February 18, 2006

During the 2005 Christmas holiday season, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce successfully partnered with Toys for Tots of East Pasco to create a full-service toy distribution for their area’s neediest and most deserving children. At this awe-inspiring event we directly touched 110 families and provided toys, food, and other much sought-after items for their 368 Tots. All our selfless participants and the beloved families that we served were deeply touched by this stunning triumphant. We, together, look forward to recreating this event each and every holiday season.

Each year, as Toys for Tots attempts to expand the The American Dream, (TAD) model, by extending our contact and support for Pasco children that live in abject-poverty. We seek ways to give “a hand-up” to our needy families by providing additional items and services for our deserving children. This year, together with the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber, we plan to host a summer “Job Fair” for our teenagers in need.

Chamber members and other local Wesley Chapel business people will be invited to attend a “Job Fair,” with the object of employing one, or more, of our Toys for Tots certified teens during the summer of 2006. Common sense and some supportive research support our notion that teens with summer jobs do better in the long run and, stay out of trouble. We also suggest that these teens will be taking a most positive step towards building a healthy work ethic. The teens and their parents, selected for our Toys for Tots rolls, will be invited to participate in this job fair.

As the head elf of Toys for Tots of East Pasco and (TAD) The American Dream, I passionately welcome this partnership with the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber in hopes that we, together, might set an example that other Pasco Chambers might wish to emulate. We believe that our most ‘at-risk teens’ have much to gain from through meaningful employment opportunities. This, we proffer, will assist them, their families, and importantly, their community.

For more information, please contact Elayne Bassinger, Executive Director of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, (813) 994-8534, or me, Bob Loring, (352) 588-4230. Elayne & I would be most interested in your questions, comments, or ideas. As always, we are at your service.

BOB LORING

Community activist in San Antonio area

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