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Stacey Efaw is executive director of the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) in Brandon. She spoke at the Brandon '86 Rotary breakfast meeting on Oct. 9, 2009 to discuss the food bank's dire needs. This need comes despite a major push by Feed The Bay, a community based food drive run annually by a collaboration of area churches. This year's drive was held Sept. 27, 2009, when ECHO reported almost-bare shelves despite the national Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive, held May 9, 2009, which also benefited ECHO locally.
Efaw reported that so far this year 7,717 people had been served at ECHO, which already reflects an 11 percent increase over last year's count. Sixty-eight percent of those served said they were in need because of a loss of jobs and 45 percent reported that they had never asked for such help before.
Efaw shared also statistics from Hillsborough County's Homeless Coalition. Efaw reported that there are 9,566 homeless individuals in Hillsborough County, of which 23 percent are children and 81 percent DO NOT have a drug or alcohol problem. The county ranks number one in the state for the number of homeless individuals, Efaw said. She added that 50 percent of indivdiuals homeless for the first time are homeless because of lost jobs. As Efaw put it: "Everybody knows how bad the economy is."
Efaw reported that so far this year 7,717 people had been served at ECHO, which already reflects an 11 percent increase over last year's count. Sixty-eight percent of those served said they were in need because of a loss of jobs and 45 percent reported that they had never asked for such help before.
Efaw shared also statistics from Hillsborough County's Homeless Coalition. Efaw reported that there are 9,566 homeless individuals in Hillsborough County, of which 23 percent are children and 81 percent DO NOT have a drug or alcohol problem. The county ranks number one in the state for the number of homeless individuals, Efaw said. She added that 50 percent of indivdiuals homeless for the first time are homeless because of lost jobs. As Efaw put it: "Everybody knows how bad the economy is."
Feed The Bay, a community based food drive run annually by a collaboration of area churches. This year's drive was held Sept. 27, 2009, when ECHO reported almost-bare shelves despite the national Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive, held May 9, 2009, which also benefited ECHO locally.
Efaw reported that so far this year 7,717 people had been served at ECHO, which already reflects an 11 percent increase over last year's count. Sixty-eight percent of those served said they were in need because of a loss of jobs and 45 percent reported that they had never asked for such help before.
Efaw shared also statistics from Hillsborough County's Homeless Coalition. Efaw reported that there are 9,566 homeless individuals in Hillsborough County, of which 23 percent are children and 81 percent DO NOT have a drug or alcohol problem. The county ranks number one in the state for the number of homeless individuals, Efaw said. She added that 50 percent of indivdiuals homeless for the first time are homeless because of lost jobs. As Efaw put it: "Everybody knows how bad the economy is."" href="javascript:openLB(675414621,'',XLarge,'',1024,681);">
Stacey Efaw is executive director of the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) in Brandon. She spoke at the Brandon '86 Rotary breakfast meeting on Oct. 9, 2009 to discuss the food bank's dire needs. This need comes despite a major push by Feed The Bay, a community based food drive run annually by a collaboration of area churches. This year's drive was held Sept. 27, 2009, when ECHO reported almost-bare shelves despite the national Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive, held May 9, 2009, which also benefited ECHO locally.
Efaw reported that so far this year 7,717 people had been served at ECHO, which already reflects an 11 percent increase over last year's count. Sixty-eight percent of those served said they were in need because of a loss of jobs and 45 percent reported that they had never asked for such help before.
Efaw shared also statistics from Hillsborough County's Homeless Coalition. Efaw reported that there are 9,566 homeless individuals in Hillsborough County, of which 23 percent are children and 81 percent DO NOT have a drug or alcohol problem. The county ranks number one in the state for the number of homeless individuals, Efaw said. She added that 50 percent of indivdiuals homeless for the first time are homeless because of lost jobs. As Efaw put it: "Everybody knows how bad the economy is."
Efaw reported that so far this year 7,717 people had been served at ECHO, which already reflects an 11 percent increase over last year's count. Sixty-eight percent of those served said they were in need because of a loss of jobs and 45 percent reported that they had never asked for such help before.
Efaw shared also statistics from Hillsborough County's Homeless Coalition. Efaw reported that there are 9,566 homeless individuals in Hillsborough County, of which 23 percent are children and 81 percent DO NOT have a drug or alcohol problem. The county ranks number one in the state for the number of homeless individuals, Efaw said. She added that 50 percent of indivdiuals homeless for the first time are homeless because of lost jobs. As Efaw put it: "Everybody knows how bad the economy is."
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