Brandon/Winthrop
23 C E L E B R A T I N G
May 2020 Volume 15 Issue 5 Ph: 657-2418 1 8
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
P O S I T I V E
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Kiwanis Club Supports Two Local Nonprofits With Matching Donation Program
Homebound Residents Receive Home-Cooked Meals From Greater Brandon Meals On Wheels
those in our With a community commitment to maybe we ending childcould spur hood hunger them to give and improving $20, $50, nutrition for $100 or children, the more,” Daigle Kiwanis Club said. “Then of Greater we could Brandon is increase our sponsoring a impact.” fundraiser to Daigle, support two The matching donation program is just one of many the club’s local nonprofinitiatives the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon hosts its working to throughout the year to fight childhood food insecurity foundation president, also address both and improve nutrition for children. said that while issues. many nonprofits The organiare continuing zation is proto do their best moting a matchto service ing fundraiser clients, for ECHO and resources are stretched thin as Seeds of Hope. ECHO’s misdonations slow with a number sion is to assist Hillsborough of people in the community County residents in crises with finding themselves out of work. emergency food and clothing “Just like many other nonas well as access to programs profits, their resources have that may help them find stability been stretched to the breakin life. Seeds of Hope works to ing point,” he said. “Cash provide various forms of assisdonations are way down and tance to local residents in need. their pool of volunteers has The idea is simple, the group shrunk.” will match donations given to The matching donation the two organizations up to fundraiser runs until Sunday, $5,000. May 31. The two organizations will split Mike Daigle, a member of the the matching funds once the campaign Kiwanis Club, said the club wanted to ends. To participate, go to www.branfind a way to make its donation grow donkiwanis.org and look for ‘Support and have a greater impact. He said the Our Community Projects’ near the botclub made an immediate donation of tom of the homepage. $2,500 to each organization, then The website also has more informaannounced that it would donate matchtion about the Kiwanis Club of Greater ing dollars up to another $5,000. Brandon, its programs, mission and ini“Rather than just donate $10,000, we decided that if we could connect with tiatives.
There is a live alone, and small army of volfor many of unteers who them, the permeet every son delivering Monday. Reveille the meal is often is early in the the only person kitchen at they will see that Westminster day.” Eklund Church of also said that Brandon. The the program is objective must be truly a mission Hillary’s Helpers, back row (L-R): Martin Murphy, of many hearts accomplished Jan Leathers, Susan Friederichsen, Pastor Wes and many before 14:00 Holland, Geraldine Campbell and Maribel Fox. hours (2 p.m. Front row (L-R): Hilary Eklund, Jack Holloway, hands. Hillary Allen, Richard Miller and JoEllen Miller. Westminster civilian time) that day. Its mission never changes: to prePresbyterian donates by providing the pare and deliver nourishing mid-days kitchen, paper goods, electricity, utensils meals on Mondays to those in the and pastor-power. Brandon community to enrich the indeAlthough not associated with a pendent lives of homebound residents. national organization, Greater Brandon The ‘code name’ of this operation is Meals on Wheels started in 1976 with Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels, Inc. three churches and has grown to 18 There are many individuals on this churches dedicated to providing hot team ensuring its success, like Jack meals five days a week for homebound Holloway, route coordinator, who mainpeople unable to prepare their own tains the weekly deliveries. However, home-cooked meals. Not even COVIDmany suggest Hillary Allen, chief chef, 19 deterred Hillary’s Helpers from their should be given the honorary title of serMonday mission. Through established geant major for achieving ‘mission guidelines, clients are screened in their accomplished’ each week. Volunteer homes to verify need. To apply or for Hilary Eklund came up with an idea to information on donation opportunities, give Allen special recognition for donating visit www.brandonmealsonwheels.com. so much of her time and heart. Recently, Allen was surprised as each kitchen volunteer was presented with a unique uniInThis Issue form…an apron with ‘Hillary’s Helpers’ embroidered on it by volunteer JoEllen Miller. PARADE CANCELLED ..........................PG 3 Although Westminster Church on FRONT PORCH PHOTOS .....................PG 4 Lumsden Rd. is bustling with activity each Monday as dedicated volunteers prepare ALL PRO DADS....................................PG 5 approximately 100 meals, it is a complex HISTORY‐BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL...PG 6 and well-executed operation. Allen is in charge of planning each week’s menu DAKIN DAIRY FARMS..........................PG 7 and purchases the food usually on CHALKLINES....................................PG 10 Sundays. Pastor Wes Holland picks up donated bread from Panera Bread also DISTRICT STORY TIME ....................PG 23 on Sundays. Normally, 10 ‘kitchen crew’ OSCAR MAYER WEINERMOBILE .....PG 24 volunteers arrive early at the church to prepare the food, then another 10 drivers READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE transport the meals to those in need. www.ospreyobserver.com According to Eklund, “Fifty-nine percent of home-delivered meal recipients
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ECRWSS EDDM Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Gwen Rollings
DRIVE THRU OPEN Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA is pleased to announce a $50,000 gift from United Way Suncoast. The emergency funds are part of a more than $1.2 million of COVID-19 emergency assistance being distributed to human services agencies across the Florida Suncoast to support housing/shelter, food, childcare & more. See Page 12 for full story.