Holiday Help

If you are in need of assistance this holiday season, there are several community organizations you can contact for help.  Below are a few of the community organizations offering holiday help this year:

Boxes of Joy
Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 US Highway 19
Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 937-3268 - Ask for Nancy
Provides toys for children and needed personal items for adults.  Proof of West Pasco residency and meet poverty guidelines for eligibility.

Toys for Tots
Countywide
Christmas programs provided through the Marine Corps with DCF clients.  Eligible candidates must be current clients with the Department of Children & Families and submit an application to the DCF office.

Christmas Assistance
Salvation Army of West Pasco
8040 Washington St.
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 847-6321
Anyone in need of services who meets income guidelines.  Call for more information.

Opportunities for Giving

A couple of Pasco County agencies have set up donation drives.  If you live or work near one of these locations, please consider donating.

Holiday Food Basket Drive/Toys for Tots Drive
Pasco County Sheriff Office
Locations throughout the county
Collecting nonperishable food items, such as instant potatoes and canned vegetables.  Also collecting new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive.
For more information on locations and dates, click here or call the Citizen Support Services Office at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7736.

Nonperishable Food Drive
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Rd.
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040
Ongoing food drive benefiting The Volunteer Way.  Nonperishable food item donations can be left in the bin in the library's lobby.

Thanks for Giving

It's the holiday season, and already the Salvation Army bell ringers have taken up their posts outside some of our local stores.  Metropolitan Ministries has put up their donation tents here and there, and soon we will be seeing Angel Trees fully stocked with ornaments, each one representing a needy child's Christmas wish list.

This is the season of giving, but, especially in today's economy, people need assistance year-round.  One very successful food drive can keep a food pantry stocked with nonperishable items for 4-6 months.  Consider holding an ongoing food donation drive at your church or place of business.  The United Way of Pasco County has promotional materials you can use to advertise your food drive.  Click here for more information.

Whether its dropping some change in the Salvation Army bucket when you go shopping, picking up a prepackaged donation bag at Publix, or contributing to Toys for Tots or Metropolitan Ministries, please remember your fellow human beings this holiday season and year-round.  Thanks for giving.

Get a Jump on Halloween This Weekend!

Can't wait until the 31st to get your scare on?  Try one of these community events this weekend!

Thursday, October 22 - Saturday, October 24
7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
The Haunted House on U.S. 41
Land O' Lakes Community Center
5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd.
(813) 929-1229
Haunted house with free admission.  Some scenes may be too intense for young children.

Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Halloween in the Woods
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs Park
Salt Springs Road (Behind Sears at Gulf View Square Mall)
Port Richey, FL
(727) 816-1890 or www.saltspringsalliance.com
Family event with pony rides, hay rides, haunted trail and more.  Admission is free, fees for rides, games & food.

Saturday, October 24
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pumpkin Stroll
Railroad Square
Downtown New Port Richey
(727) 842-8066 or www.mainstreetnpr.com
Scarecrow making contest, scavenger hunt, crafters, fresh produce vendors, community garage sale and entertainment.

Saturday, October 24
4:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Halloween Howl
Main Street Zephyrhills
(813) 780-1414 or www.mainstreetzephyrhills.org
Hayrides to the haunted house, costume parade, safe trick or treating, bounce houses, games, food, live entertainment and more!

Free GED Prep

Trying to optimize your eligibility for available jobs by obtaining your GED?  Help is available!  The Pasco County School Board offers free GED test preparation.  Individualized learning plans allow students to prepare for the test at their own pace.  Contact the adult education counselor at Marchman Technical Education Center at (727) 774-1735 or Moore-Mickens Education Center at (352) 524-9033 for information on class locations and times.

If you can't make it to a personalized study session and you have access to the Internet, you may want to try the online tutorials available through the Pasco County Library System.  The LearningExpress Library database offers online GED Preparation.  To access the database from home, go to the Pasco County Libraries website, hover your mouse over the Catalog/Research option, then choose Databases from the revealed options.  Choose LearningExpress Library from the alphabetical list, punch in your library card number and last name when prompted, and you are on your way!

Fall Fun in Pasco County!

We're beginning to get some relief from summer's heat and humidity, so why not enjoy our Florida Fall with a weekend activity with the family?  Several festivals and events happen in the area in October.  Here are just a few:

Saturday, October 3
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
1st Annual Hummingbird (& Beyond) Festival
Pioneer Florida Museum & Village
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0262 or www.pioneerfloridamuseum.org
Plant sales, hummingbird & butterfly gardens, arts & crafts, children's activities and more!

Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11
29th Annual Spooks 'N' Scoots
Sertoma Youth Ranch
85 Myers Rd.
Dade City, FL
(813) 626-0589 or www.abateflorida.com
Live bands, games, children's activities, food & drinks and more.

Saturday, October 10
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Scarecrow Festival
Meridian Ave & 6th Street
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0284 or www.dadecitymainstreet.org
Kids come downtown and make your own scarecrow!  Scarecrows are available for 50 cents or $1, but supplies are limited, so go early and bring your own scarecrow clothes!  Carnival activities and more.

Saturday, October 10 - Sunday, October 11
Silver Hawk Native American Flute Gathering
Withlacoochee River Park
12449 Withlacoochee Blvd.
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0264
Enjoy Native American flute music, arts & crafts and Native food.

September 11 Memorial

If you would like to remember and honor those who died on 9/11/2001, consider going to the memorial program tomorrow night at Sims Park in New Port Richey.

The event begins at 6:15 p.m. with patriotic music. The memorial program starts at 7 p.m., and will include a slideshow and a speech from Capt. Robert Raleigh, chief pilot of American Airlines. Patriotic art exhibits from area students and performances from area choral groups are also scheduled.

This event is sponsored by the Pasco County government, the Pasco County School Board, and the City of New Port Richey.