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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 9, 2001
Generosity made all the difference over the holiday season
Editor: Some of you are native Floridians. Many of you have relocated here from other states and countries. Independently and compassionately, thousands of you decided to help our less fortunate neighbors. Collectively, you brightened their spirits.
Every day the Pasco Food Bank's member agencies supply the needy with the basics. During the holiday season these local churches and social service organizations redouble their efforts to offer special dinners and gifts to our community. They appreciate your support.
Imagine the scenes at local churches as volunteers celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by joyfully preparing and serving countless meals.
Consider the trail of a Publix "food for the needy" bag starting with the corporate decision to implement the program, to store management deciding what items to include, to clerks in back rooms filling paper bags with food, to generous shoppers purchasing the bags, to Pasco Food Bank volunteers picking them up and, finally, to volunteers delivering the food to the needy.
Think of Sertomans, Rotarians, Sheriff's Department employees and many others fanning out across the county to deliver overflowing boxes of nutritious food and colorfully wrapped presents.
Picture three elderly RV park residents sharing a ham with all the trimmings. Those leftovers will come in handy until their next Social Security payments arrive.
Put yourself in the shoes of a single woman injured in an accident and unable to work. Her food stamp eligibility is expired, but she's still hungry.
Envision the look on a working mother's face as she watches her five children open their gifts. It's been hard to make ends meet since her husband was sentenced to prison. The two huge boxes of food will lighten the financial burden for the next couple of weeks.
These are just a few of the people who benefited from your generosity and compassion. Throughout the community similar scenes were repeated over and over.
Thank you to all of the individuals, businesses, organizations, schools and churches for your financial contributions and donations of food, toys and personal care items. Combined, your efforts made a tremendous difference.
-- Ken Buck, executive director, Pasco Food Bank
Editor: I believe in my heart that every human being has the sense of giving. Sometimes in our lives we come to a crossroad where we make the decision to help someone in need.
Throughout the year and during the Christmas holiday, I have experienced firsthand the gift of giving through Salvation Army volunteers. We call upon you to help us make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. A big challenge it is, but none too big for you. Together, you represent an army that stands armed with compassion, humility and hope.
As one of The Salvation Army's most loyal friends, I hope you realize just how important you are. Thank you for acting with wisdom and compassion. Your time, your generosity and your support ensure that we can make a difference, one meal, one safe night, and one encouraging word at a time. Yes, one person can make a difference. You have.
Thanks to your generous gifts we were able to help 388 families and 965 children, during the holiday season. So many people in this community volunteered to serve long hours by staffing our Christmas Kettles and Angel Tree, stuffing stockings, organizing food drives, packing holiday food boxes and assisting with the distribution. To all of those who helped and who gave, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, your friendship and our prayers. Thank you, and may God bless you and your loved ones in all the days to come.
-- Jeanne Rae Coulter, development coordinator, Salvation Army, West Pasco Corps
Editor: As I sit contemplating the wonders of this holiday season, I am in awe of the goodness of God and the generosity of His people.
With our "Share the Season" program Christian Social Services provided 420 holiday food baskets. Once again this Christmas. we made Wal-Mart's toy department look puny. An abundance of wonderful toys were provided to 587 area children. God is Good! That was hundreds of opportunities to say and to show "Jesus loves you!" to so many that feel unloved and overwhelmed.
From the bottom of my heart I thank each person who made this possible. You are too numerous to name! Thank you volunteers, toy givers, elves, SHARE workers, and financial supporters. Special thanks to First United Methodist Church of Land O'Lakes for allowing us to totally overrun your facility during a very busy week and to all those who graciously altered their schedules to accommodate our flood of food, toys and people.
C.S.S. is so very blessed to have the support of our area churches and the hundreds of families whom they represent. Thank you all.
We are also blessed to be located in such a generous and giving community. Thank you to all of the organizations and businesses that contributed to our holiday efforts. From the littlest scouts to the high school groups; from the realty companies to the naturalists; from the little carolers to the carpet cleaners, you brought joy into homes that otherwise may have had no reason for joy. Thank you.
Please remember that Christian Social Services does not close up shop when a good holiday is had by all. We are there 12 months each and every year, trying (with your help) to make a difference in the lives of these 587 children and their often times disjointed families.
Keep these families and Christian Social Services in your thoughts and prayers as we enter the new year.
Again I say thank you. May God bless us all.
-- Jacquie Petet, executive director
Editor: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an organization that feeds the hungry, clothes those in need of clothing, and houses to the limit of our ability, those in need of same, would like to publicly thank Fr. Felix Ullrich Council, Knights of Columbus, for their support of our organization during this holiday season. They are a shining example of the generosity of Pasco County residents. Their donations will be used to make this holiday season a bit brighter for the indigent among us.
If any kind citizens of this fair county would like to figuratively stand beside us as we assist those less fortunate than ourselves, we are an unbiased receiver of donations. We dispense our funds without regard to race, creed or national origin and that is the manner in which we accept donations. Our address is Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 253, Port Richey, FL 34673-0253.
-- John M. Birmingham, vice president
Editor: Mittye P. Locke Elementary School would like to thank all the donors who participated in giving food, toys, clothes and gift certificates to needy families in our area. Among the contributors were Sun Toyota, Kiwanis Club of Holiday, Radiology Associates, Knights of Columbus, Golden Corral, Sam's Club, Locke's P.L.A.C.E. Program, State Representative Heather Fiorentino, Community Hospital EKG Department, La Casa Grande patrons, Timber Greens Association, Ladies Association Imperial Embassy Condos, Busy B's Imperial Embassy Condos, New Port Richey Garden Club, Linda LaMaire, Ann Richardson and the Questers, Corvette Club, Girl Scout Troop 486, Disabled American Veterans, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Community United Methodist Church Women's Association, Ruth Circle, Mittye P. Locke Staff, parents, students, student council, K-Kids, and many anonymous donors.
-- Dennis K. Taylor, principal, Mittye P. Locke Elementary School, Elfers
Editor: We of Colony Cove and Colony Cove Marine and Reel Club would like to thank the city of New Port Richey for removing the large tree that was blocking the river. Also thanks to Kurt Frazho,Tony Brown and Bob Consolvo who helped in getting the tree out. It was a big help.
-- Bob West, Colony Cove Marine and Reel club