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Life Community Center

Youth Workforce services expand into Wesley Chapel

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CareerSource Pasco Hernando Youth Employment Services has expanded into Wesley Chapel.

The program — which also has locations in Dade City and New Port Richey — offers free employment and training services.

The programs are open to Pasco County and Hernando County residents, ages 18 to 24, who currently are not attending school.

The program offers the chance to discover new job opportunities, and qualify for support in paying for education and training, according to a news release.

Available services include GED and High School Diploma attainment, career and employment readiness, and support for education into targeted career pathways.

The CareerSource Pasco Hernando WIOA Youth Program, operated by Eckerd Connects, now includes these two locations in Wesley Chapel:

  • Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road: Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon
  • Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive: Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Each location is open to job seekers by appointment only, with additional expanded hours expected to begin as early as March 1.

Staff members can help with job search, labor market information, work readiness, and funding for job training for eligible Pasco and Hernando County residents. For an appointment or more information about the Wesley Chapel services, call 352-257-6504.

Job seekers in New Port Richey can still connect to services within the CareerSource Pasco Hernando office at 4440 Grand Blvd., and Hernando County Residents can receive services in the Brooksville CareerSource Pasco Hernando Office at 16336 Cortez Blvd.

For additional information on services provided to young adults, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com, or call Hernando 352-200-3020/Pasco 727-484-3400.

Published February 17, 2021

RapTime gives kids the tools to stay in school

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It’s called RapTime, and it has made a big difference for children in Wesley Chapel.

Eight years ago, sisters Pam Thomas and Susan Riley, while working with Life Church and the Life Community Center, began a program to help kids stay in school and strive for high school graduation.

The RapTime kids took a field trip to a University of South Florida basketball game, again, pre-COVID-19. (Courtesy of Pam Thomas)

They came up with RapTime, which stands for Reducing Adolescent Problems Through Increased Motivation in Education.

The first group of kids are now juniors at Cypress Creek High School. The program enrollment has grown to 24.

Their grades have improved drastically. College is not only a dream, it’s now an expectation. Through field trips, they have been exposed to a range of educational and cultural experiences.

With funding from Life Church and the United Way, which helps with professional tutors, RapTime is thriving and getting results.

“RapTime has really helped me,’’ said Serena Burgos, one of the program’s original students. “I’m more confident about school and learning a lot from the tutors. They really help me get my grades up.’’

“It has been phenomenal,’’ said her mother, Yvette Burgos. “I have two daughters participating (including 12-year-old Isabella Melendez) and I never have to worry about their grades. My older daughter (Serena) is talking about becoming a nurse or maybe a doctor. She has a lot of great goals. She talks all the time about going to college. It has been a great, great thing for us.’’

It has fulfilled the dreams of Thomas and Riley, who simply wanted to give back in their neighborhood. They once did research and found that approximately 80% of the people in their area did not finish high school. They wanted to reduce that drop-out rate.

“What separates us from most after-school programs is we follow it through all the way to graduation,’’ Thomas said. “We’ve been with some of these kids a long time and seen all the maturation, all the changes.’’

“We are part of this community, so we live it, breathe it and do it with them every day,’’ Riley said. “How can you ride down the street and turn your face in a different direction when you see someone in need? Our pastor always said, ‘Use whatever is in your hands’ and ‘Your geography is your ministry.’ The best thing is to help these children and hope they come back and help future generations.’’

Along the way, RapTime has also received some help. Life Church (formerly Victorious Life Church) opened a new 3,000-square-foot community center that replaced a 900-square-foot building, allowing RapTime to add more programming and people.

The after-school programs run from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Monday (elementary school), Tuesday (middle school) and Wednesday (high school).

“We are still a small program, but we have grown,’’ Thomas said. “It’s word of mouth, not open to everyone. We grow from the foundation. We have gotten the parents to buy in. Not everyone wants the private tutoring, but it’s available to those who do want it. Even beyond our after-school sessions, we try to provide other areas of growth.’’

