The Laker/Lutz News

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Dispatching annual Zephyrhills Police awards

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The Zephyrhills Police Department (ZPD) held its annual awards and recognition ceremony on May 12 at the Zephyrhills City Hall Council Chambers. Chief of Police Derek Brewer handed out awards to spotlight the feats and accomplishments of members of the police department from 2021. Here are the recipients:

Zephyrhills Police Officer Pedro Milliano, right, is given the annual Officer of the Year Award from Police Chief Derek Brewer, left. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Police Department)

Officer of the Year: Officer Pedro Miliano
This award recognizes a sworn police officer who has displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. Miliano, a one-year officer, has a positive attitude that has been infectious. He also has remained committed to his daily responsibilities.

Employee of the Year: Lisa Jones
This award honors non-sworn personnel who have displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. Jones, who has been with the department a year and a half, is considered a model employee because of her work ethic and her desire to constantly seek additional knowledge on how to improve at her job.

Lisa Jones is awarded the Zephyrhills Police Department Employee of the Year and is seen here, from left to right, with City Manager Billy Poe, Chief of Police Derek Brewer and Mayor Gene Whitfield.

Volunteer of the Year: Gwendolyn Beasley
This award honors a volunteer who has displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. As a crossing guard at the busy school zone of West Zephyrhills Elementary, Beasley, or ‘Aunt Gwen,’ as she is known, helps students and pedestrians cross safely twice a day.

Life-Saving Award: Officers Steven Chimeri and Rocco DeSio
This award honors an employee or employees whose actions are directly responsible for saving or prolonging human life. On Nov. 25, Officers Chimeri and DeSio found a person discolored and with no pulse hanging over the guardrail by Zephyr Park. They performed chest compressions and helped the person resume breathing. The individual fully recovered once transported to a hospital.

Sandra Waters, center, receives the Chief’s Award from Zephyrhills Chief of Police Derek Brewer, right, and Mayor Gene Whitfield, left.

Distinguished Performance Award: Sgt. John Oleson
This award honors an employee who has performed a specific duty, action or assignment at a level that demonstrates exceptional professionalism and commitment to duty. On Aug. 25, Olsen was dispatched to the railroad tracks by Chancey Road where a suicidal subject was armed with a gun. Olsen diffused the situation and persuaded the subject to relinquish the firearm.

Chief’s Award: Stephanie NelsonThis award honors members in special recognition solely from the Chief of Police. Nelson was recognized for her extensive experience and knowledge that has been passed on as a mentor within the agency.

Chief’s “Lifetime Achievement” Award: Sandra Waters
Waters has been with Zephyrhills Police for 23 years, and is considered the ‘Google’ of the agency, given her knowledge and experience. She has worked for five police chiefs and has been a part of the evolution of the agency in her tenure.

Other Zephyrhills Police personnel were recognized, as well, with awards in Assignments, Tenure, Safe Driving, Perfect Attendance, Employee Recognition, Unit Citation SRT/CID and Communications.

Published May 25, 2022

Letter carriers food drive restocks local pantry

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This food was delivered from the Zephyrhills Post Office to Atonement Lutheran Church, in Wesley Chapel. The food was collected as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, conducted annually on the second Saturday in May. (Steve Vinik)

Steve Vinik, who often contributes photographs of wildlife to The Laker/Lutz News, turned his camera to another topic last week.

He recorded the work of volunteers at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2961 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, who sorted food that had been collected through the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 2 were stationed at the Zephyrhills Post Office, where they received, weighed and loaded the food onto trailers for delivery, to stock the Helping Hands Food Pantry at the church, according to Vinik.

At times, the pace was so brisk, it was like watching a colony of ants, hard at work. (Steve Vinik)

Fifty-four volunteers — ranging from teenagers to retirees — sorted out the 14,535 pounds of food that had been donated by people throughout the community and collected by the letter carriers on their routes.

The items have been added to the pantry’s food supply.

