Give a Little Time, Get a Few Groceries

We are all feeling the economic pinch right now. If you have a little bit of spare time, you might want to consider joining SHARE Florida Food Network. This not-for-profit organization rewards personal community involvement (volunteering) with substantial savings on food.

For an example of the types of food you receive, October's menu includes

• Potatoes
• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Zucchini
• Grapefruit
• Apples

for $6.00! Choose the Basic Package for $18.00 and you will receive the fruits and vegetables listed above AND the following meat items:

• 8 oz Pork Sausage Links
• 1.8 lbs Split Chicken Breast
• 1 lb Ground Beef 85/15
• 1 lb Pollack Fillets
• 1 lb Mild Italian Rope Sausage.
  

All they ask in return is that you spend a little time volunteering for your favorite cause or charity. Pretty sweet deal in these challenging times! For more information, visit their website at www.shareflorida.org.

Drive-Thru Flu Shots

It's flu season again, and the Pasco County Health Department wants to make it a little more convenient to get your flu shot - you don't even have to get out of the car! The Drive-Thru Flu Shots will be available at the following locations:

Thursday, October 16 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
St. Michael the Archangel Church
8014 State Road 52
Hudson, FL

Monday, October 20 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Centennial Middle School
38505 Centennial Road
Dade City, FL

Flu shots will cost $25, payable by cash or check. People with proof of straight Medicare or Medicare PPO coverage will get their shots for free. For more information, check out the Pasco County Health Department's flu webpage.

Healthy Start Coalition of Pasco, Inc.

For moms and newborns, there is help in Pasco County. "Healthy Start provides moms and newborns with the resources, support and help they need to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth" (Healthy Start website). They can be contacted at:

P.O. Box 1527
New Port Richey, FL 34656-1527
Phone: (727) 841-7888
Fax: (727) 841-6555

In addition to Healthy Start, the organization also has the MomCare program. MomCare is a Medicaid funded program specifically designed for moms-to-be who would not normally be eligible for Medicaid but qualify because of an expansion of the eligibility criteria during pregnancy. The purpose of the program is to ensure early prenatal care, thereby producing healthy birth outcomes. A list of providers and contact information is available on the Healthy Start website. To see the Healthy Start website, just click on the organization's icon under Medical/Dental/Health Services to the right of the page.

Helping Those In Need-Food Donations

We are getting into holiday time. Halloween is just around the corner, and you know what lies around the rest of the corners. This is an important time of year for food donations. The organization that helps out Pasco as well as Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties is the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. Located in central Pasco, the Food Bank "supplies a wide variety of dry, refrigerated, and frozen foods and also supplies household items to over 135 local not for profit pantry organizations" (SHFB website). SHFB accepts donations of all kinds from cash, to food, to items for their thrift store, to used boats and automobiles. An individual can even volunteer with them. This is an important organization in our community especially in today's economic climate. You can view their website under "Food Resources." If you can give a little this year, please do. If you are in need of help, don't be afraid to reach out.