RapTime offers field trips. The kids have gone to the University of South Florida and Saint Leo University. They have visited museums, attended concerts and experienced athletic events.

“One of the reasons we took them to a USF women’s basketball game was to show them there’s more outside the four walls of their community,’’ Riley said. “And, it showed them that if you want to get to this point and go to USF, you’ve got to do A, B, C and D. You’ve got to finish high school and maintain good grades to get scholarships.

“The parents really want their kids to be involved in something. We want to give them a goal and keep them off the streets, where we sometimes see kids running wild and crazy. We want them to be focused and accomplishing things. We are reaching those goals,” she said.

When the first group of RapTime kids reaches high school graduations next year, they can expect a huge party.

Thomas and Riley, with a laugh, promise that a limousine will be involved.

“We all have something to shoot for,’’ said Ashley Wells, 16, a sophomore at Cypress Creek. “I used to have a lot of drama at school. This program has helped me not to have drama. Whether it’s my homework or the everyday schoolwork, I get stuff done now. It’s more fun this way.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 23, 2020

Elks Lodge opens drive-thru food pantry

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What Donna Moyer misses most is the children filing into the cafeteria, laughing, playing and sitting down to enjoy lunch.

“We have a big party,” said Moyer, past Exalted Ruler at the Elks Lodge 2731, in Zephyrhills. “It’s a big deal. This year with all this extra nonsense, we can’t.”

COVID-19 upended the typical Feed the Kids Program, a free summer lunch and literacy program.

A young girl wrote a handmade thank you card to the volunteers who distribute free lunches at the Elks Lodge. (Courtesy of Donna Moyer)

This year, Moyer, and 10 to 15 volunteers, wave to children in the backseat of cars as their parents pull into a drive-thru food pantry organized at the lodge, at 6851 Wire Road.

Five days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the volunteers hand out about 100 free lunches prepared daily at Zephyrhills’ restaurant, Tubby’s Q and Smokehouse.

The restaurant is the first participant in Operation Feed Pasco, a collaboration between the Pasco County Commission, United Way of Pasco County, Thomas Promise Foundation and the Elks Lodge.

The initiative has a dual purpose: To bolster area food pantries and help restaurants that took a financial loss from the COVID-19 shutdown.

A nonprofit, Harper Valley Son’s Food Pantry based in Wesley Chapel, is independently providing boxes of vegetables, pre-cooked meat, fruit and milk to parents who come to the Elks Lodge.

Joe Simmons, left, executive director of the Thomas Promise Foundation, and Robert ‘Cowboy’ Harper, founder of Harper Valley Son’s Food Pantry, discuss food distribution standing beside a food truck Harper drove to the Elks Lodge. (Kathy Steele)

On Wednesdays, the Elks Lodge also gives out bags filled with craft activities and books to boost reading skills.

On Fridays, Thomas Promise provides meals to carry families through the weekend.

Thomas Promise’s mission is to feed hungry children in Pasco. It typically serves 1,600 students in more than 25 schools, but this year the need is greater because of COVID-19.

The nonprofit is a longtime supporter of the Elks Lodge, so coming together for Operation Feeding Pasco was a natural fit.

“I immediately thought of Elks Lodge because that’s exactly what we do,” said Joe Simmons, executive director of Thomas Promise.

When Moyer realized the Elks Lodge members had to reinvent an on-site program now in its sixth year, she stayed up nights wondering if they could pull it off.

But, Moyer said, “We just kind of got it all together.”

The Elks Lodge is one of many nonprofits and food banks that is helping families that are struggling to pay bills, put food on the table and stay safe during the pandemic.

Even as businesses begin to reopen in Florida, and more people are venturing out to shops and restaurants — a great need for help continues.

Before COVID-19, Feeding Tampa Bay distributed food in its 10-county region to about 600,000 “food insecure” individuals. Since the shutdown, that number has more than doubled, to about 1.3 million.

“The need is continuing to climb,” said Shannon Hannon Oliviero, external affairs officer for Feeding Tampa Bay.