Carla Haverland, director of the food pantry, said, “It took an entire community to accomplish this. This will help us get through the summer. God bless you all for remembering those less fortunate.”

Throughout the year, food is sorted into family portions and distributed each Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to the nearly 400 folks who are signed up for the food program, Vinik reported.

Published May 25, 2022

Zephyrhills says: ‘Goodbye, final dirt road’

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Now, it’s no longer dust in the wind.

The City of Zephyrhills and its Public Works Department have completed the work to pave the very last dirt road maintained by the city within its limits.

Jennifer Lane was a dusty road about the length of a city block located just west of Oakside Cemetery.

Residents of Jennifer Lane would often complain about how dusty it could be to travel what was the last dirt road in Zephyrhills city limits. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Public Works)

Now, it’s completely paved.

The city wrapped up the $163,000 project on May 13.

“Being the only unimproved (and dirt) road in Zephyrhills, it was a thorn in my side for a long time,” said Shane LeBlanc, the city’s public works director.

“We had a resident of Jennifer Lane always calling to tell us how dusty it was — that there was so much dust. So, this was a short project, and now that it’s done, one that is very welcome.

“There are no more dirt roads in the City of Zephyrhills, and I’m very proud of that,” LeBlanc said.

Pavement and minor renovations were recently completed on Jennifer Lane, the last dirt road maintained by the City of Zephyrhills.

Zephyrhills now has more than 70 miles of paved lane roads.

There are some dirt roads remaining in Zephyrhills, but those are maintained by Pasco County, not the city of Zephyrhills.

LeBlanc says he constantly fields calls about dirt roads, but is unable to respond because those are a county issue.

“Now, when I get a call about a dirt road, I know it’s not a city issue because they are all paved,” LeBlanc said, with a laugh.

The final walkthrough inspection occurred the morning of May 13, and the project was completed well within the 120-day contract.

LeBlanc said the weather cooperated, enabling the pavement project to be done in less than 30 days.

“This was knocked out real quick, with no big disruption to the residents or the city,” the public works director said. “There was a little inconvenience, but, again, they are now overly pleased because there is no more dust!”

Published May 18, 2022

Building up Dade City, block by block

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Larry Guilford uses a block party as one of the ways he pays for his charitable endeavors.

There’s a street party on the second Friday of the month, next to The Block, a venue at 14307 Seventh St., that features a brewery, a restaurant, a CrossFit gym and 5,000 square feet of event space.

The Block takes up a whole city block, right in historic downtown Dade City.

Larry Guilford stands in front of the mural at The Block, the historic building that housed automobile dealerships in the 1920s and has been renovated to create a venue space, a brewhouse, a restaurant, a CrossFit gym and more. (Mike Camunas)

Guilford, a longtime commercial real estate agent in Pasco County, is the founder and owner of The Block, housed in a historic building that was an auto dealership in the 1920s, originally operated by Highlands Motor Company.

Guilford also is founder and president of Make a Difference Inc., his 501c nonprofit organization.

The charitable organization that Guilford founded in 2007 is dedicated to helping Pasco County with social, economic and educational resources to improve the quality of life for individuals in need.

“You see the need, but we don’t judge,” Guilford said. “We want to help as many people as we can, especially in East Pasco. You never know that one day you might be in the line waiting for food.”

Make a Difference provides a Mobile Pantry, distributing food in prepacked boxes or through a farmer’s market-style distribution; Shoes 4 School, which is dedicated to providing new shoes to children in the Pasco County school system; and Pasco Difference Makers, which moderates monthly networking meetings to assist local charities in East Pasco.

“What I wanted to do was come back (to Pasco County), to get back into real estate, so I came to Dade City,” Guilford said. “I wanted to do that and make some money to put back into charity work down the road.

“But I always liked this brick building. I always joke with people that its Armature Works, without the $20 million.”

