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Activists vow club will never be hungry again
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer LACOOCHEE -- Supporters of the Boys and Girls Club in Lacoochee already know what it's like to have to close because of a lack of money. That's why they met Tuesday night to talk about how to keep it from ever happening again. The club shut down its Lacoochee operations May 24 after running out of money. The entire summer program was about to be scrapped if the group couldn't find $12,000 by June 10. Fortunately for the club, a group of local businesses and residents came to the rescue with donations. On Tuesday, a dozen supporters met at Heart Center Church of God to talk about forming a Lacoochee-based advisory committee and garnering donations locally to keep the club strong. "We really need to step in and take care of our own community," said David West, a Dade City pastor, chamber of commerce activist and Tampa Tribune employee who helped organize the meeting. "The board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club is all west Pasco people. They live there. They work there. Their interests are there." West said he would like to see a representative from Lacoochee on the board of directors. But beyond that, he said local supporters need to drum up support and seek local donations, rather than simply hope for help from west Pasco. "We need to get out door to door and let people know there's a Boys and Girls Club here," he said. "We can't depend on (west Pasco) help. We have to step up and do it ourselves. I think we will find that there are some serious dollars out there." Group members on Tuesday also discussed someday moving the club from 38749 Patti Lane to 33-acre Stanley Park, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., where a new building would be constructed. The park already has fields and courts for basketball, football, soccer, tennis and volleyball, plus a playground and picnic area. County officials would have to approve the plan. Whatever happens, the dozen folks who gathered Tuesday agreed that the Lacoochee program was too important to neglect. "We need something the kids in this community can go to, something this whole community wants to support," said Dianne Hines, a native of Lacoochee and a children's director at the church. "I'm personally tired of reading down stuff about Lacoochee. "Here's an opportunity to turn that around. I say we go all out." Anyone interested in volunteering or serving on the advisory board is welcome to attend the next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Heart Center Church of God, 21245 Sanderson Road in Lacoochee.
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From today's Pasco Times Letters |