Volunteers Harriett Hinton, left, and Ilene Nutting put together craft bags. Nutting, a former day care worker, organizes the giveaway for the Elks Lodge. (Kathy Steele)

The nonprofit began opening drive-thru food banks, known as “mega-pantries,” in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Polk and Pasco counties.

One mega-pantry now operates at Pasco High School in Dade City.

Volunteers with Make a Difference, a nonprofit in Dade City, distribute food supplied by Feeding Tampa Bay every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 36850 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Oliviero said an early survey completed after the shutdown revealed about 70% of those coming to food banks were doing so for the first time in their lives.

Many had either lost their jobs or are on furlough, she said.

She said the help will continue.

“We’re going to be here for as long as needed. That’s what we’re here for,” Oliviero said.

About 700 food bags were given away at the first drive-thru at Pasco High, said Larry Guilford, founder of Make a Difference.

“One woman cried while driving through,” he said. “That’s when we know we’re doing the right thing. That’s telling us it’s needed.”

Volunteers bagged up lunch meals prepared by Tubby Q’s and Smokehouse, a Zephyrhills restaurant participating in Operation Feed Pasco. (Kathy Steele)

The same community spirit abounds at the Elks Lodge. Volunteers arrive around 7:30 a.m. Duties include bagging the days’ meals, snacks and crafts. On some days they also prepare frozen meals, such as pancakes and sausage, meat subs and spaghetti. Those are kept in the freezers for use as needed, said Moyer.

On average about 100 meals are distributed for the summer program, but on one recent day about 150 meals were handed out, she said.

“Thank you,” is the phrase of the day, as parents and children accept the food bags.

“It’s an amazing resource,” said Kimberly Mahon, who drove through with her children, ages 3 and 7.

Brad Odell, a Wesley Chapel High School teacher, drove through with his family — but also took home food packages for neighbors unable to leave their home.

“It helps me,” he said, adding, “but I have neighbors that are elderly, and a woman with five children. I try to help out as many people as possible. It makes me feel good.”

Area food banks/pantries
Here is a partial list of food banks operating in Pasco. (Please call ahead to be sure the pantry is open and to find out its hours of operation):

Food Pantry at Emmanuel Ministries
12639 Candlewood Drive, Dade City
For information on hours, call (813) 713-0305.

Farmworker’s Self-Help
37240 Lock St., Dade City
Provides fresh fruit, meats, dairy and more
For information, call (352) 567-1432.

Neighborhood Care Center
5140 Sixth St., Zephyrhills
This nonregional, nonprofit offers free groceries and hot meals
For information, call (813) 780-6822.

Life Community Center
6542 Applewood St., Wesley Chapel
For information, call (813) 994-0685.

Christian Social Services
5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
For information, call (813) 995-0088.

Suncoast Harvest Food Bank
5829 Ehren Cutoff Road, Land O’ Lakes
Open third Saturday of the month
For information, call (813) 929-0200.

St. Vincent De Paul
Serves various locations in Pasco
For information, call the district office at (727) 868-8160.

Father and Son Love Ministries
21418 Carson Drive, Land O’ Lakes
Operates a food pantry on Tuesdays, from noon to 2 p.m.; Fridays, from noon to 3 p.m.; and on Sundays, starting at 12:30 p.m.
For information, call (813) 383-8410.

Helping Hands, a food pantry at Atonement Lutheran Church
29617 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
Call (813) 756-8866 to find out when it is open.

Daystar Hope Center
15512 U.S. 301, Dade City
Call (352) 523-0844 to find out when it is open.

Published June 17, 2020

Stepping forward to help, in time of need

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These are not normal times and the community is responding to surging needs in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and Firefighters Charities of Pasco joined together to purchase $10,000 of nonperishable food items, as well as toilet paper, tissues and paper towels — to help Pasco County seniors.

Helpers in a food drive effort sort out food. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

The two groups collaborated with Pasco County Senior Services’ center based in Land O’ Lakes, to ensure seniors in the Central Pasco community are helped during this unique time in the history of the United States.