Indeed, Guilford buying and renovating the old building into The Block has essentially revitalized the “North Side” of Dade City just above Meridian Avenue. It has inspired more businesses to consider downtown Dade City and brought a monthly “block party” held every second Friday. Crowds have been out in droves to enjoy food, drinks, entertainment and music.

The Venue at The Block has capacity of 150 to 200 and has been fully renovated. (Courtesy of The Block)

After the third block party on April 8, Guilford said: “They’re getting bigger and better each month! That was part of my vision: to be able to walk Dade City.”

Before, when people reached the corner of Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue, “there was nothing to see,” he said.

Guilford’s impact on the county dates back decades, especially since he helped develop some of the original and early businesses back before Wesley Chapel’s burgeoning growth.

When he arrived, from Michigan, during the late 1970s, he saw the growth that could happen in Wesley Chapel and helped set up the commercial side of State Road 54, including the Comfort Inn and McDonald’s, which still stand today.

“There really wasn’t much out there in Wesley Chapel,” Guilford recalls. “But back then, I was known as the Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel.”

After developing that fledgling town in the early 2000s, Guilford decided to focus solely on charitable work and opted to help less-fortunate countries. The work took him back and forth overseas to the Philippines, Columbia and Ukraine, to name a few. Guilford has been doing work tirelessly in the Ukraine since 2003. He helped rebuild orphanages, including restoring buildings and putting in 1,500 beds.

“It’s really tough to see what’s going on there now,” he said.

Eventually, it was time to come back to the states on a more permanent basis, as he did when he decided to take a look at Dade City — a historic town that was begging for revitalization.

“He truly has been a blessing for Dade City,” said Camille Hernandez, the city’s longtime mayor before she stepped away from political life on April 26.

“He always has his thinking cap on — how can I help Dade City? And he hasn’t stopped. He’s that trailblazer, that spark, that leap of faith that’s given confidence to others to invest in this community, too.”

The Block, at 14307 Seventh St., has thrived despite some COVID-related delays. It is bringing new life to an area in historic downtown Dade City.

Guilford isn’t stopping.

Soon, just across the street from The Block, will be ZoneWorx Coworking Space, which will allow businesses to rent office space and amenities. It is, of course, also in a historic building that used to be a car dealership.

“He’s just such a visionary,” said James Shive, who recently became Dade City’s mayor. “To be able to envision (The Block) and be that successful with it and his whole career — it’s just made a huge difference in the downtown north corridor. People are now discovering Dade City, and its bringing in a more youthful group and more young families are coming and moving out here.

“He’s such an amazing person and has given so much to be thankful for. I honestly can’t say enough about him, and what he’s done and going to do for our community.”

Without a doubt, downtown Dade City has seen a boom in businesses from Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Dade City BBQ and Ice Cream Company, Uptown Creamery, Prelude Academy of the Arts, the Brew House, and even more to come.

“There has been an influx of about 30 businesses,” Shive said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, I’ve raised a family here, and I think back to all the eclectic shops that used to be in Dade City and you’re seeing that come back.”

Shive noted that the city’s redevelopment agency has plugged more than $4 million into improvements of downtown buildings, while there are 19 more projects on the books. Shive expects that in five to 10 years, Dade City’s population will triple.

“We’re going to develop the city, but go about it the way to preserve the integrity of the small town and its history,” Shive said. “The way (Larry’s) done it.”

Guilford said he visualized downtown Dade City’s possibilities years ago.

“What we had going for us was the historic aspect of downtown,” he said. “Plus the growth corridor (that is Wesley Chapel). It’s coming and maybe even already here, and it’s spreading into Dade City. We’re going to benefit from Wesley Chapel.”

Guilford can already picture his next project, and others are eagerly waiting to find out what it will be.

“He’s just been truly an asset and a blessing to Dade City and to me!” Hernandez said. “He’s so solution-oriented on how we can get it done and make it happen.

“I just can’t wait for his next project — and it’s a secret!”

For more information on Dade City, log onto DiscoverDadeCity.com.

