Blessing Our Community, One Bag At A Time

Metropolitan Ministries has been serving the Greater Tampa Bay Area for 50 years and counts on volunteers like those with the Pasco Juniors to continue on with their mission to support those that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Along with COVID-19, came an overwhelming increase in outreach programs needed to support our community. 244,000 individuals were assisted through COVID-19 emergency outreach and assistance programs through Metropolitan Ministries and continue to look for assistance. 

During the GFWC Pasco Juniors September General Meeting, Deborah Seitz came to speak briefly about these life changing programs and assist our volunteers with filling 85 Blessing Bags for Pasco County homeless individuals. Our members and guests grabbed a bag in hand and filled each with essentials like personal hygiene items, snacks, masks, ponchos and more, all of which were donated by our volunteers or local businesses. 

 

To find our more on how you can get involved with the GFWC Pasco Juniors and local volunteer activities, Text "info" to 813-461-3131.

Validating A Child's Living Transition With A Simple Donation

Everyday there are children, right here in the Tampa Bay Area that are forced out of their current living situations and into a whirlwind of foster homes, social workers, and unwanted emotions. For these children they are often picked up from a deemed "unhealthy" situation and told to grab their belongings in five minutes, often shoving items into a garbage bag. 

Children know that trash goes into a garbage bag. Subconsciously, they are throwing their most prized possessions away as their lives are being uprooted. Take a moment to think about what that impact has on a child, and how it will remain with them for the remainder of their lives.

Although the process of removing a child from this inadequate situation can not be changed, Luggage of Love is trying to provide suitcases and luggage bags to these children to lessen that overwhelming pain. They may not realize the difference now, as a young child, but when they are older, they will remember that social worker handing them a sturdy bag to protect their few prized possessions and giving them validation on their transition. 

The Pasco Juniors have collected 30 bags of all shapes and sizes to support these children and plans to continue collecting throughout the year. 

If you have donations for Luggage of Love, please contact Chairperson, Danielle Carr, at gfwcpascojwc@gmail.com.

Much Needed School Supplies Donated To Local Title I School, Pasco Elementary

 Each year there are children that show up on the first day of school without a backpack or any supplies. For these Title I school students, the families may not be able to afford these necessary items for their child's success. Instead of having to worry about materials for school, the Pasco Juniors collected items from the Pasco Elementary School supplies list to provide for these children.

404 #2 Lead Pencils, 287 Erasers, 140 Mechanical Pencils, 102 Spiral Notebooks, 94 Markers, 81 Glue Sticks, 70 Pens, 43 Composition Books, 39 Post It Notes, 31 Boxes of Colored Pencils, 30 Folders, 26 Tissue Boxes, 25 Hand Sanitizers, 25 Pencil Boxes, 24 Packs of Loose Leaf Paper, 22 Water Bottles, 21 Boxes of Crayons, 20 Earbuds, 20 Expo Markers, 16 Scissors, 9 Packs of Disinfectant Wipes, 4 Backpacks, 4 Highlighters, 4 Pencil Bags & 1 Pencil Sharpener