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Food bank savior

Lutheran Church of Our Saviour gets a benefactor in its efforts to feed the needy.

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Area churches have joined together to help Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Town 'N Country feed the homeless. And in one case, the help is ongoing.

"Helping Hands at Incarnation Church has become a monthly benefactor," said Zack Koczanski, president of the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour church council. "They gave us 250 pounds of food, and each month will give us a check for $300."

Helping Hands is a mission group of Incarnation Catholic Church in Town 'N Country.

The church at 8401 W Hillsborough Ave. started its food bank several years ago to feed the area's hungry. A few years ago the church dedicated a room behind its parish hall for food and now supplies about 1,000 meals a month to the area's needy.

"We've had to cut back because we were being inundated from as far away as Plant City," Koczanski said. "Now we're only serving within the Town 'N Country perimeter."

That's why the food, money and muscle donated last week was so appreciated.

"We are consistently now feeding between 1,000 people a month and running out of food," Koczanski said.

A nonprofit group, America's Second Harvest, donated an additional 2,900 pounds of food. And the truck, donated by local businessman Jim Sacarello, was unloaded by a group of youth from Grace Lutheran Church in Carrollwood.

"More and more people are realizing we have a need," Koczanski said. "We're hoping to get other churches within the area involved."

Anyone wishing to donate to the church can call the office at (813) 884-1232.

- Jackie Ripley can be reached at 813 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com