The Block
Where: 14313 Seventh St., in Dade City
Details: Dade City Brew House, KÄN SEPT, CrossFit HCP, Venue at the Block.
Info: Call 352-437-3059, or visit TheBlockDadeCity.com.

UPCOMING
The Venue at The Block is holding a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on June 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will cater food and cake tasting, a cocktail bar, wedding vendor booths, music and more. It is free and open to the public.

Published May 18, 2022

City manager shares Zephyrhills’ plans to address growth

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The history of Zephyrhills stretches back more than a century, but it wasn’t until recent times that the city was declared the largest municipality in Pasco County.

The city’s burgeoning growth is prompting it to make a number of improvements and to take on new projects, which City Manager Billy Poe talked about at a breakfast meeting on May 10, with members of the East Pasco Networking Group.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe briefed members of the East Pasco Networking Group about projects and improvements planned in Zephyrhills. He made his remarks during a breakfast meeting with the group on May 10. (Mike Camunas)

One of the latest developments in the city, which now boasts more than 18,000 residents, is the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center, at 6585 Simons Road.

That’s where the breakfast meeting took place and is a facility that Poe described as a “jewel” of the city.

The tennis complex is a project that was built through a public-private partnership. It features outdoor tennis courts, outdoor pickleball courts, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor multipurpose turf field, and a clubhouse featuring a full-service restaurant/cafe, fitness center, salt room, yoga room, cryotherapy chamber and pro shop.

Now, plans call for expanding the facility with the aim of including more outdoor tennis courts and a 27,000-square-foot multipurpose indoor facility. Cost of this expansion is approximately $4.66 million, of state-appropriated funds.

Poe, who has been city manager since 2019, highlighted some other projects that are underway, or coming soon:

  • Roadway improvements: The installation of a traffic signal at the Eiland Boulevard/Simons Road intersection; connecting Simons Road to Fort King Road (about 800 feet of pavement at a cost of $2.2 million); the extension of Dairy Road north to Kossick Road; and, linking Kossick Road to Wire Road, to establish an east-west connector
  • Extending the runway at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport runway (That project, expected to be completed in June, will allow the airport to accommodate larger planes and up to 22-seat-passenger corporate jets.)
  • Helping to lay the groundwork for a $25-million Armory Complex, which is expected to be completed by 2026
  • Seeking contractors for the renovation and redesign of Hercules Park, at the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard (Improvements are expected to include new trails, nature play, disc golf, splash pad and more.)
  • Upgrading the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant’s filter system that treats 1.7 million gallons of waste per day (One upgrades involves an Adenosine Triphosphate Process (ATP) that removes more nitrogen from the water, for a cost of $7.5 million.)
  • Adjusting the city’s water-use permit, which may call for converting agricultural wells into private-use wells
  • Processing additional requests for new subdivisions and apartment developments

Zephyrhills also continues to expand its city limits, through annexations.

Published May 18, 2022

Theater survives pandemic, to remain a Zephyrhills staple

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Zephyrhills Cinema 10 is a theater that has entertained local movie buffs for decades.

There was a time, though, that like all movie theaters, its future was uncertain.

Larry Rutan can be found in the lobby of his Zephyrhills Cinema 10 most Friday afternoons and evenings when locals come in to see the latest movies out that week. (Mike Camunas)

The COVID-19 pandemic that nearly bankrupted many theater chains, forced Zephyrhills Cinema 10 owner Larry Rutan to close his theaters for months.

It was a challenging time.

Rutan had to lay off all his employees. To keep the place from closing permanently, he burned through his savings and maxed out his credit cards.

When he was able to reopen, business was slow. He was forced to show classic movies and offer group rates to rent an entire auditorium for close friends or family.

Ky-leigh Freed makes popcorn in the lobby of Zephyrhills Cinema.

“Once we started getting new movies again, it just started to get a little bit better and better each week,” he said.

“I’m a positive thinker, so I never said that we would close for good,” the theater owner added.

