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March 2017 Volume 14, Issue 3 Ph: 657-2418 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Feed The Bay Outreach Helps Fill Local Food Pantries March 26
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C O M M U N I T Y
Local Y Volunteers Honored For Service At 2017 Community Impact Dinner
By Kathy L. Collins
By Amanda Boston
Area residents who volunteer their time, talent and treasure to the neighborhood Y were recognized at the Annual Community Impact Dinner. Local Y Volunteers of the Year included Mike Hurlburt from North Brandon Y, Michelle Smith from the Campo Family Y, Robert Lindsey from the Big Bend Y and Larry Eaton from Camp Cristina.
The Tampa YMCA 2017 Community Impact Dinner, is an opportunity for attendees to learn about the Tampa YMCA's real impact on the community. In addition, awards are given to dignitaries and Volunteers of the Year from each of the Tampa YMCA's 15 branches are recognized. From the North Brandon Y, Mike Hurlburt, was selected as Volunteer of the Year. Hurlburt is a past board chair and just stepped down from nine years of service. Hurlburt was one of the driving forces behind the Y's Lopez Exceptional Student Center Christmas Project. Children from the center receive Christmas presents thanks to the efforts of volunteers such as Hurlburt. The Volunteer of the Year from the Campo Family Y is Michelle Smith. As Chair of the Youth Development Committee, Smith was instrumental in getting a large courtyard completely renovated. According to Dwight Kerr, Development Director, "The committee had a dream to convert a dirty unused space into an area which can be used for exercise, sports and picnics." Kerr added, "The committee had a dream and Smith helped lead the efforts." From the new Big Bend Y, the Volunteer of the Year is Robert Lindsey. He was chair of the Volunteer Board and helped to get it off the ground and make it fully functioning. Kerr said, "Lindsey was a true leader. The board raised and awarded $13,000 in scholarships." The Big Bend Y opened in 2015 and offers youth soccer, basketball and summer
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agency is ready to serve with a replenished pantry. Melanie Langston, the event coordinator at Bay Life Church in Brandon has led the charge of this operation since 2011. “I fell in love with Feed The Bay the first time I saw it simply because it was so laser focused and Feed The Bay is an so easy for the annual community-wide whole family to outreach where local get involved. It churches and business- Feed The Bay is a multi-church effort with is a teachable es team up with Publix hundreds of volunteers uniting to feed the moment. It is hungry. Super Markets to collect simply going thousands of pounds of food for local and being the hands and feet of Christ,” food agencies throughout the Tampa said Langston. Bay area. This year, the event takes The one-day event yields instant place on Sunday, March 26 from 9 a.m. and visible results of replenished to 2 p.m. with participation from 34 pantries in food agencies across the churches, 14 food agencies and 15 Bay, but it also spawns long-standing Publix Super Markets. For more than a desirable effects in other ways. decade, this event has stocked the Cheryl Hickman, founder and execpantry shelves of local food agencies utive director of the Women’s Resource such as the Women’s Resource Center, Center of Tampa explained, “ We norECHO and the United Food Bank. mally have close to 100 volunteers that So how does it work? The coordihelp on that day. We help mostly single nated effort offers a simple yet effective parent moms get reestablished with process to purchase the food items. employment, housing and healthcare. Participating shoppers are provided a Once they (the volunteers) understand grocery list of requested items. that we don’t just need food but also Immediately after the shopper purchasclothes, household items, furniture, they es the food, volunteers waiting outside begin to see the whole picture.” load the donated food onto a semi-truck. Volunteers must be at least 14 At 2 p.m., the loaded food truck sets out years old, but children are welcome to to a predetermined agency, where participate alongside their parents. For another group of volunteers is waiting to more information or to sign up as a volunload and sort the food onto the pantry unteer, please visit www.feedthebay.org shelves. or contact Melanie Langston at By the next morning, the food mlangston@baylife.org.
Photo By Tamas Mondovics
Guests walk by a Ferris wheel as they make their way through the Midway at the Florida Strawberry Festival held earlier this month in Plant City. This year’s year event offered more than 80 rides games and attractions to the thousands of daily visitors. The festival began in 1930 as a way to celebrate the annual strawberry harvest.
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camp. The Volunteer of the Year from Tampa YMCA's Camp Cristina is Larry Eaton. According to Mark Battig, the Executive Director for Camp Cristina, “Larry puts the camp and its needs at the forefront of all that he does for us. His willingness and ability to serve others is evident in his actions.” In addition to honoring volunteers who go above and beyond for their neighborhood Y, the Tampa YMCA awarded the Community Impact Award to former Hillsborough County School Board member, Doretha Edgecomb. She was recognized for her dedication and positive impact on Tampa Bay residents. For more information visit www.tampaymca.org.
In This Issue RESERVOIR SIREN TESTING................PG 2 CHALKLINES .......................................PG 7 WATER SAFETY...................................PG 8 EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 SUMMER CAMPS......................PGS 34‐38 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 40 SPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 55‐58
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