12 minute read
Wake Up America
4 | The Columns Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • November 2019 • 941.349.0194 • www.TWHOA.net PART OF THE DAY OF CARING CHARITIES
A few weeks ago, my husband, John, and I rode with two of the volunteers of Wake Up America. They had just come from Pepperidge Farm in Port Charlotte. They had picked up about forty bread trays with bread that would have been tossed in the garbage. We stopped at our local Publix and picked up more food items that would have been tossed in the garbage, if Wake Up America didn’t pick it up. From there we went to St. Vincent de Paul off Edison in Ft. Myers. There were volunteers unloading our truck, along with our two drivers. There were three other trucks unloading food too. The people that would be receiving this food were already lining up. There were many older folks, women with small children, and some men. And, but for the grace of God, it could have been me. It was 8:00 AM. That was the end of the volunteer day for Wake Up America for that day. It was a very good start to my day.
This great organization was started in 1992 by Norm Poitres, who still lives in Lake Fairways. Wake Up America is a tax exempt, private nonpro t organization, founded to help eliminate food waste. Daily, grocery stores throw away thousands of pounds of nourishing, high quality and edible food. The waste occurs with unsold produce, perishables, products with outdated shelf life, and day-old bakery goods. Unfortunately, even as the number of hungry and homeless people increases, the amount of government funds is diminishing. Neither social service agencies or small suppliers have the time nor the resources to fully develop alternative food sources. Wake Up America is lling this void with a network of volunteers.
Wake Up America has been established to act as the link between the supplier with leftover product, and the nearby agency that can best use or distribute the donation. Wake Up America is primarily a transportation network, recruiting and organizing volunteers who pick up food from donors and deliver it to agencies that feed the hungry.
So, why am I making a report on Wake Up America?? Because you have been donating to it for over twenty years. I wanted to make sure your very generous donations went to a worthy cause. John and I were very impressed and quite sure your donations have been very well spent. All the money they get from Day of Caring goes to their two vans and trailers for gas, insurance, and maintenance. They pick up food seven days a week, taking Christmas and Easter off, from six Publix stores and Pepperidge Farm in Port Charlotte. They have sixteen different places where the food is distributed. Their only other means of income, is Pine Lakes Men’s and Women’s groups and individuals. They have forty volunteers, mostly from Lake Fairways and Pine Lakes. None from Tara Woods. They could always use more volunteers, especially in the summer. This is easy volunteer work, just a few hours in the morning. They are more than welcome to have you ride along to see them in action, or better yet, volunteer to help!!
Chris Olson WHAT IS WAKE UP AMERICA 18 | The Columns Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • April 2019 • 941.349.0194 • www.twhoa.net Shift HELP ? / Bob He� – (239) 215-2050 I Come to You! Tech Problems bob@suntechins�tute.com Our Services Whether you need help with your computer, smartphone, or automating your home — SunTech can help. Learn to make the best use of your Phone, Tablet, Smart Speaker & Computer! — $30/hr. + $10/home visit We’ll help you gure out what to buy, set it up & show you how to make the most of it. NEW—Help to Automate Your Home! Apple & Android Tablets & Phones Windows, Mac & Chromebooks Virus Removal & PC Tune-Ups Wireless Network & Internet Help Printer Setup & Support In Home Training & Support The Pickleball Team will be sponsoring a “Spring Carnival” event on Saturday, April 20th, at the Clubhouse. The evening will include carnival games, light snacks, music, dancing and a social event. BYOB. The event will run from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:00 PM. We hope everyone can join us for an evening of fun and companionship. Please see the poster in the Clubhouse. If you have a question, contact: Diane Gibson, 603-244-0536 AEROBICS Get your body moving in the Clubhouse with Richard Simmons!! Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 AM: - CARDIO 8:00 - 8:25 AM -TONING 8:25-8:40 AM (bring weights or water bottles) - FLOOR 8:40 - 8:50 AM (bring a mat) - BALANCE 8:50-9:00 AM Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:45 PM: - CARDIO 12:45 -1:10 PM - TONING 1:10-1:25 PM (bring weights or water bottles) - FLOOR 1:25-1:35 PM (bring a mat) - BALANCE 1:35-1:45 PM Come for all the sessions or one of the segments that you are interested in. For more information contact Lynn Makia 513-476-2465 or Barb Simonson 541-840-4430 PICKLEBALL TEAM Attention All Tara Woods Golfers: There will be a golf meeting at the Clubhouse on Saturday, April 27th, at 9:30 AM, to discuss the upcoming Golf League. Please bring any questions to the meeting for discussion. Look forward to seeing everyone there. Larry Baldwin • 913-945-0016 GOLF
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Be Creative When Withdrawing from Retirement Accounts
Like many people, you may spend decades putting money into your IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. But eventually you will want to take this money out – if you must start withdrawing some of it. How can you make the best use of these funds?
