|
A new venture began this year in Brandon to help the needy of the area and residents of all types are coming out to help. Project Hope, a two-fold operation, has a short-term goal of creating a soup kitchen and showers for those needing assistance. According to Vince Ferraro, who is spearheading the project, in the long term the group hopes to provide transitional housing for the area's homeless population.
Ferraro, a member of the board of directors at ECHO, Emergency Care Help Organization, a key player in this endeavor, has been busy lining up community support. He states that 14 churches and one synagogue are already involved and support is coming from Beef O' Brady's, Metropolitan Ministries, Mission Deliverance and State Senator Rhonda Storms' office.
Nine-year-old Valrico resident Zach Bonner is also lending a hand to Project Hope. Bonner, who is very familiar with the needy, having already raised more than $70,000 for homeless kids, says he will help anyway he can.
"I was honored that they asked me to be a part of it," he says.
Bonner began his work in 2004 and says his goal is to raise a total of $1 million for different charities that help kids.
"I am doing this for two reasons. First off because it is a lot of fun and secondly because someone told me I couldn't do it," he explains.
Bonner is abroad right now on holiday, but that isn't stopping him from continuing his good work. He is visiting homeless shelters for kids in London and other areas, but will also see wounded soldiers in hospitals in Germany and says he has small American flags for their bedside tables and cards made by the Newsome High school ROTC.
Find out more about Bonner and his projects at www.littleredwagonfoundation.com.
According to ECHO executive director Stacy Efaw, there are more than 2,000 homeless people in the Brandon area. ECHO, which has been around since 1987, currently provides food, clothing and household items to the needy in Brandon. Efaw explains that when Project Hope is complete it will be its own non-profit agency.
Project Hope meets the last Tuesday of every month at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce on Pauls Dr. To get involved, contact ECHO at 685-0935.
|
