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By LENORA LAKE llake@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - The food was spread on the table for a Thanksgiving feast.

But instead of serving it, members of the University Area Faith-Based Coalition packed canned goods, dry products and juice for others Thursday.

The array has been collected at the coalition members' various churches, ministries and social services agencies and would go to families in the low-income area west of the University of South Florida. Money from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the University Area Development Corp. bought turkeys.

Trudy Kensinger of the Baha'i faith made tote bags to carry about 30 pounds of food, including green beans, sweet potatoes, dressing mix, mashed potatoes and cake mixes. Members signed cards to the families, which had been selected by school social workers.

"We believe in individual initiatives" to help others, Kensinger said. "What a better time than at Thanksgiving."

The coalition had planned to distribute 16 "baskets" of food, each with a turkey. But unexpected cash donations increased the number of turkeys to 93.

Dale Felix of the development corporation said the social workers were "thrilled" to hear about the extra turkeys because the other groups had given them canned foods for families in need but not turkeys.

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