• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Toys for tots – Head elf has plans to help needy kids

January 6, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Bob Loring attacks poverty in Pasco and Hillsborough head-on

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

PASCO COUNTY — Toys for Tots of East Pasco has given tens of thousands of toys to needy children in central and east Pasco County since it started in the early 1990s.

TFTEP distributes the toys to kids in all of central and east Pasco, and to children in Hillsborough County if their zip code crosses into Pasco.

Bob Loring is the coordinator for TFTEP and is known as the head elf. The Laker and Lutz News recently talked with Loring about the 2009 toy drive and other groups that help needy families in Pasco and Hillsborough.

Hundreds of parents received toys for their children on Dec. 19 at the Toys for Tots of East Pasco Wesley Chapel distribution center. Every child who was registered with TFTEP — a record 4,314 — received toys for Christmas. Special to The Laker/Lutz News.
Hundreds of parents received toys for their children on Dec. 19 at the Toys for Tots of East Pasco Wesley Chapel distribution center. Every child who was registered with TFTEP — a record 4,314 — received toys for Christmas. Special to The Laker/Lutz News.

The Laker and Lutz News: How many children were helped during the 2009 Toys for Tots drive in east Pasco?

Bob Loring: We now count 4,313 registered children fully served. And that, sir, is a new record for TFTEP.

LLN: What do Pasco families need most now?

BL: Jobs! Until I see new jobs created here in east and central Pasco, I can only assume the number of families needing toys next year, and in future years, will continue to grow.

LLN: Did you receive toys for TFT as a kid?

BL: No, but we were poor. My father was a teacher…I always thought we were middle class. I got involved with TFT when I was in the Marine Corps Reserve between 1963 and 1969. I was a fetch and carry leatherneck for our Miami Reserve Unit, Fourth ANGLICO.

LLN: What is Food for Tots?

BL: I helped start this program in 2002. It’s run by two great guys: pastor Johnny Strickland, a local minister, and Ron Miller. When we met, they wanted to feed the hungry children living across our country. Privacy issues kept them from getting the names of families needing help, so I told them “set up next to my toy distribution…and you’ll be helping families with children in need.” They’ve been with me every year since. And, sir, they’ve never run out of food for our families — never.

LLN: What other programs are you involved with that help the needy?

BL: I chair the Citizens’ Advisor Committee for the Salvation Army in Dade City, and I started The Samaritan Project in Zephyrhills. I founded The American Dream Congress. I helped start Projects of Pasco Inc., a nonprofit that helps start new community efforts. Currently, I’ve submitted a proposal that will create a Center for Community Studies for Pasco County, (which) will provide research support for community leaders and will train students to become involved with community issues.

LLN: Why is helping children important to you?

BL: Our children are the future of our great republic. To ignore them is to gamble away all that America stands for — to us and to the world. We ignore them at our peril.

LLN: Are Pasco children better off or worse off than when you started 10 years ago with TFT?

BL: As you know, I took over the program in 1999. We assisted 400 kids that year. This year there was a crying need to help 10 times that number. I expect things to get worse in the next several years. No question we have more children in poverty than I’ve seen in my lifetime.

LLN: How will you and TFT proceed in 2010?

BL: To start, we need to energize the communities. Each (of the) east and central Pasco communities of Dade City, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes and the poverty bound folks in the Lacoochee area. In 2010, we will continue to engage these communities in the effort to support and level the playing field for the at risk children living among them.

LLN: How can people help?

BL: I find people respond to a good idea and, if we can make it easy for them to help, they will. All anyone has to do to join our effort is to buy a toy and affix it to their mail box on the appointed day during our post office toy drive. We also need to get our youth involved early and often. They have abundant energy, and they will to become involved. We need to maximize their energy.

LLN: Anything else to add?

BL: Heck yes. Like John Paul Jones said, “We have not yet begun to fight.”

For more information on TFTEP or to help, visit www.toysfortotspasco.org. For more information on other ways to help, e-mail Loring at or call him at (352) 588-4230.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

6 Reasons to Consider Remodeling your Bathroom with CMK Construction

March 21, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Have you wanted to remodel your bathroom for a while now, but need that little extra push to make your decision? Check … [Read More...] about 6 Reasons to Consider Remodeling your Bathroom with CMK Construction

Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

March 7, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

One of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s main missions is being a champion for culture. “Celebrating culture is a vital … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

03/25/2023 – America is Awesome

Lucas, Macysyzn & Dyer, Injury Lawyers and the Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Community Foundation will host an “America is Awesome Celebration” on March 25 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 9426 Little Road in New Port Richey. The event will include live music from 5 Shades of Grey and Southbound 75; fireworks; a DJ dance party, silent auction; raffles; 50/50; car show, food and drink; and more. All proceeds will benefit K9 for Partners and local law enforcement. General admission is free. VIP tickets are available. Donations for parking will be accepted. For information, visit America is Awesome Celebration on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – America is Awesome

03/25/2023 – Arts Benefit

The Pasco Fine Arts Council will host a Benefit for the Arts & Silent Auction on March 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Pasco Arts Gallery, 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. Wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. For information, visit PascoArts.org. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Arts Benefit

03/25/2023 – Car Show

The fifth annual Hillsborough Fire & EMS Museum Car Show will take place on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by the show at 10 a.m. Awards will be presented at 1 p.m. For information, visit HillsboroughFireMuseum.org. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Car Show

03/25/2023 – Cars & Coffee

Connerton’s Cars & Coffee is scheduled for March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Club Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. The event will include a car show (awards and judging), food trucks, raffles, live music, and vendors. Free coffee will be served from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cash or credit required for vendors and food trucks. Pre-register for the car show at PremiumCarShows.com. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Cars & Coffee

03/25/2023 – Community Marketplace

The Women of Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a Community Marketplace on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some donations will go to Hope Services Life Skills & Vocational Training Center. For information, call 813-973-2211. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Community Marketplace

03/25/2023 – Dance performance

Dancers from the Patel Conservatory Popular Dance Program and artists from Next Generation Ballet will perform “On the Edge: DIVOS” on March 25 at 7 p.m., at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. The artists will dance to music from the greatest male pop stars of all time. Tickets are $22.50 and can be purchased by calling 813-229-7827, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Sales Office, or online at StrazCenter.org. Handling fees may apply. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Dance performance

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: