Column

Habitat fights to end the poverty in land of plenty

By C.T. BOWEN, Editor of Editorials
Published October 3, 2007

It is easy to overlook the full view of central Pasco's finances. A cursory glimpse shows two malls under construction in an area lined with recently built subdivisions filled with tract houses and accompanying starting prices of a quarter-million dollars. SUVs, full-size sedans and high-end pick-up trucks carry commuters to stable employment in Tampa each day and return each afternoon in time to get the kids to the dance lessons or soccer practice before heading to grocery and then home to the gated community.

"Unless you get lost on a road you took a wrong turn on, you wouldn't notice it," said Charlie Reese, a familiar name in central Pasco.

"It" is not the It from eBay. It, in this conversation with the onetime newspaper reporter and former Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce president, is poverty.

Nearly 23 percent of the children attending five elementary schools in Land O' Lakes received free or reduced price lunches. Certainly, that is below the countywide average and pales significantly to schools in Dade City, Lacoochee, Hudson, Holiday and New Port Richey, but it is indicative that a sizeable portion of the population here is considered needy.

"I've driven down roads and seen old single-wide trailer with plywood on the windows and doors and think it was abandoned, and then I'd see somebody coming out of it who was living there," said Reese whose community activism includes being a board member and immediate past president for the Habitat for Humanity chapter in central Pasco.

The chapter is relatively new compared to its more senior counterparts in east and west Pasco. It came together seven years ago and has built three houses in Pasco Lakes Estates, a neighborhood off U.S. 41 about 4.5 miles north of State Road 52. The central Pasco chapter has no municipal governments to lend a hand with donated lots and land here is expensive.

The chapter now is partnering with Land O'Lakes-based Christian Social Services in a dual benefit dubbed Harvest for Humanity. Businesses, community groups and individuals are asked to donate food staples to fill Christian Social Services holiday baskets for the needy and to give cash - either a lump sum donation or a contribution for each food item collected - to help Habitat for Humanity acquire another building lot for its fourth house.

The goal for Habitat for Humanity is to raise $25,000. It is an aggressive number and Reese acknowledges it is uncharted territory since past fundraising has focused on the more traditional offerings of a golf tournament, celebrity roast, wine tasting, and silent auction. The benefit continues this month with the 300 food boxes distributed around the community due Oct. 27 so the food can be sorted and handed out in time for Thanksgiving.

Roger Boldizsar of Soule Co., a Lutz-based packaging manufacturer, donated the boxes and away they went.

Kim Anderson, principal at Pine View Middle School, took 60 to spread around the school. Boxes are in the residence halls on the Saint Leo University campus and the local board of realtors challenged each real estate agency to do likewise. As of Tuesday afternoon, Reese still had 30 left. Call him at 813-787-3500 if you'd like one.

Each is decorated with the fundraisers' logo: Two stalks of ready-to-harvest grain extending from a house surrounded by a square containing a two-pronged message: Food for the hungry. Funds for homebound.

When he's not doing a sales pitch for the fundraiser, Reese can recite the Habitat for Humanity message: Home building builds a community. Children who live in poor housing stock have a higher rate of illness including asthma, infections, and are at a greater risk of becoming disabled as an adult. Children of homeowners are more likely to stay in school and perform better academically. Homeowners share a greater sense of community responsibility and are more likely to vote in elections and be involved in civic groups.

There is a plethora of fundraising that coincides with autumn. The United Way campaign begins, other charities gear up for holiday drives, some political candidates are seeking contributions and property tax bills arrive in the mail.

"Timing is always a puzzle to us," said Reese, before switching back to the sales pitch. "We know there are other worthy causes out there, but don't know if there's any out there that can help two local charities simultaneously. Christian Social Services helps people with the immediate need of food and clothing and Habitat for Humanity helps with the long-term need."

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 21:22:19]