That was good news for longtime manager and Dade City native Karisten Deem. She’s been coming to this movie theater since she was a kid, and now, despite losing her position for a brief time, she considers working at Zephyrhills Cinema 10 her dream job.

“I was meant for this job and I’m lucky to have it,” Deem said. “I just love getting to see what (movies) are coming out and see the audiences react to them. As someone who loves movies and listening to people talking about the movies coming out, it was scary to close down.

“Larry will say movies are basically timeless. That’s why people keep coming back, because movies will never go away.”

Zephyrhills Cinema 10 is a local institution and, of course, the only theater in town.

It may not have the largest auditoriums, but Zephyrhills Cinema 10 allows showings of smaller movies that attract locals.

Rutan, a contractor, built the entertainment venue from the ground up. In the 1990s, he bought the land for the theater, which opened with six auditoriums. Now, it has 10.

Recently, Rutan completed renovations that included adding reclining and stadium seating to the larger auditoriums, and giving the lobby a fresh, new look.

Alex and Rebecca Cruz, who are regular patrons, raved about the updated seating.

The two are wedding photographers from Dade City and they frequently bring their children to see films at Zephyrhills Cinema 10.

“We love watching movies — the seats here are just the best. We have a good experience every time we come here. We like how it’s just nice and quaint,” Alex said.

Larry Rutan built Zephyrhills Cinema 10 in the early ’90s. It began with six screens and now has 10. It is the community’s only theater.

“The second he went online to get tickets, we were like, it has to be Zephyrhills (Cinema 10), because — it’s the chairs. The chairs are the best and the most comfortable for seeing movies,” said Rebecca, referring to the tickets they bought to bring their children to watch “Fantastic Beasts.”

Ironically, Rutan rarely gets to view films for more than an hour at a time.

“I love movies,” the 75-year-old said. “I just don’t have time for them. People think I sit here all day and watch movies, but I don’t.”

Instead, he’s managing the cinemas — helping his employees and greeting customers.

“I’m one of those people that enjoys meeting people,” Rutan said. “Obviously, weekends are our busiest times, so a lot of people definitely come in on Friday nights. I want this to be ‘the place to be.’”

The fact that the theater owner is too busy to watch a film from start to finish — well, that’s nothing new.

“I can’t even tell you the first movie that was shown here,” he said.

“It was a Friday and I was in work garb, and dirty and messy. I went home to shower, came back, and they had already sold the first ticket.

“I missed the grand opening!”

Zephyrhills Cinema 10
Where: 6848 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
When: Movies are screened seven days a week, with most beginning around 4 p.m. Check the website for showtimes.
Cost: Adults $11, Children $8. There are Kiddie Showtimes every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. during the summer, which cost just $1.
Details: Local movie theater showing the latest releases from blockbusters to small indie films in the Zephyrhills community going strong for 30 years.
Info: Call 813-782-2222, or visit ZephyrhillsCinema.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets.

Published May 04, 2022

On any given weekend, Zephyrhills Cinema 10 serves nearly 300 moviegoers, sometimes more, depending on which movies are playing.
Zephyrhills Cinema 10, 6848 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, has been an entertainment staple and local hangout in the community for 30 years.

Ceremony celebrates new Dade City leaders

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The Dade City Commission swore in a new mayor, a new mayor pro-tem, a new commissioner and an incumbent, during the commission’s April 26 meeting.

Jim Shive is the city’s new mayor, replacing Camille Hernandez, who retired from elected office. Knute Nathe is the new mayor pro tem. Ann Cosentino will fill the seat vacated by Hernandez, and Scott Black was reelected to another term.

Hernandez was elected in 2006 to a commission seat and served as mayor from 2012 until retiring in 2022.

Commissioners unanimously elected Shive as the city’s mayor and Nathe as the mayor pro tem.