The Land O’ Lakes senior center serves 84 seniors, Monday through Friday.

The food drive organizers also partnered with a local food pantry operated in the Angus Valley community of Wesley Chapel, by Life Church. The pantry is located at Life Community Center.

The donated food bags include pasta, yellow rice, black beans, fruit cups, applesauce, tomato sauce, cereal, oatmeal, tuna, fruit snacks, animal crackers, white kidney beans, chewy bars and cookies.

The pantry items, which are in large bulk, include tuna, pasta, animal crackers, fruit cups, ravioli, beans, cereal and pasta sauce.

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco teamed up to feed the hungry, to help ensure that elderly people and those suffering from financial hardships have access to food during these trying times. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc., also is stepping forward to help collect food during this record time of unemployment. They are collecting food for Feeding Tampa Bay’s community food outreach program.

All Goodwill-Suncoast retail stores in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be collection points for nonperishable food donations.

Items most needed include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and canned chicken.

Those wishing to help are asked to leave donated items in carts outside of the stores.

The food drive is being conducted April 15 through April 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., on Sunday. For store locations, visit Goodwill-suncoast.org/store-locations/.

While some groups are focusing on food needs, volunteers from the GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club are making masks for first responders.

Numerous members are involved with picking up and dropping off supplies they can find, to allow the mask production to continue.

Meanwhile, employees of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are making a point to purchase items at local businesses to help them weather the financial blow the pandemic has caused, and Sheriff Chris Nocco and members of his team are featured in department videos, offering suggestions intended to help people through the crisis.

Volunteers with the GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel are working around the clock to make masks for first responders. Shown here are some of the masks they made. (Courtesy of GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel)

“We don’t know how long this will last. I know people are frustrated being at home. They’re frustrated by being on the couch, and especially for parents having those little ones constantly running around.

“But, please continue to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. Stay at home. Keep social distancing. If you’re sick, stay inside and quarantine yourself,” Nocco said. “We have to do this to flatten the curve because it’s not going to be over next week. It’s an extended period of time.

Nocco also informed the public that they will be seeing deputies wearing masks.

“They have the option, like you, to follow the CDC guidelines. Please understand, it doesn’t mean they have symptoms of COVID-19, nor the person they are interacting with has symptoms of COVID-19.

These are some of the volunteers from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco who helped in the food drive to feed the hungry. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

“They’re just taking precautions like they want to, like you can, following the CDC guidelines.

The sheriff also encouraged parents to keep a close eye on the social media their children are using.

“Be nosy. Get involved,” he urged parents. “Unfortunately, we’ve found incidents where young girls, under age, were meeting up with adult males. So, please get on those social media sites. Know what they are doing.”

The sheriff’s office also has videos featuring department employees talking about the issues of maintaining mental health and de-escalating stressful situations during these difficult times.

To find out more, visit the department’s Facebook Page and click on the videos tab.

Local sources of help include:

Feeding Tampa Bay
Visit the website to find a pantry: FeedingTampaBay.org/find-a-pantry/

Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive, Wesley Chapel
Services available include:

  • Laundry and showers for the homeless by appointment. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Drive-thru hot meal Tuesday, from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Limited access to printing and faxing as needed. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Food ministry/pantry drive-thru, Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Emergency food boxes on case-by-case basis. Call (813) 994-0685.

TelePals

  • Free program that provides telephone reassurance to seniors
  • If you enjoy, value and love our seniors, if you love listening to their great stories or heartfelt advice, if you love engaging in conversation and knowing that you are bringing happiness to a senior simply by listening and caring on the phone – this may be just the volunteer opportunity you’ve been seeking.
  • Go to TelePalNow.org to apply to be a TelePal (A person who makes a phone call) or a TeleClient (A person who receives a call).
  • Training, a background check and monthly crosschecks are required for all participants.
  • Volunteers must be at least 18 for this program, which operates in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Want to help?
A new effort has started in Pasco County that’s part of a national initiative.

