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Echo Of Economy Keeps Brandon Charity Busy
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Published: September 4, 2008
BRANDON - He's been through tough times before, but Brandon resident Mark Mahon never anticipated that he and his 14-year-old son would have to live in the Chevy van he purchased to carry supplies for his home-remodeling business.
The van has been their home for the past three months.
Mahon can no longer remodel homes because of a back injury.
"Because of the pain medication I'm taking, I can't pass a drug test to even work at McDonald's," he said. "I would give my right leg to get my back fixed so I could work again."
A Brandon middle school counselor referred Mahon to Brandon's Emergency Care Help Organization when he enrolled his son. He was at ECHO Wednesday getting groceries, school clothes and school supplies.
"Hopefully, this will get us through until I'm able to get food stamps," he said. "It's really tough. My life hasn't been a bed of roses, but I never thought I'd be in this situation at the age of 45. We just pray every night and go on from there."
Mahon is among a growing number of residents who have made their way to ECHO, 507 N. Parsons Ave., as a result of the dour economy and resulting layoffs and business closings.
To meet their needs, the nonprofit organization, which provides food, clothing and other essentials to residents with emergency needs, has extended its hours.
"It's gotten so bad, we've had to extend our hours to 2 p.m. to accommodate everyone," said ECHO Executive Director Stacey Efaw. For years, ECHO was open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"It's pretty crazy," assistant project manager Eleanor Saunders said of the increasing number of people in need. "We've seen a lot of first-timers, people who have never had to ask for help before."
Efaw was especially struck when a regular donor at ECHO came in empty-handed, this time to ask for help.
"This lady's been giving to us for four years. Now they've cut her hours at work, which is almost as bad as losing your job because you can't get unemployment benefits. She was devastated. She's never had to ask for help before. She was so grateful but, at the same time, she was so upset and embarrassed."
Last year, ECHO provided food and clothing to 9,440 Brandon area residents. That number is expected to top 10,000 this year.
Efaw said the agency's staff and volunteers began witnessing the effects of a dwindling job market two years ago, as more people were in need and donations began to drop.
Last month, ECHO saw a record 1,399 clients, an increase of 200 from August 2007. The organization gave out 33,354 pounds of food last month, and of that, 4,882 pounds had to be purchased because donations are down.
Christopher and Jessica Harris of Tampa said they came to ECHO as a last resort.
"I got laid off from my lawn maintenance job and I can't find any work," said Christopher Harris, who now stays home and cares for the couple's three children, ages 5, 3 and 5 months. Jessica Harris works at Tire Kingdom 30 miles away.
"We have just one vehicle, and it costs $20 a day in gas for her to get to work," Christopher Harris said. "We used to plan everything out. Now we just go day by day, doing the best we can."
A local church referred them to ECHO.
"If it wasn't for places like this, I don't know what we'd do," Harris said.
Brandon resident Brandi Carter found out about ECHO from a friend.
The single mother of four children ages 8, 6, 4 and 3 lost her job as a certified child care worker three months ago.
"I've never been out of work before," she said. "I've worked since I was 15 years old. But it's never been this hard finding a job."
Carter said she has had to apply for government assistance.
"Welfare was a last resort, but I have to keep going for my kids," she said.
Founded in 1987 by the Brandon Ministerial Association as a nondenominational food pantry, ECHO's mission is to support residents through hardships with groceries, clothes and household items once every six months no more than four times.
Donations of food, clothing or money can be dropped off during regular hours.
Call Efaw at (813) 685-0935.
Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.
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