Published May 04, 2022

The Dade City Commission, from left are Knute Nathe, Jim Shive, Scott Black, Ann Cosentino and Normita ‘Angel’ Woodard. Commissioners selected Shive as the city’s mayor and Nathe as mayor pro tem. (Courtesy of Jennifer Tussing)
Dade City Mayor Jim Shive, right, shakes hands with Mayor Pro Tem Knute Nathe during a City Commission Meeting on April 26.

AdventHealth focuses on growth, expansion

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When looking at AdventHealth Dade City’s chart, there’s a vast improvement.

Formerly known as Florida Hospital Dade City, AdventHealth took over four years ago and has spent $22 million on a major makeover.

AdventHealth Dade City, at 13100 Fort King Road, was purchased by the national health care system four years ago. It has undergone $22 million in renovations. (Mike Camunas)

The upgrade includes a $2 million expansion now being done to double the capacity of the pre-op and post-op ward, bringing the total to eight bays. That work is expected to be done by the end of the year.

When AdventHealth took over, the former hospital was fading.

Now, the 100-plus bed hospital, at 13100 Fort King Road, has been reinvigorated.

“Over the last four years, what we’ve done at Dade City has been a remarkable accomplishment and certainly transformative,” COO Shade Bedward said.

“When AdventHealth took over four years ago, it certainly was not performing financially, and only had six patients.

“Now, we have over 100 (patients) in house and see over 100 patients a day. The confidence and trust that the community has in us now is a tremendous achievement,” the hospital executive said.

Bedward was promoted on Feb. 27 to chief operating officer of AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills. The latter is now considered a synergized-system sister hospital, a mere 7 ½ miles away, at 7050 Gall Blvd.

Bedward will serve in leadership and director roles at Zephyrhills and will serve as hospital administrator at Dade City.

In Dade City, he will oversee the day-to-day and strategic operations, and report directly to Amanda Maggard, AdventHealth president and CEO.

“Of course there have been a lot of challenges in the past 3 ½ years I’ve been here, but it’s also been a lot of fun work that benefits the community,” Bedward said.

AdventHealth, a faith-based, nonprofit health care system headquartered in Altamonte Springs, operates facilities in nine states.

It hit the ground running once taking over the Dade City location, Bedward said. The hospital was considered as being on its last leg, receiving a C grade from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.

Leapfrog is an annual voluntary survey in which hospitals report quality and safety data. It uses 22 evidence-based measures of patient safety, including how well hospitals protect patients from preventable errors, injuries and infections. Leapfrog then calculates a numerical score for all eligible hospitals in the United States, whether or not the hospital reports its data.

Over time, Dade City improved nearly every aspect of its facility, including transition care, which is people staying in the hospital for seven days to 14 days. That is now a five-star ranked unit and the only one ranked that high in East Pasco, Bedward said.

“We’re seeing top-notch quality. Across the board,” he said.

Moving forward, AdventHealth is working on recruiting an improved workforce and also on employee retention.

Those efforts include adequate market pay and benefits, student loans and tuition reimbursements, and company cultural celebrations to show appreciation.

Bedward hopes this inspires employees to stay in Dade City.

AdventHealth Dade City has evidence of its transformative rejuvenation.

It now has an A grade from LeapFrog.

“We focused on quality of care and culture company-wide,” Bedward said. “Guests walk in, and it feels warm and welcoming, and they get a very nice experience,” he said.

While gratified by the hospital’s accomplishments so far, efforts are ongoing, he said.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done. The growth is fast-paced and we plan to continue to keep growing,” Bedward said.

Published April 27, 2022

Name that mural

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Main Street Zephyrhills and the City of Zephyrhills are seeking help to name the mural shown here.

(Courtesy of Main Street Zephyrhills)Main 

The mural is part of the “Elements on 5th” public art series.

It’s in Transplant Park, a park that covers 0.2-acres, at Fifth Avenue and 12th Street.

The mural was inspired by a water drop landing in water.

It was designed by Main Street board member Christine Bennett.

