.

With the economy in bad shape, more people are turning to local nonprofit organizations for help.

More than 100 families are already signed up for Thanksgiving dinners from Christian Social Services, and as many as 140 kids are signed up for Christmas toys. The agency needs food and toys.

At Community United Methodist Church in Holiday, the annual Joining Hands Holiday Center provides food and toys to more than 600 west Pasco families. The church also provides Thanksgiving dinners. It's collecting food, cash and toys.

The Salvation Army Center of Hope in Port Richey is looking for Thanksgiving dinner staples - cranberry sauce, turkeys, fruits and desserts - for its community Thanksgiving dinner, along with items for the holiday food boxes the agency will distribute next month.

Topping the list: hams, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Cereals, pastas, canned vegetables, microwave meals and powdered drink mixes are needed for the agency's food pantry, which serves hungry people throughout the year.

"People are still doing what they can, to unite for something good," said Executive Director Jeanne Coulter.

That message of hope rings true for Bob Loring, executive director of Toys for Tots East Pasco. Collection boxes are posted throughout the county, and Loring is optimistic about meeting his goal.

"For every call I get asking for help, I get another call offering help," he said.

PASCO NONPROFITS

Suncoast Harvest Food Bank

5829 Ehren Cutoff,

Land O' Lakes; (813) 929-0200

Sunrise of Pasco County

12724 Smith Road, Dade City;

(352) 521-3358

Gulfcoast Community Care

7801 Maryland Ave., Hudson;

(727) 861-4840

Christian Social Services

5514 Land O'Lakes Blvd., Land O'Lakes; (813) 995-0088

Salvation Army

8040 Washington St.,

Port Richey; (727) 847-6321

Toys For Tots Pasco

www.toysfortotspasco.org

(727) 847-4583 (west side)

(352) 588-4230 (east side)

Daystar Hope Center

15512 U.S. 301, Dade City;

(352) 523-0844

Helping Hands Holiday Center

3214 U.S. 19, Holiday;

(727) 937-3268 or

nancycumc@verizon.net

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