To begin with, here’s some background: When you turn 70 ½, you need to start withdrawals – called required minimum distributions, or RMDs – from your traditional IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 457(b) or 403(b). (A Roth IRA is not subject to these rules; you can essentially keep your account intact for as long as you like.) You can take more than the RMD, but if you don’t take at least the minimum (which is based on your account balance and your life expectancy), you’ll generally be taxed at 50% of the amount you should have taken – so don’t forget these withdrawals.
Here, then, is the question: What should you do with the RMDs? If you need the entire amount to help support your lifestyle, there’s no issue – you take the money and use it. But what if you don’t need it all? Keeping in mind that the withdrawals are generally fully taxable at your personal income tax rate, are there some particularly smart ways in which you can use the money to help your family or, possibly, a charitable organization?
Here are a few suggestions:
Help your grown children with their retirement accounts. Your grown children may not always be able to afford to “max out” on their IRAs. You might want to help them with any excess funds from your own retirement accounts. You can give $15,000 per year, per recipient, without incurring any gift taxes – an amount far higher than the current annual IRA contribution limit of $6,000 (or $7,000 for individuals 50 or older). Help your grandchildren pay for college. You might want to contribute to an investment specifically designed to build assets for college. A financial professional can help you choose which investments might be most appropriate. Of course, if your grandchildren are already in college, you are free to simply write a check to the school to help cover tuition and other expenses. Help support a charitable organization. Due to recent changes in tax laws, many individuals now claim a standard deduction, rather than itemizing. As a result, there’s less of an incentive, from a tax standpoint, for people to contribute to charitable organizations. • • •
But if you’d still like to support a charitable group and gain potential tax benefits, you might want to consider moving some, or all, of your required distributions from your IRA to a charity. You can transfer up to $100,000 from your IRA in this type of qualified charitable distribution, thus meeting your RMD requirements without adding to your taxable income. Furthermore, this move might keep you in a lower tax bracket. (Before making this transfer, though, you will need to consult with your tax advisor.)
Your RMDs can contribute greatly to your retirement income, but, as we’ve seen, they can do even more than that – so use them wisely.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice.
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
6/19
We will be starting the “toy drive” on October 28 th , in our Clubhouse. The North Fort Myers Fire Department will pick up all toys on Wednesday, December 11 th , to distribute them to the needy children in our area. All toys, clothing and gifts, should be unwrapped, and they can also use wrapping paper!! Thank you for your past generosity!! Linda Hoos 941-713-4868 and Frank Millette 239-543-2954 THE BIKEMAN’S CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
It is once again time to begin collecting donations for our Annual Fire ghters & Paramedics Holiday Dinners. These members of our North Fort Myers Fire Department do so much for our Tara Woods Community, that it gives us great pleasure to give back to them during the holidays. As we did last year, we will use your donations to provide Gift Certi cates from Publix for the three shifts who work December 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, so that they can purchase Holiday dinners for their shifts. We will accept donations at Tuesday Bingo and at Saturday Morning Coffee, starting Tuesday, November 19 th . You can also call Frank Millette or Linda Hoos and we will be happy to pick up your donation. Make any checks payable to “cash”. Please give generously to those who are always there for us in our time of need. Thank you.
Frank Millette: 239-543-2954 Linda Hoos: 941-713-4868 ANNUAL HOLIDAY COLLECTION
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The next Orientation for new homeowners and renters will be held on Saturday, November 9 th , in the Clubhouse Living Room. The meeting will begin at 10:15 AM. All new homeowners and renters are encouraged to attend. This short meeting is lled with important information about our community and the surrounding area. A packet containing important, interesting, and helpful information will be given to all who attend. We look forward to seeing you.
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