March 2017
Bloomingdale/ FishHawk Edition
Page 3
Sheriff’s Office Partners With Community To Bring Resources To The Homeless
By Amanda Boston
“If anyone has organizations and communimaterial possessions ties together,” explained and sees a brother or Whitney. sister in need but has no The Brandon Elks Lodge, pity on them, how can Brandon Moose Lodge and the love of God be in Salvation Army combined that person?” (1 John forces and resources to dis3:17) On Tuesday, tribute 200 peanut butter and January 31 at Bay Life’s jelly sandwiches, hot meals, Chapel on Martin Luther toiletry bags, blankets and King Blvd, the love of clothing. Bob Blair, an officer God propagated conof the Elks Lodge said, “I am jointly with the spirit of now retired, and my wife and I gratitude as the donate all the time we can to Hillsborough County help out the homeless.” The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police Volunteers Carol Flood, Charlene Chassee, Elisa Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Thirty-eight years ago, Department held a homeless outreach in Seffner, which provided Blair and Julie Ebert dispensed peanut butter and Tampa Police Blair was homeless and individuals with a “one-stop shop” of services and comforts. jelly sandwiches and hot meals to the homeless.. Department (TPD) and sleeping in his car. He held a local community united job, but was unable to afford for a homeless outreach. housing. Thankfully, a co-workThe Chapel’s parker discovered his plight and ing lot temporarily transoffered him room and board. formed into a “one-stop Blair attributed his comeback to shop” of community his co-worker’s kindness and resource tables dispenssupport. He continued, “I know ing clothing, hot meals, what it takes to bring the dignity housing assistance, back to the homeless...That’s health-screenings, vacciwhy I jumped in with both feet. I nations, backpacks, hairget a little misty just seeing the cuts, identification cards, outpouring of help the homeless toiletry bags and Bibles. get at these events.” Joshua Boyer, a deputy from the Homeless Initiative More than 100 homeless The Women’s Resource Center along with community volun- organized The next Homeless the outreach providing more than 100 individuteers distributed clothing to those in need. individuals registered for Initiative outreach is on als with resources and services. healthcare, mental health care, substance services and received necessities. In Tuesday, March 14 from 10 tion,” explained Boyer. abuse help and permanent housing. addition to the abundance of material a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Target Plaza by Randi Whitney, a homeless liaison Joshua Boyer, a deputy with the resources, the atmosphere was fragrant B Downs Blvd. and Fletcher Ave. If Bruce officer for TPD considers herself an urban Homeless Initiative spearheaded the outwith love, encouragement and hope. you or your organization would like to get camper travel agent. “We try to get them In 2010, HCSO began the Homeless reach. “Our main goal is to see the homeinvolved, contact Deputy Boyer at jboy(the homeless) connected with resources. less get off the street. It’s good to give Initiative with only one deputy. Today, the er@hcso.tampa.fl.us. I don’t have housing or resources, but I them clothes and food, but that is just the program consists of five deputies whose For information about the HCSO can help by navigating them to those band-aide. We need to give them the mission is to assist the homeless with Homeless Initiative, visit its Facebook services. We all work together. That’s the services they need for a long-term soluobtaining identification, food and clothing, page at HCSO Homeless Initiative. way to get things done—by bringing
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