Hernando Citizens Come Together to Aid People Helping People

Most people associate the YMCA (“Y”) with exercise and fitness or maybe the song by The Village People. However, some Y members are also involved in community service projects.

One such activity is called Togetherhood. According to Gerry Whitted, chairperson of the program, its purpose is to “provide members with fun and rewarding ways to give back and support their communities.”

Togetherhood’s most recent service project was a food drive. The members divided up into teams and competed to see which team could collect the largest amount of food. Some teams represented organizations or businesses. Others were made up of individual “Y” members and YMCA employees. The food drive was Olympic-themed to make the competition more fun.

The final total of food collected was 2,140 pounds—literally a “ton” of canned goods and non-perishable items. All of the food was donated to People Helping People, a local organization that provides food and other assistance to those in need.

“The highlight of the Challenge was the enthusiastic engagement by our partners all over the community,” stated Ann-Gayl Ellis, YMCA Membership Director.
“This was a timely effort,” Ms. Ellis added, “as school children are home for the summer and might not have access to breakfast and lunch opportunities that are available in the schools.”

Kent Reiber, Executive Director of the Hernando County YMCA, remarked. “We [the Y] want to be a community hub and help impact the community in multiple ways. It’s exciting to have folks around us that want to participate in that−the servant heart and giving. It’s inspiring to me.”

Paul Ligman, Vice-President of the People Helping People Board of Directors, gave a brief summary of what services his organization provides. These include serving hot meals in their facility, taking food and supplies to homeless camps, stuffing back packs for school children to take home for the weekend and even providing a place where homeless people can shower twice a week. They also have a free clinic at their facility several days a week. Ligman often stops at local businesses to pick up donated items. One of their largest donors is Dollar General.

Hernando County Commissioner John Allocco, a member of the YMCA Advisory Council, stated, “You are the soul of Hernando County because you’re involved in so many organizations, but then you come together in where we have the greatest needs. Some people give their money; some give their talents, but something you can’t get any more of is your time and you all give over and over again of your time.”

Allocco presented certificates to the various teams and individuals. The Frederick Kelly Elks Lodge and Moton Preservation Society received the award for most creative. They decorated a large box for the donated items using the Olympics theme. Rehability Prosthetics and Orthotics was honored for most spirited. The heavyweight Champs Award went to the YMCA Membership team and the Wellness team. Another Most Spirited award went to Pasco-Hernando State College.

In conclusion, Whitted commented, “My job is to bring all of you together as one, to make friends and relationships. We are one of the most diverse groups in this county and we are a group that takes action. When we finish one project, we reach for another. I’m one who doesn’t believe ‘the sky’s the limit.’ There’s NO limit to what we can do.”

For more information on People Helping People or to volunteer, go to www.phphernando.org or call 352-686-4466.

To find out more about the YMCA call 352-688-9622 or log onto www.ymcasuncoast.org and click on Locations. Then click on Programs to learn more about all of its community service activities.