RIVERVIEW KEY CLUB

CHAMBER VOLUNTEERS PREPARE YMCA CAMP CRISTINA FOR SUMMER

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The YMCA Camp and support Cristina, a popular themselves and Riverview summer others.” camp location, is According to looking better this Caetano, YMCA month thanks to Camp Cristina’s some local volun- most popular teers. programs and

Members of the activities in2021 Greater Riv- clude summer erview Chamber of camp, swim lesCommerce (GRCC) sons, birthday recently joined the parties, famTampa Bay Cham- ily night out, ber of Commerce youth sports, for a day of paint- after-school ing, staining, build- care, group exing, pressure wash- ercise, archery, ing and cleaning at horse riding, YMCA Camp Cristina arts and crafts, so that kids can enjoy a covered basthe upcoming sum- ketball court, mer camp season. a ropes course,

Camp Cristina is corporate team a 55-acre outdoor building and center which hosts more. day camps for ris- Camp Crising first through tina is located 10th-graders. “The directly across natural world provides an almost foolproof place to create Volunteers from the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce recently volunteered at the YMCA Camp Cristina to prepare the location for summer. from the new Riverview Public Library on new memories, gain a new vocabulary of Balm Riverview Rd. For more information, experiences and new friends to share them you can visit their website at www.tamwith,” said GRCC Communications Coordi- paymca.org/locations/ymca-camp-cristina nator Jef Caetano. “Camp Cristina is more or you can reach them by phone at 677than an outdoor experience. It is where 8400. kids can build friendships and self-confi- To learn more about the Greater Riverdence throughout the summer that will last view Chamber of Commerce, located at a lifetime. It also provides a place where 6152 Delancey Station St., Ste. 205 in Rivcampers can feel accepted, trusted and erview, call 234-5944 or visit www.riversupported, which enables them to trust viewchamber.com.

RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB TOP IN FLORIDA

By Amy Schechter

Riverview High School Key Club members celebrate their accomplishment.

In partnership with local Kiwanis Clubs, Key Clubs seek to inspire the next generation of servant leaders, and it is evident one club has made a positive impact on the local community despite adversity.

Out of over 300 clubs in Florida, the Riverview High School Key Club was named the 2021 Florida Club of the Year at the annual District Leadership Conference. Led by faculty sponsors Gina Vandenburg and Mackenzie Clark, its members boasted over 3,000 hours of community service. It is no small feat in a post-pandemic world where in-person events are limited.

“These kids knocked it out of the park,” Vandenburg said. “They thought of all kinds of socially distanced service, such as recognizing the eforts of teachers on Instagram, collecting books and writing notes to the children who would receive them, writing letters to homebound seniors, writing encouraging messages to the troops, cleaning local beaches and participating in food and clothing drives with ECHO when able. They never stopped helping others, even if they couldn’t be there in person.”

Clark is so proud of their kids.

“Winning the top club has been our biggest goal since we went to our first District Leadership Conference five years ago. Our club has pushed ourselves to the max of helping out

our community,” she said.

There was never any question that this way of life would change, even with the challenges COVID-19 placed on them.

She and Vandenburg wanted to recognize two-year Key Club President Jamila Cox as an integral part of their success.

“She led our goal of keeping active with online activities and she dug deep from May 2020 to the present to keep the club active,” said Clark.

In fact, she was one of the top five club presidents in the entire state. It’s clear she embodies Key Club values in being a student-leader whose care and character are evident in the way Cox seeks to leave her community better than when she found it.

The Riverview Key Club’s example goes to show that when life throws you a curveball, you can still hit a home run. Through creativity and an undying passion for service, these students have brought positive change to those around them. For more information on Key Clubs, visit www.keyclub.org. For more information on Riverview High School, located at 11311 Boyette Rd., visit www.hillsboroughschools.org/ riverviewhs.

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THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF TAMPA BAY HOSTS A FATHER’S DAY EVENT AT CENTER PLACE

By Libby Hopkins

The mission of the the Brandon comDown Syndrome As- munity is by hosting sociation of Tampa monthly events at Bay (DSATB) is to the organization’s educate and advo- new home at Cencate for individuals ter Place Fine Arts blessed with a lit- & Civic Association tle something extra in Brandon. “Having with purpose, pas- Center Place as our sion and utmost in- new home is truly a tegrity. blessing,” Woodard

Craig Woodard said. “This allows us is DSATB’s direc- Te mission of the Down Syndrome Association of to let the communitor and president. Tampa Bay (DSATB) is to educate and advocate ty know we are here In 2014, Woodard for individuals blessed with a little something for them and we and his wife, Chris- extra with purpose, passion and utmost integrity. want to help.” tine, had their son, DSATB will be hosting a Father’s Day event on DSATB will be Craig Jr., who was Sunday, June 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. hosting a Father’s born with Down Day event at Center syndrome. This blessing made Place on Sunday, June 20 from 11 him want to get involved in a.m.-1 p.m. “It’s going to be a readvocating and spreading ally fun event for the family with awareness. arts and crafts,” Woodard said.

In January 2018, Wood- “Also, this event is open to anyone ard, along with six other who wants to make something for like-minded individuals,de- their father or for someone who cided to start his own organization, the is a father figure in their life. It will be a Down Syndrome Association of Tampa really fun day for everyone.” Bay. “Our early success has been over- Woodard and his team have been hostwhelming as the families in the Tampa ing monthly events at Center Place. They Bay area continue to show us their sup- recently held a family movie night at Cenport,” Woodard said. “The birth of Craig ter Place as well as a Mother’s Day arts Jr. has been one of the best things to and craft event. “We are planning on havhappen to my wife and me. Advocacy and ing monthly events at Center Place to weleducation have become my life and I will come families and to have them get to know continue to spread awareness not only in DSATB,” Woodard said. the Tampa Bay area, but also throughout To learn more about DSATB, visit www. the country.” dsatb.org. Center Place Fine Arts & Civic

One of the ways Woodard and his team Association is located at 619 Vonderburg at DSATB are spreading awareness in Dr., Ste. B in Brandon.

MEALS ON WHEELS FOR KIDS EXPANDS TO BRANDON, PROGRESS VILLAGE, PALM RIVER & RIVERVIEW

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Tampa Bay Net- dren and famiwork to End Hunger lies. Routes take (TBNEH), a tri-coun- about 60 minty leader in hunger utes to complete. relief, research and At the core program develop- of this Meals ment, is now deliver- On Wheels proing Meals On Wheels gram is nutrifor Kids Tampa Bay tious food delivered to (MOW4Kids) in the homes of children Brandon, Progress and their families. The Village, Palm Riv- program provides meals er and Riverview in Tampa Bay Network to End is now deliver- and shelf-stable grocerHillsborough County. ing Meals On Wheels for Kids Tampa Bay in ies, including produce, MOW4Kids delivers lunchtime meals to Brandon, Progress Village, Palm River and Riverview in Hillsborough County. as resources allow. Children may experience an children who depend on school meals and increase in overall nutrition, food security are at home when school is out of session and feelings of social connectedness from or when learning remotely. Deliveries take volunteers stopping by. place out of ECHO in Riverview. Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger is

The Network’s innovative MOW4Kids pro- committed to ending hunger in Tampa Bay gram, the first program of its kind, launched by bringing people together to find solutions March 2020. MOW4Kids, was developed to that eliminate barriers, increase access and serve children, 18 years or younger, with knowledge and expand the amount of nutrimeals delivered to their home by volunteers tious food available. TBNEH has over 350 when school is out of session or when learn- members and serves a tri-county area— ing remotely. MOW4Kids is an alternative Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. option for kids that are not able to access It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency and relies meal distribution sites; and/or 2) kids that on its community for support. have difculty accessing food pantries. The To receive free meals delivered to your program currently serves areas throughout home, visit www.mow4kids.org or call Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. 344-5837. To sign up to volunteer, please

Volunteer are needed each week to help visit https://networktoendhunger.org/volpack boxes of food from ECHO in Riverview. unteer/. Volunteers with level 2 background checks The Network is currently accepting doare needed to help deliver Meals On Wheels nations at www.networktoendhunger.org for Kids on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- to help support the MOW4Kids program. days starting at 10 a.m. Volunteers drive A donation of just $20 will provide a week their own vehicles to deliver shelf stable of Meals On Wheels for Kids deliveries to boxes of food and cold meal packs to chil- children in need.