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Food drives have a single destination

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 14, 2009

The holiday season can be stressful for people struggling to provide good meals for their families.

As they strive to provide their children a nutritious diet, they also want to supply the traditional feasts of the season.

Through its chain of more than 280 franchise stores, the Zephyrhills-based Goin' Postal is leading a nationwide effort to accept canned and nonperishable food items for the You CAN Help food drive. The purpose is to collect items that will be donated to local food banks.

"While the stores accept donated canned goods and sealed nonperishable food items all year, the store owners are hopeful that food donations will be highest during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season, when sharing a special holiday meal with all the trimmings means so much more than mere sustenance to those in need," a written announcement states. "The food items that you donate could be the very ones that help to bring back some wonderful memories for someone, or they just might help a local family to make some pleasant new ones around the holiday table this year."

The Zephyrhills You CAN Help proceeds will be divided equally among the First United Methodist Church Food Bank on Fifth Avenue, Zephyrhills Wesleyan Church's Angel Food Ministries on C Avenue, First Assembly Church's food bank on State Road 54 West., HIS Storehouse Outreach on S.R. 54 West, and Community Chapel Church of God's facility on First Street.

Goin' Postal President M.J. Price takes pride in the efforts of her franchises to support You CAN and cites her Sebring and Sun-N-Lake stores and one in Plainview, Mich., as top achievers.

"The You CAN Help food drive is part and parcel of the Goin' Postal packing and shipping chain's commitment to improving the quality of life in towns and cities throughout the entire year via grass-roots community involvement projects that are free to the public," she said. "Anyone can write a check to a charity. What we want to see are our store owners actually doing something with their own two hands and their hearts, and we're pleased to say that they never disappoint us."

Even the youngest community members are doing their part to help the needy this holiday season. At Kids' Stuff Preschool in Land O' Lakes, students and staff have committed to collect a "ton" of pasta on behalf of Christian Social Services in Land O' Lakes.

"Canned pasta is what Christian Social Services has the greatest need for," said Jackie Genovese, assistant director of Kids' Stuff. "It's healthy, and it's something kids will eat."

Genovese welcomes the community's support in reaching the goal.

They want to collect 1 ton of canned pasta such as SpaghettiO's, ravioli and spaghetti and meatballs Genovese said. "We have collected 300 pounds so far, with 1,700 to go. We hope to wrap up the collection by Nov. 20."

Other Pasco-based agencies are working to provide Thanksgiving dinners for families in need. This year, the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club is continuing its traditional turkey distribution event under the leadership of President George Vlk.

This year's turkey distribution will feed more than 100 people, Wesley Chapel Rotary spokeswoman Marion Szurek said.

"We obtain our list from the school district," she said. "They provide the names of families in need. We are distributing on Wednesday, Nov 25."

The effort that members invest in this annual distribution is well worth it, Szurek said.

"This is one of my favorite activities in Rotary," she said. "Believe me, it truly is rewarding to see the faces of our recipients."

Also this year, the Community Service Council of West Pasco is joining forces with assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, rehab centers and volunteers to provide Thanksgiving dinner to more than 1,000 people in 250 families in west Pasco.

CSC member Vish Singh of Jennifer Gardens in New Port Richey, who coordinates the effort with wife, Sero, a CSC officer, said the community demand for the program has increased substantially because of high unemployment rates and a troubled economy.

"Last year we served 266 people in 61 families," he said. "This year we've been inundated with phone calls."

Also participating in effort are 16 west Pasco health care facilities. Each will provide a full meal (including baby formula) for an average of eight to 12 families, and community volunteers will help deliver the meals by 12:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

"It's amazing how the community is coming together," Vish Singh said. "Giving to these families makes them feel good, and it makes us feel good."

COMMUNITY EFFORTS

YOU CAN HELP FOOD DRIVE: Nonperishable food items and canned goods can be donated at Goin' Postal Zephyrhills, 38439 Fifth Ave., and at Goin' Postal's sister stores: einSigns at 5022 Gall Blvd. and Hut no. 8 at 38435 Fifth Ave. All donated items will be given to food banks serving the Zephyrhills area.

PASTA COLLECTION: Canned spaghetti, ravioli and other pasta items can be brought to Kids' Stuff Preschool at 21360 Lake Floyd Drive, Land O' Lakes. For information, call (813) 949-2237.

TURKEY DISTRIBUTION: To learn more about and support the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club's annual turkey distribution, contact President George Vlk at (813) 973-2392.

THANKSGIVING DINNERS: The Community Service Council of West Pasco will provide Thanksgiving dinner to more than 1,000 people. Aiding in the effort are Atria Baypoint Village, Cottages of Port Richey, Jennifer Gardens, Oakview Terrace, Summerville at New Port Richey, Sunshine Christian Home, La Casa Grande, Suncoast Retreat, Bayonet Point Health and Rehab, Atria Windsor Woods, Regency Residence, Sunset Bay Assisted Living, Heather Hill Nursing Home, Orchid Ridge Rehabilitation, Atria Evergreen and Madison Point Health and Rehab.

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