Valrico
27 C E L E B R A T I N G
August 2020 1 8
Y E A R S
O F
Volume 17, Issue 8 Ph: 657-2418
P U B L I S H I N G
P O S I T I V E
Free Admission For Veterans. See Page 9
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
A Kid’s Place Continues Operations Despite COVID-19 Worries
Opportunities For Building Local Youth Available Through Mentorship Program
Forever dedicatmore comfortable ed to serving chilwith engaging in dren in need, A Kid’s local businesses Place is transitioning while maintaining from its summer social distancing, quarantine practices local nonprofits like A to a fall, school-time Kid’s Place are seeschedule. But ing a return of overCOVID-19 has not all communal supmade that easy. port. “The pandemic has Recently, several affected us in a bunch of local businesses, such different ways,” said the as Kona Ice and Mission CEO of A Kid’s Place, BBQ, came together to Brad Gregory. provide the kids with A Kid’s Place has food and treats made seen its children isolated outside of the kitchen. to the campus exclusiveOver the last few Despite the pandemic, A Kid’s ly, with few options to months, the Hillsborough Place in Valrico is helping get local children ready for school venture away from the County Community this month. area, and only superBlock Grant has also vised visits to parks and open areas to allowed the home to spruce up its camensure social distancing. pus. According to Gregory, it has been For the community, Gregory sugchallenging for the team to convince gests everyone remain “smart and about 60 kids to stay inside and on-site. respectful” in maintaining safety stan“Keeping the children on-site excludards. He encourages residents to sively also creates a negative emotional spend at local businesses, where a impact,” Gregory said, adding that it crerecent charity contribution consisted of ates feelings of irritability and anxiety. community members buying meals at However, there is a plan for that. local restaurants and directing those As summer comes to a close and meals to A Kid’s Place. schools are looking at the reopening, A Despite recent economic struggles, Kid’s Place is looking at getting their kids including cancellations of several ready to move back to a school-year fundraising opportunities, A Kid’s Place, schedule. To combat the emotional strain Gregory said, is remaining open and that locked up children often get, ranging will continue to remain open with the from young children to teenagers, safety of its children kept in mind at the Gregory said school stands as a steady highest regard. “We’re not shutting consistency that helps them maintain a down.” healthy mentality; “a major emotional facTo learn more about A Kid’s Place tor is school.” and to help with donations of needed As the community moves towards items, visit www.akidsplacetb.org or call reopening and residents are becoming 381-3839.
The Hillsborough more and is entering her Education Foundation senior year at Durant (HEF) is offering resiHigh School. Lenegar dents a wonderful opporpreviously mentored tunity to change lives. Deisy’s sister, who is now The foundation is looking in college, and their for 100 adults to mentor cousin, who attends students, virtually or in Strawberry Crest High person, for the 2020-21 School. HEF mentor Jazheel Lenegar school year. “I was able to get an and her mentee, Deisy. Deisy “In the last quarter of amazing mentor. With her attends Durant High School. the 2019-20 school year, guidance and experience, the pandemic inspired HEF to develop I’ve been able to make good choices for creative ways to continue to support the myself,” Deisy said. “I get to talk to her, 359 students in its Take Stock in Children tell her about things that are on my mind. mentoring and scholarship program, one Just having her around and having someof the largest mentoring programs in one who is there and wants you to Tampa Bay,” said Kendra Oestreich, HEF achieve your goals is pretty amazing. I director of communications. “Lacking the just think it’s a great resource for everystructure school provides, students needone. There are people who want you to ed guidance from their mentors more succeed in life.” than ever. With HEF’s continued support, Take Stock in Children, funded by the 100 percent of the seniors in the mentorFlorida Department of Education, foundaing program graduated with a diploma.” tions and donors, was established in Mentors must be 18 years or older 1995 and is celebrating 25 years of sucand have a high school diploma. They cess this year. are asked to complete a 90-minute menFor information, visit educationfountor training and make a minimum of onedation.com/Mentoring or contact Anna school-year commitment. They must also Corman at acorman@educationfoundapass a criminal background check, follow tion.com or 463-4283. all Take Stock in Children policies and procedures and abide by all Hillsborough County Public Schools policies and procedures. In This Issue Students enter the program in eighth grade and, in addition to other criteria, must qualify for free or reduced-price ECHO BOUTIQUE...................... ........PG 3 school lunch or qualify based on income. RECYCLE COLLECTION.......................PG 5 Jazheel Lenegar, supervisor for academic programs at Hillsborough County ADOPT A TEACHER ...........................PG 7 Public Schools, has been a mentor with VENOM/BH3 WINS FOR BRADLEY..PG 10 HEF since 2015. “I go back to when I was a student LIVING IN COVID......................PGS 14‐15 and having those adults who showed an EYE ON BUSINESS....................PGS 17‐18 interest in me were my cheerleaders. It helps to have an extra person in their corMOSQUITO FISH.............................PG 21 ner and listening to them, giving them a HOPE FORE HER .............................PG 25 different perspective. It’s really great to share my life with [Deisy],” said Lenegar. READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE Deisy, one of Lenegar’s mentees, www.ospreyobserver.com joined the program in 2018 as a sopho-
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Osprey Observer summer interns go virtual this summer. Interns learned to interview and write stories during COVID season. See article on page 26.
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