If you have a giving heart at the holidays, there are plenty of ways for you to reach out.
For instance, contrary to the old stereotype, the tax collector isn’t a Grinch — at least not in Pasco County.
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano has announced these efforts his office is sponsoring to help the community during the 2021 holiday season:
- Be a Santa to a Senior: Collection boxes are located in each of the five tax collector offices. Stop by and donate a personal care item for a local senior citizen (i.e., toiletries, bath sets, greeting cards, stationary, stamps, etc.). Gifts will be collected until Dec. 14.
- Toys for Tots: The five tax collector’s office locations in Pasco County are all drop-off sites for the Marine Corps League’s annual toy drive. Toys for children of military personnel will be collected until Dec. 15.
- Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive: The Gulf Harbors and Wesley Chapel offices will be Red Kettle donation sites on Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. Stop by between 8:30 a.m. and noon, either day, to make a contribution to programs that Salvation Army provides throughout the year.
- Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway: Collection jars will be on display in December in each of the five tax collector offices in the county. Donations made will help purchase fresh food for families in need this holiday season and into 2022.
Here are the tax collector office locations: West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120, New Port Richey; Gulf Harbors location: 4720 U.S. 19, New Port Richey; Land O’ Lakes location, 4135 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (US 41); Wesley Chapel (technically in Lutz): 4610 Pet Lane – Room C 101, Lutz; and, the East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., Room 100, Dade City.
For additional details, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at 727-847-8179.
Efforts also are underway in Hillsborough County to help those in need, during the holidays.
Several Hillsborough County departments are asking for donations to help residents and pets in need to celebrate the holidays. The departments of Children’s Services, Homeless Services and the Pet Resource Center have created online wish lists, which can be accessed through the Hillsborough County website, Hillsboroughcounty.org.
The department of Children’s Services also is seeking financial contributions. Checks or money orders payable to: Hillsborough County Children’s Services BOCC can be sent to: Department of Children’s Services, 3191 Clay Mangum Lane, Tampa, FL 33618.
The county’s Pet Resource Center also is seeking donations to benefit resident shelter animals, pets in foster care, and the Safety Net Program that keeps pets from being turned into the shelter by families in crisis. To find out more, check the department’s website.
Another charity that often makes the difference between a family being able to celebrate the holidays, or not being able to, is Metropolitan Ministries. One of the organization’s donation tents will be operating at Keystone Community Church, at 21010 State Road 54, in Lutz.
It will be open Dec. 10 through Dec. 12 and Dec. 17 through Dec. 23. The hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on weekdays, and noon to 3 p.m., on Sundays.
Items that will be accepted are toys, food, frozen turkeys, frozen hams, frozen chickens, and new or nearly new clothing. Gift cards and cash donations are accepted, too.
Many entities — such as schools, churches, Rotary Clubs, civic groups, community associations and businesses — also make special efforts to help those in need at the holidays.
If you want to help, ask around. It probably won’t take you long to find someone who will be happy to find a way for you to donate to their cause, or do some charitable work, to help brighten the holidays for those who could use an extra serving, or two, of good cheer.
Published December 01, 2021
