To The Editor
From: Bob Loring, Toys for Tots of East Pasco
Date: March 26, 2006
Subject: Tampa Tribune article,
“Edwards Sees Political Future in Poverty Fight”

I was intrigued by the March 26, 2006 article in the Tampa Tribune titled, “Edwards Sees Political Future in Poverty Fight.” As the ‘Head Elf’ of our East Pasco Toys for Tots program, I have a ringside seat on watching poverty proliferate here in central and east Pasco County. I agree with the former senator and vice president candidate about the urgent need to understand and address the growing poverty problems our country now faces. I applaud his efforts in forming the Center on Poverty Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina. Here they bring together the best and brightest scholars and many other concerned leaders. The negative effect of globalization on our work force, both working poor as well as our middle class citizens, is becoming more frightening each and every day. We can not pick up a paper or see a televised news report without noting that are workforce is being diminished while market prices continue to soar. I fully agree with the statement made by political scientist, Jacob S. Hacker, concerning our American middle class families when he predicted, “a harsh new world of economic insecurity for the middle-class families.” Many of the same problems of the poor and the working poor are now negatively stressing many Americans. I submit, maintaining a strong middle class is the key to preserving a strong America for ourselves and our posterity.

Here in Pasco County we also have begun to address this and other problems of the poor and their poverty bound children. On June 21st at St Leo University we shall convene our 5th Congress of The American Dream Practitioners, TAD. Each year, we call together our hard working child care practitioners, elected officials, educators, caring citizens, and importantly, representatives from our churches and businesses to join in appraising our current situation. Here, in the hollowed halls of St Leo University, we shall, again, engage in networking and sharing of our varied skills and experiences. Our intent is to seek improved communication while also assess the consequences of our work. Another common goal of our efforts is to attempt to eliminate duplication of our services where ever we find it. With the number of families living in abject poverty, we realize that we will need to work smarter, and not necessarily harder. We must stretch our limited resources to better serve these needy families. Importantly, we must seek to partner with our church and business communities. This, we believe, is essential to us successfully facing the enormous challenge we face here in Pasco County.

Pasco Citizens, we invite you and your organization to join us at our 5th Congress. If you have any questions regarding our efforts, and/or would like to register as delegate to our 5th Congress please contact me, Bob Loring (352) 588-4230, and I will attempt to cheerfully answer any questions you might have. Our goal is to seek a “total community” approach for addressing and resolving some of the toughest challenges facing the communities of Pasco County.

Our TAD motto: “Think Globally But Act Locally!”

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