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Dream Solutions
By MEGAN HUSSEY
Tribune correspondent
Business and community leaders gathered Wednesday to talk about poverty in Pasco County and what's being done to deal with the problem.
Representatives from government, local churches, business groups, charities and service groups met at Zephyrhills City Hall for the ninth annual The American Dream conference, organized by Bob Loring, executive director of the local Toys for Tots effort.
"We all work with children who live in poverty, and that's where we need to focus our time and talent," Loring said. "We need to partner with parents to get goods and services to these children. ... We all work hard; we're here today so we can work smarter."
Among the speakers Wednesday was Anna Fulk, executive director of Projects For Pasco, which gives school supplies to children in need.
"When we started five years ago, we served 196 children," Fulk said. "Last year we served 1,432 kids. This year we expect 1,500."
The community forum showcased the many missions of local groups. The Boy Scouts offer education and mentoring. An organization called Operation Unwrap a Smile provides mentoring, counseling, clothes and toiletries and other necessities to children living in homeless shelters, foster care homes or detention centers. Food for Tots works with Toys for Tots in east Pasco and provides boxes of food to families who sign up for toys.
"I've seen a child hug a box of cereal like it's a treasure," said Pastor David Raley, an organizer with Food for Tots. "For many of these kids, the only time they eat a balanced meal is at school."
Speakers talked about the need to press for support at the local, state and national levels, as well as collaboration.
"A lot of organizations are going at it by themselves, and we need to work together," said Brian Rutter, who manages the Salvation Army's efforts in east Pasco. "Power is definitely in numbers."
Keynote speaker Tim Mitchell, who heads the Samaritan Project in Zephyrhills, outlined the scope of the problem service groups are facing.
"There are nearly 40 million people in poverty living in the U.S. today," Mitchell said. "One in seven Americans is living in poverty, and most Americans living in poverty are children; 14 million children today are growing up on poverty.
"The American dream should be a part of what our life is all about, and what we have to hand off to our children. What are we doing to empower and enable our youth, for when it's their turn to grasp the American dream?"
Part of what The American Dream conference does is give leaders from different circles a chance to network and share ideas. Among those attending Wednesday, for example, was state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Weatherford emphasized the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.
"Education is the No. 1 most important thing," he said. "We want people to be prepared. ... Today's kids are competing with people in China and India. It really is a flat world."
Weatherford's comments underscored the theme of this year's conference: "Think globally, act locally."
The time to do that is now, community leaders said.
"East Pasco's time has come," said Sister Jean Abbott, the director of Day Star Hope Center in Dade City, which provides poor people food, clothing and other necessities.
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