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Church Center Feeding Needy

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By SARAH ROTHWELL

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

NEW TAMPA - Since opening a volunteer-run food assistance center in April, Cypress Point Community Church has served more than 300 people.

From 10 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month, anyone in need can stop by the church and pick up groceries to sustain their family for three to five days.

As of Thursday, the church reported feeding 200 adults (including 42 seniors) and 115 children from New Tampa and surrounding areas

"I was surprised by the need in our area," said Dean Reule, Cypress Point senior pastor. "In this economy, people of all economic backgrounds are hurting and need groceries."

Prior to opening the food assistance center, Reule received countless phone calls from hungry families. In a Sunday morning sermon, he asked the congregation for help. Members Don and Diane Write answered the call by volunteering to collect donations and man the center.

"We saw a need and wanted to get involved," Diane Write said. "It doesn't matter where you go, there are always people going through a difficult time. There are people in between jobs, people on disability, people who have been laid off, single parents and seniors who just can't keep up with rising costs."

Write and other volunteers collect food items every family can use. They divide up the goods and make packages valued at about $16 each. When the center is open, 24 packages are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Packages include canned items, cereals and other boxed dried goods. To be eligible, patrons must fill out a brief information sheet describing their situation, but no financial records are required. Families can visit every six weeks.

Donations are needed and can be dropped off at the church.

"We can always use more of the most wanted items, like macaroni and cheese," Write said. "We don't want to have more people coming than we have food to give out."

Write said volunteers try to accommodate larger families by giving them a little extra food. Single adults are also welcome at the center. Volunteers hope people will remember the food assistance center for being there during hard times.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Food assistance center

WHEN: From 10 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month

WHERE: Cypress Point Community Church, 15820 Morris Bridge Road

INFORMATION: Call (813) 973-0314.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell@tampatrib.com.

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