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United Way funds big termite tenting job
By NATALIE BAUGHMAN © St. Petersburg Times, published November 5, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- The United Way is better known for charity work than pest control. But the termite-infested James B. Sanderlin Center was in need, and what it needed was to be tented for termites. So the United Way provided about $10,000 last week for the job. The termite problem had forced city officials to consider condemning the facility. The money came at a critical time for the center, at 2335 22nd Ave. S, which has had to repair a leaky roof, rotted wood and electrical damage over the past few months to stay in business, said Barbara Pacheco, president of the United Way of Pinellas County. Termite tents were placed around the 25,000-square-foot facility Monday and were removed Tuesday afternoon. The center has been closed all week. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday. "The Sanderlin Center provides so many valuable services to the community that we felt we needed to step up and help them out," Pacheco said. "We want it to survive for years to come." The Sanderlin center houses organizations including a day care center, a police substation, a community resource center, a graduate equivalency program, a health clinic and music classes. The center offers all services free of charge. For 10 years, the center was owned by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg. In August, the diocese transferred the building, worth $1-million, to its current owners, a not-for-profit corporation named James B. Sanderlin Family Service Center Inc. The sale price was $200,000, but the diocese will offer a $20,000 grant each year for the next 10 years to pay off the mortgage. Some of the center's financial problems stemmed from its affiliation with the diocese because it could not use public funding to repair the building. But since the center has separated itself from the church and become a non-profit organization, it has received many donations like the one from the United Way. Bonded Roofers in Tampa has offered to replace the deteriorated roof. GAF Corp. has donated some roofing shingles. Home Depot has given labor and materials. Companies including Cox Lumber, Credian and Tech Data also have offered money and services. The center also receives an annual $203,000 grant from the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board. In previous years, the money had been allocated toward operating expenses and could not be used for repairs. Pacheco said the widespread support for the Sanderlin Center from both companies and individuals proves that it is vital to the community and must be saved. "So many people have given right out of their pockets to keep this great resource around," she said. "We all would hate to see it go." Sanderlin Center officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
