Food pantry needs contributions to continue feeding the hungry
Published February 20, 2004
President Bush speaks of faith-based initiatives, and Religious Community Services' Food Pantry in Clearwater surely could be said to be an example of faith in action. Since 1982 this organization has been feeding the hungry and homeless in upper Pinellas County.
In 2001, forced to move from a rented building at 210 Ewing St., the Food Pantry leased a warehouse and put in over $40,000 in renovations before being allowed to open the doors. Today the food pantry is trying to raise $1-million to buy this place, since the owners want to sell.
If a political party can raise many millions of dollars for campaign money, why can't RCS raise $500,000 for its Blessed Harvest campaign? Instead, they are having to take out a loan and pay over $3,600 a month for two years. Just think of the amount of food this money could buy, especially since the numbers of vulnerable citizens keep increasing daily.
Eighty percent of those they serve are working mothers with children. Last year they gave away $1.8-million worth of food, and over 4,000 are served monthly, 90 percent of them earning less than $10,000 a year.
The deadline is near. Perhaps someone will feel the need to rise to the occasion and financially help this worthwhile program. I have tried and also given. Send contributions to RCS, 1855 Highland Ave. S, Clearwater, FL 33756.
-- Ellen Jensen, Largo
Prescribed burns in natural areas are needed to control wildfires
On Feb. 4 a prescribed fire was conducted in Upper Tampa Bay Park, just east of Oldsmar. Hillsborough County land managers, extensively trained and certified by the state Division of Forestry to conduct such burns, were taking advantage of ideal weather conditions on that date. One of the factors was a predicted wind direction out of the northeast that would carry the smoke out over the waters of Old Tampa Bay and away from nearby residential areas. And this is exactly what happened during most of the day.
As often occurs in our area, especially near the water, a wind shift of short duration carried the smoke and ash from the burn directly to the west, where some settled on residential neighborhoods in south Oldsmar. What resulted, apparently, was that some homeowners called the local Fire Department to complain about ashes falling on their property and into their pools.
What a tragedy. First of all, ashes and smoke from a prescribed fire in a natural area are free of the toxic chemicals found in smoke from burning buildings or trash. Secondly, one of the objectives of prescribed burning is to reduce natural fuels in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence or severity of wildfires that inevitably occur as a result of lightning strikes, carelessness or arson.
The average citizen can be forgiven for not understanding and supporting the need for managers of natural areas to conduct such burns on a regular basis, but there is no excuse for personnel from the Oldsmar Fire Department to contact the state Division of Forestry to complain that the burn was "out of prescription," which was not the case. Ashes from this kind of fire do not cause property damage, and the amount of smoke was insufficient to cause visibility or health concerns.
The burn team should be thanked for its efforts. Keep up the good work.
-- Rob Heath, Riverview
Scientologists lauded for keeping the name of Fort Harrison Hotel
Re: Scientologists use historical site to recruit new members, letter by David Rodman, Feb. 6.
I for one am pleased that the Scientologists have retained the historic name of the Fort Harrison Hotel. Remember when the historic Belleview Biltmore briefly became the Belleview Mido? Never the same.
As far as Mr. Rodman's comment that "Scientology is taking over downtown Clearwater," he too can purchase property in downtown Clearwater, as anyone can. It seems that this is a very easy way out: Blame everything wrong with downtown Clearwater on the Scientologists.
Oh, and by the way, I am a property owner in downtown Clearwater, and I am not a Scientologist.
-- Linda Edwards, Clearwater
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