The Pasco chapter of the Frontline Appreciation Group, FLAG2020Pasco, is raising money to hire local restaurants to prepare meals for frontline employees working in intensive care units in hospitals.

“You know it brings a smile to our frontline workers and it helps our local restaurants in these challenging times,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who is calling attention to the effort.

To find out more, check the Facebook Group, FLAG2020Pasco.

Published April 15, 2020

Stepping up to help

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Whether it’s sewing protective masks, printing free coloring books, holding prayer services, giving away pizzas or providing pallets of food — people across The Laker/Lutz News are stepping up to help others, in response to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Barbara Booth is one of seven seamstresses who is contributing her sewing skills to help make protective masks to help meet needs during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (Courtesy of GFWC Lutz Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club)

Linda Mitchell, of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, has organized a group of seamstresses who are using their skills to make protective masks.

Mitchell delivers the 100% cotton fabric and ¼-inch elastic needed to make the masks to the volunteer seamstresses, then beeps her horn when she drops off the materials in the volunteer’s driveways.

The staff at RP&G Printing, in Wesley Chapel, created youth activity and coloring books and adult coloring pages, as a way of giving back to the community — during these stressful times. They leave them outside for people to pick them up, and post pages to social media so people can print them, to avoid personal contact.

At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, a group of “prayer warriors” arrived by caravan, to pray for the hospital’s care team and community. There were two mobile digital boards with scriptures, and the group honked their horns and flashed their lights before parking to pray, according to a news release from the West Florida Division of AdventHealth.

Cassie Coleman, director of the Lewis Abraham Lacoochee Boys & Girls Club, and Kathy Hunt, director of Restored Hope. (Courtesy of Melonie Monson)

The group’s next planned stop was on March 28, at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

Meanwhile, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, donated 20,000 pounds of food on March 27, splitting the delivery between Lewis Abraham Lacoochee Boys & Girls Club and Metropolitan Ministries.

Pitching in at the Boys and Girls Club were State Rep. Randy Maggard, who represents District 38 in the Florida House of Representatives; Patrick Thornton, stake president for the church; Cassie Coleman, director of Boys & Girls Club; and Kathy Hunt, director of Restored Hope, which received 2,300 pounds of food to help people in East Pasco, according to Melonie Monson, who is involved with the church.

Life Church, in Wesley Chapel, has been providing ongoing help and remains committed to doing what it can, said Robin Granger, director of Life Community Center, which is operated by the church.

Thomas Promise Foundation board member Amanda Burns, of Dade City, left, and foundation driver Peyton Yowell, of Land O’ Lakes, watch as cars begin to pour into the parking lot of Pasco County High School, 36850 State Road 52 in Dade City. The Thomas Promise Foundation and Pasco County Schools were both distributing food, to help children who do not have access to food while schools are closed. Thomas Promise normally provides food to help feed children over the weekend, as part of its Operation Backpack program. (Christine Holtzman)

“Our pastors unequivocally said, ‘This is the time that we move forward and we press in and we don’t step back,’” said Granger, whose church is providing to-go meals instead of community lunches once a week and operating a drive-thru food pantry on another day.

It is willing to do more, she said.

“If there are folks who are sick and shut-in, I have a team of volunteers and we also have a team of folks from the church who would be willing to deliver boxes of food to them.

“If you know people who need someone to help organize donations, we have the team of people and the willing congregation to step in and be the hands and feet of who we say we are, and what we’re supposed to do,” she said. (Those needing help should call (813) 994-0685).

The church wants to help, but could use some help, too, Granger said.

It needs more food donations because grocery stores have less to give these days, Granger said.

Bubba’s 33, a restaurant in Wesley Chapel, also is stepping up. On March 27, it gave away 33 pizzas to the first 33 patrons waiting in line at 3:33 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints delivered a shipment of 20,000 pounds of food to help those in need last week. Shown here are Cassie Coleman director of Lewis Abraham Lacoochee Boys & Girls Club; State Rep. Randy Maggard, from House District 38; and Stake President Patrick Thornton, who oversees several churches. (Courtesy of Melonie Monson)

The goal was to help feed hungry families, according to a news release.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is pitching in, too.

