News and notes from Pasco County

Pasco-Hernando State College is collecting donations of school supplies to assist schoolchildren of the Bahamas. An estimated 18,000 children and their families have been displaced since Hurricane Dorian struck the islands on Sept. 1.

Donations may be brought to any PHSC campus library. Each college store is accepting donations and selling discounted supplies to anyone contributing to the drive. Needed items include backpacks, flash drives, notebooks, binders, calculators, pens, pencils, art materials and other classroom supplies.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 5, and shipments will be made in December. Campuses are in Spring Hill, Brooksville, Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. For information, contact Lucy Miller at millerl@phsc.edu.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano announced that his office is sponsoring the following events to help the community during the 2019 holiday season:

Toys 4 Tots The five tax collectors office locations in Pasco County are drop-off sites for the Marine Corps Leagues annual toy drive. The locations are: the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120, New Port Richey; Gulf Harbors, 4720 U.S. 19, New Port Richey; Land O Lakes, 4135 Land O Lakes Blvd., Land O Lakes; Wesley Chapel, 4610 Pet Lane, Room C 101; and the East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., Room 100, Dade City. Toys for children of military personnel will be collected up until Dec. 16.

Salvation Armys Red Kettle Drive The Gulf Harbors, Land O Lakes and Wesley Chapel offices will be Red Kettle donation sites on Dec. 14 and 21. Stop by between 8:30 a.m. and noon to make a contribution.

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway Collection jars will be on display in December in each of the five tax collector offices. Donations will help purchase fresh food for families in need this holiday season and into 2020.

Be a Santa to a Senior Giving trees are in each of the tax collector offices. Stop by and claim an ornament, which has a Christmas wish from a senior citizen in the community. Ornaments will be available until all have been claimed. Gifts will be collected until Dec. 16.

For details about each program, information regarding hours and locations, or general questions about services provided by the Pasco County Tax Collectors Office, contact Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

New Port Richey FarmNet is sponsoring the fifth-annual New Port Richey organic food drive. FarmNet organizers from Friendship Farms and Fare are joining local partners to inspire the community to share quality organic food with the less fortunate, and will be collecting contributions of certified USDA organic food in cans and boxes for distribution.

Donations will be collected through Dec. 13, with periodic distribution events throughout the holiday season. Drop-off containers are at Wrights Natural Market, Better Health and Nutrition, The Health Hut, Judys Natural Market, West Pasco Habitat for Humanity, Grand Gardens (Sundays only) and First United Methodist Church.

Monetary donations are acceptable. All donations are tax-deductible and will be used to purchase food for the organic food drive. Any financial support to cover the cost of materials, supplies and transportation is also appreciated. Checks are to be made out to Friendship Farms and Fare. For further information, call Dell deChant at (727) 849-1626.

Pasco/Hernando Community News Coordinator

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FarmNet hosts organic food drive for the needy and other Pasco news - Tampa Bay Times