By Renee Hobbs

February marks the first anniversary for Daystar Faith Center and already in that short amount of time, the facility, designed to help the economically and physically challenged in the Gibsonton and Riverview areas, has accomplished many things. 

Located behind the United Methodist cCurch off U.S. Hwy. 41, the number of people using the facility has grown rapidly.

Executive Director Sue Sutko said, "When we first opened our doors we served about five lunches the first month and now we are making about fifty lunches a day." 

Sutko excitedly told several success stories of clients who had moved on and now have jobs, housing and have become self sufficient. Sutko explained, that in one case, a man didn't know he could receive social security and Daystar helped him get it; so now, once a month, he buys the supplies and cooks hot meals for the clients there. Sutko keeps in touch with other clients who have left the streets and said, "Some still come here to help out because they want to give back." 

"We're sad they have moved on, but, on the other hand, that is our purpose, to move them beyond the streets," said Sutko, who added that financial donations are currently one of the most important things needed because, although the building was donated, it still has electric, phone and water bills, not to mention the cost of getting birth certificates and drivers licenses for clients, which takes cash.  "We are trying to fix the clients core problem of why they are not working; we don't want to just give them food and send them on their way." 

Daystar offers daily bus passes for clients to use to go on job interviews, attend doctor appointments, go to school or for any emergency that might occur. Clients are now also able to apply for food stamps at the facility and other services that are offered by the state. The center also now has nurses coming in on Saturdays to help the clients, but ideally, Sutko said, "We would like to have a group of doctors and dentists that would be willing to offer their services to our clients."   

According to Sutko, the food pantry is in desperate need of filling and the items should be "of the instant preparation kind because a lot of clients have no way to cook." Right now Daystar has 500 registered clients and is run by Sutko, her husband, volunteers "and anyone I can rope in, so watch out," she said. 

More volunteers are desperately needed for office work, intakes, bagging food and such.

"We just can't handle it by ourselves," said Sutko, who is grateful for companies like Multi-Gear Bike & Sport in Riverview and Brandon Attorney Jason Lamoureux.