Deputies and other agency employees are making takeout purchases at businesses across Pasco County, to offer support during these trying times.

Donations also are coming from major companies, as well as individuals.

Florida Blue, for instance, is providing $100,000 to help the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, YMCA of the Suncoast and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg.

The money is being combined with donations by YMCA members to offer all-day youth relief care for essential workers at 21 Y locations across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Citrus and Hernando counties.

The gift is part of $2 million that Florida Blue is using to address urgent health and safety needs in communities across the state.

There’s also a group called Together in Peace that wants to reach out to seniors who normally go to community senior centers during the week, but are unable to do so because the centers are closed.

“We will be calling them to say hello, have a friendly chat, and offer some social connection during this time of social distancing,” Sharon Hall, a member of the group, said via email.

“At this time we are just waiting for response back from Pasco County Senior Services, who we understand will connect us with seniors that have signed up/indicated they would like to be contacted,” Hall said.

Also, NAMI Pasco, a mental health care organization that provides programs and support groups, has temporarily ceased its programs. But, it is offering text peer support services to those with mental health conditions, from noon to 6 p.m., each day it is closed, with the promise of responding within one hour. To use the service, text (863) 223-6799, and provide your first name. Anyone with a mental health emergency should call 911.

Published April 1, 2020

Helping a community to lift itself up

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Drive up to Life Community Center and you’ll find a crowded parking lot.

That’s because there’s a lot going on in the modular building, at 6542 Applewood Drive in Wesley Chapel, which is affiliated with Life Community Church, formerly known as Victorious Life Church.

Carol Smith, left, enjoys coming to the weekly luncheons. Carmen Robles, a volunteer at the center, helps Smith get settled. (B.C. Manion)

For instance, there’s a weekly community luncheon on Tuesdays in the modular building, and anyone is welcome to drop in for a hot meal and some fellowship.

During one of those recent luncheons, Riley Brannon greeted people as they entered the building. Later, as they prepared to eat, he offered a blessing.

Carol Smith, a regular at these gatherings, said she enjoys the food.

Carmen Robles, a volunteer, helped Smith settle in for a pasta lunch, prepared by Nancy Frankulin, of Bosco’s Italian-To-Go. On alternate weeks, the meals are prepared by Taco Sun.

The center also has a food pantry that operates on Friday afternoons, routinely providing food for 300 to 375 families.

The groceries are donated to the church by Costco and Feeding Tampa Bay, said Terence Gaston, the food ministry coordinator. “Our motto is nobody goes hungry,” he said.

Brannon said Life Community Center is doing important work.

“People are getting food that wouldn’t otherwise,” Brannon said, plus it helps in other ways.

One program, called “Raptime,” is aimed at keeping kids in school.

Fourteen children have been with the program since elementary school, and now they’re in middle school, said Robin Granger, director of Life Community Center.

The goal is to help them to graduate from high school.

Riley Brannon offers a blessing during a Tuesday afternoon lunch at Life Community Center, in the Angus Valley community of Wesley Chapel. The gathering, held each week, offers fellowship and a free hot meal to those who choose to attend.
(Courtesy of Life Community Center)

Angus Valley, where Life Community Center is located, has a high dropout rate, Granger explained. “It’s generational. Their parents didn’t graduate from high school. Their grandparents didn’t graduate from high school,” she said.

Because of that, when a problem arises at school, parents often feel intimidated when they are trying to stand up for their children, Granger said.

That’s where Life Community Center comes in. It provides guidance for parents to help them take the needed steps to support their children, Granger said.

“We’re not going to do the work for you, but we’ll walk beside you,” she said.

“When you’re not sure what to say to the social worker, or your kid is suspended, or your kid has to be transferred — what can we do to advocate for you? We coach parents. We don’t do it for them,” Granger said.

Helping people find gainful work
The center also has a program aimed at helping people to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Its Work Ready program helps people to put together their resumes, brush up on interview skills and to even learn skills that can help them land a job.