Volunteers from the Design Committee chalked the outline and painted the mural earlier this year.

This is one of five murals located around town as part of the transformation strategy to revitalize and strengthen downtown Zephyrhills, through four aspects: Economic Vitality, Design, Organization and Promotion.

To learn more about the murals, log onto MainStreetZephyrhills.org/murals.

To submit your name suggestion for the new mural, visit log onto Form.jotform.com/220933714975059.

Published April 27, 2022

Parish helps others through its weekly food pantry

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Saint Joseph is known as the patron saint of workers, among other things.

So, it seems apt that the Food and Baby Pantry at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 5316 11th St., in Zephyrhills is managed and run by hard-working volunteers.

Sandy Wheeler helps provide a bag of food and other items for Luis Cruz at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, as Maggie Seranic looks on. (Mike Camunas)

The volunteers only mission is to help feed those who can use a hand.

The pantry volunteers are essential, said Beverly Burgess, the church’s business manager.

“It wouldn’t run without them,” Burgess said. “They give that work with all their heart. (The food pantry) is something we wouldn’t be able to do, without them.”

They selflessly give of their time, every week.

The Food and Baby Pantry at St. Joseph’s has been available for years, but for the past three years has been run and managed by husband and wife parishioners, Steve and Maggie Seranic.

Each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., anyone from the community can come receive a bag full of food and other essentials — all donated by St. Joseph parishioners when they attend Mass on Sundays.

St. Joseph’s Food Pantry manager Maggie Seranic picks through donated materials to give to a patron who came by on a Wednesday to pick up a completely free bag of food and other essentials.

“We have one couple that on the dot brings in four cases of food — every week,” said Sandy Wheeler, a pantry volunteer.

“It’s 100% donated from our parish,” added Maggie Seranic.

People who stop by for help typically are from Zephyrhills, Dade City and other nearby areas.

But Maggie Seranic said: “Sometimes we get people who come all the way from Tampa. We don’t turn anyone away. However, I keep a list to help them find a closer food pantry.”

While Saint Joseph’s food pantry day is on Wednesdays, Burgess said exceptions can be made to help on other days.

“We won’t turn anyone away, but we will remind them that we usually can only do it Wednesday,” Burgess said. “If someone comes, we’ll go into the pantry and make them a quick bag of food.”

Steve Seranic, left, and Diane Albring prepare bags of food at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry in Zephyrhills.

While the Food Pantry is much sought after, the Baby Pantry is quite busy, too.

It also is well-stocked with all the essentials, from diapers to formula.

Becky Finley and Peg Blum-Rollins are two volunteers who help run bags of children’s essentials out to the cars of parents and families. COVID regulations are in place, so volunteers meet the parent at the car and take “an order” of what he or she needs.

“It’s very helpful, and I know there are people out there who need it more than me,” said Kassey Williams, a mother of three who lives in Zephyrhills. “I don’t go to this church, but it means a lot to me, it means a lot to other people, and I know a lot of those people are very thankful for them, just like I am.”

Zephyrhills resident Kassey Williams, a mother of three, looks over some of the donated baby clothes with Becky Finely just outside St. Joseph’s Baby Pantry.

The Baby Pantry also is very good at providing clothes and other items for children, many of which are gently worn, returned and donated out again.

Sometimes, the timing is divine.

Blum-Rollins shared this example: “One time we had a mother come in and ask for a stroller, and as she was (asking), another woman came in and wanted to donate a stroller! They just transferred it right into the other car. It’s great to see the community helping each other out in a different way.”

“We want to be able to support those women and to do so is very rewarding,” Finley said.

Just as gratifying is the way the parish supports the pantries, and the generosity of the parishioners to stock them, Burgess said.

“All we have to do is ask,” Burgess said.

“For as long as I’ve been coming to this church, everyone will donate or get what we say is the most needed. People just respond and it is amazing — just amazing to see it happen at our church,” she said.

Published April 20, 2022