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ECHO OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITY CENTER IN RIVERVIEW

By Anika Shah

“This past year has been one of great change and growth for ECHO,” said Director Eleanor Saunders.

The local charity added two full-time advocates to its team.

“An ECHO advocate is a cross between a social worker and a life coach,” she explained. “They help our neighbors secure afordable housing, financial assistance and connect them with a variety of community supports and programs.”

ECHO also expanded its Riverview outreach center to include an on-site job coach, advocate and an ESL class, and the new thrift store exceeded all first-year expectations.

“We were recognized as a Best in the Bay for our category,” said Saunders.

“The support from the community has been strong and 100 percent of the net proceeds from the store support our emergency food/clothing, advocacy and back-towork programs.”

Original Story Printed July 2021.

ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization)

opened a new Opportunity Center at its Riverview branch on June 17. The center will provide job coaching, GED help in English and Spanish, financial workshops and one-on-one tutoring for locals in crisis. Dianne Horncastle, Opportunity Center director, “We are looking to help people stabilize, however needed,” she ECHO of Riverview opened a new Opportunity Center, ofering classes such as sewing in addition to job fairs and other ways to help. said. The center helps those displaced in the job market due to education level, technological limitations or the COVID-19 pandemic through multiple facets of the employment process. The organization is run entirely by volunteers like teachers, lawyers and HR managers that use their various skills sets to teach classes on topics ranging from finance to social media marketing. The center is also sponsored by Bank of America, which not only provides funding but also hosts workshops, such as mock interview, and ofers a pathway to work at the company itself. This is ECHO’s second opportunity center, after the Brandon location on Parsons Ave., and comes in addition to many other programs ofered, including a food pantry and thrift shop. If you are interested in the programs, please email Horncastle at opportunity@ echofl.org, contact her at 540-9880 or connect on Facebook @ECHOBrandon. ECHO of Riverview is located on 7807 Capitano St. and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER RUNS FOR BRANDON HONORARY MAYOR

By Kate Quesada

FishHawk resident and local Business Owner Melissa Canfield was named honorary mayor in July after campaigning by holding events and raising funds for weeks. She presented checks from her fundraising to the charities she ran to benefit. Raining Cats and Dogs Shelter & Sanctuary and Rotary’s Camp Florida each received $16,612.50; Canfield’s sponsoring 501(c)(3), the Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce, received $4,430; and The Community Roundtable, which organizes the event, received $6,645.

Original Story Printed June 2021.

One of Brandon’s most well-loved traditions is kicking of next month. The annual Honorary Mayor’s Race, which is made up of fundraising opportunities for local charities, will take place throughout June with only one candidate, Melissa Canfield, former co-owner of HiTech Automotive.

Canfield, who has lived in Lithia since 2001, will be raising funds for Camp Rotary, an outdoor camp ofering special needs children a traditional summer camp experience, and Raining Cats and Dogs Animal Shelter, which cares for local pets that are sick or have been abandoned in order to rehabilitate and rehome them to loving families in our area. “I am super excited to work hard for these two amazing charities this year,” said Canfield. “Two amazing organizations that I am proud to be associated with. Kids and pets, two things we all love. I especially appreciate the fact that each organization has a specific need which we are working to fulfill.” Canfield’s goal is to help Camp Rotary repair boards and railings along its docks. “This is necessary so children can safely access the water area, and

Lithia resident Melissa Canfield, former that is something owner of HiTech Automotive, is running for we can help with diHonorary Mayor of Brandon. rectly,” she said. The funds she hIn order to raise the funds, Canfield has organized a number of events that will take place throughout June. “There will also be a bowling tournament, bunco night, Cruella movie night and I have even heard of a potential Elvis sighting,” said Canfield, who is planning to end the month with a strictly online bidding auction from Wednesday, June 30 to Friday, July 2. For more, search for ‘Melissa4BrandonMayor’ on Facebook or visit www.valricofishhawk.org.