For instance, it provided scholarships for students to be trained to become certified nursing assistants. Seven of those people now have full-time jobs, Granger said.

The idea is to provide a hand up, not a handout, she said.

The center aims to help equip people who haven’t had the opportunity to be employed, or haven’t had the chance to understand what it takes to get a job, Granger said.

A big crowd gathered this spring for the ribbon cutting at the new modular building for Life Community Center. The center has been serving the community for years, but previously was operating out of a doublewide trailer. (Courtesy of Life Community Center)

There’s another program, called “Celebrate Recovery,” which focuses on assisting people who are in recovery.

“People are more willing to walk in a community center than they are a church,” Granger said.

At the church, about 10 people showed up to a recovery meeting; at the life center, about 30 did, Granger said.

The center helps in other, practical ways, too.

“We have a Back to School, where we help do socks, shoes and underwear,” she said, noting that those items are provided for families who need the help. And, there’s a program that supplies food for children who would otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

On top of all that, every fourth Friday of the month, Florida Hospital and Pioneer Medical Services bring a mobile unit to the center to see people who do not have insurance, Granger said.

The center aims to provide the kinds of services that people want and need, Granger said.

It also wants to be a source of information regarding programs it doesn’t directly provide, but that can be useful for community residents.

Creating a paradigm shift for helping others
At Life Community Center, people get help — but it’s not just a one-way street, Granger said.

The center has a program called Time Exchange.

It works like this: “If they need an electricity bill paid, or a water bill paid, we’ll partner with them to do it, but in return, they have to give us Time Exchange,” Granger said, meaning a number of service hours in exchange for the help.

“If they have $100 electric bill, we’ll work with them, but then I expect to see them here, whether it’s at the community lunches or at food ministry,” she said.

Nancy Frankulin shows off a big pot of pasta sauce served during a recent Tuesday afternoon lunch at Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

And, at Christmas, they’ll help a family give their children nice presents, but they expect some hours of service at the center.

Again, the goal is to give a hand up, not a handout.

Time Exchange helps people see how they can contribute, and it fosters a way to connect to others, she said.

“Poverty isn’t about the lack of material things. Poverty is about broken relationships,” Granger said.

The lack of resources can be demoralizing.

“When we think about people who are living paycheck to paycheck, or they get behind in bills, they feel like there’s no light at the end of their tunnel.

“They’re just depressed. They’re feeling hopeless,” she said.

What the center has discovered is that people who began helping as part of Time Exchange often continue helping.

That’s because they feel welcome and appreciated, Granger said.

Besides, she added, “there’s a lot of laughter, and there’s a lot of fun.”

Want to help?
These are some items on Life Community Center’s wish list:

  • 10 Chrome Books/Laptops: to help job seekers and Stay in School programs
  • 1 printer
  • Books for teens
  • Do-it-yourself ideas/projects for children and teenagers
  • Board games for kids

For more information, call (813) 994-0685.

Ways that Life Community Center helps:

  • Celebrate Recovery: A 12-step program celebrating God’s healing power for any hurts, hang-ups and habits
  • Raptime: A stay in school program servings youths who live in Angus Valley
  • Community lunches: A free hot lunch on Tuesday for anyone who wishes to come
  • Food ministry: Families are welcome to pick up a box of fresh produce, meat, bread and groceries on Fridays between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Little meals: A partnership with Quail Hollow Elementary School to provide nutritious supplements on the weekend for chronically hungry children in the community
  • Community Service House: Those needing to earn volunteer hours can do so at the Life Community Center.
  • Work Ready Services: Help is provided with resumes, interview skills and classes to help members in the community to obtain jobs
  • Grants: Help can be provided when someone encounters an unexpected hardship, but that help must be repaid through volunteer hours at the center.
  • Thanksgiving in a box: Life Church provides 500 families with the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey.
  • Imagine Christmas: Parents complete 10 hours to 18 hours of community service in exchange for quality Christmas gifts for their children.

For more information, call (813) 994-0685.

Published April 18, 2018