August 18, 2005
By: KATHY RILEY, Special to the Pasco News

TRILBY -- From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 6 there were smiles, and even some giggles , from the more than 60 children from Lacoochee, Trilacoochee, and Trilby who came the Trilby Community Center. They were there to pick up free school supplies from a table piled high with backpacks, pencils, notebooks, toothbrushes, glue, tissues and many other needed classroom items.

While waiting their turns to choose what color backpack they wanted, Selena Conterras, age 6, and Sierra Croteau, age 8, told what they liked best about school. "It's fun because you get to play with toys," Selena said. "I like the math and recess and I have four special friends to play with there." Sierra will probably surprise you with her comments. She said. "You get to work all the time and I like writing." She is sure to shine in second grade at Lacoochee Elementary School.

This event was make possible by S.T.E.P.S., or School Tools that Empower and Promote Success, a new program affiliated with Toys for Tots, that is available to low-income families in the East Pasco County area to help them prepare their kids for school. School supplies have become increasingly expensive for these families to furnish, and the S.T.E.P.S web site (www.eastpascosteps.org) shows just how costly these supplies can be. On the site, the items needed by children attending pre-K, Kindergarten, and grades 1 to 6 are listed, and the approximate total cost per pupil for these items is from $35.95 for pre-K to $58.29 for grade 6.

Denny Mihalinec, the S.T.E.P.S. captain for the Tri-Community area, explained the process used to distribute the school supplies. "The supplies are supposed to be for low-income kids who live in the Tri-Community area Their parents have to show proof of where they live, and they fill out a form that we will use to help Toys for Tots to pass out toys at Christmas time. But we're not turning away middle-income families either because it is expensive for them too. I have four kids and I know I've spent about $600 on them so far. The S.T.E.P.S. program is hoping to get supplies donated all during the school year so there can be a closed at Lacoochee Elementary just for supplies."

Because of Mihalinec's hard work, the word about this program has spread in this area. Many businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals have responded generously to his request for donations. Among these donors are Pasco Kids First, the Zephyrhills Wal-Mart, Premier Health Care, Health EAse, Lillie Couey, The Christian Edge, and the Trilby Doll Club. Pastor Dave Raley and the New Life Assemble of God supplied food boxes of salad greens, beans, dried like and snacks that were distributed along with the school supplies.

The community center was busy all morning. Along with Mr Mihalinec, volunteers from the Greater Trilby Community Association helped pass out the supplies and food. Representatives from CitursCaid and United Health Care were there to sign up families for their programs, which offer families who have Florida Medicaid addition Medicaid benefits at little or no cost. Mr. Robert "Bob" Loring. co chair of Toys for Tots for east Pasco, came by to congratulate Mihalinec on the success of the Tri-Community S.T.E.P.S. program, which was only incorporated in May. Other distribution sites were located in Land O' Lakes and Zephyrhills.

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