For over 1,300 area children in grades K-12, Saturday, August 13 was a day to go school shopping. Children and their parents, grandparents or guardians came to YMCA Camp Christina for the annual Back to School event.

This year's event was a little bit different. Several organizations, including the YMCA, ECHO and Metropolitan Ministries as well as several area churches teamed up for the event. According to Christy Lowe, Youth and Family Director for the Campo Family YMCA, "By combining the events, we are able to serve many more needy children and families."

Lowe further explained, "This event is unique in that each child has the opportunity to 'shop' for their supplies. They could pick out their back pack as well as the grade appropriate school supplies."

Each organization utilized technology called "Meet the Need" which is a software that allows organizations to register and manage outreach events. Each partnered organization has access to see who has signed up and what their specific needs are. Stacey Efaw, Executive Director of ECHO, "This is the first time that ECHO has used this software for an event like this. It is efficient and allows us to plan better for the event. We can see how many girls' or boys' items we will need."

In addition to using Meet the Need, the YMCA reached out to the area schools to help identify children in need to make sure that they would have the supplies that they need to start the school year off on the best footing possible.

Efaw said, "It is gratifying to be able to help so many children and to be able to provide them with age appropriate school supplies." Lowe added, "Speaking to the children and seeing their faces light up when they get to choose their back packs and supplies is a tear jerking and priceless moment for me personally."

During the event, children could get a hair cut, enjoy a hot lunch and even get their faces painted. Metropolitan Ministries was able to help families by providing them with a bag of groceries.

If you would like more information on the organizations involved in this event, please visit www.tampaymca.org; www.echofl.org; and www.metromin.org.

Despite the heat, volunteers were happy to help, children were happy to receive new school supplies and parents were grateful for the assistance they received at the Back to School event held at the YMCA Camp Christina on Saturday, August 13.

Did you know that ECHO's Kids Helping Kids Fashion Show is ECHO's largest annual fundraiser? Over the past seven years, area children have helped to make this show a success.

This year's show is on October 2 at River Hills Country Club in Valrico from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate. For a minimum contribution of $100, children can model clothes provided by our show partner, Kohl's. This year, the child who raises the most money for the show will be crowned "Mr. or Miss ECHO."  If you have a budding philanthropist, then get them involved in the show.

Registration is available online (Click here to register). We then send emails advising of upcoming events such as the model yard sale or the model work day at ECHO for the children to raise funds.  We want them to understand why they are raising money for ECHO, and we want them to see firsthand how ECHO helps our neighbors who are in need.

I have been on the Fashion Show Committee for several years, and my daughter, Katie, has been a model for several years.  I can tell you that this is a great event.  It helps children learn the value of helping others and establishes the idea of community service at an early age.

Even if you don't have children, you can still help by becoming a show sponsor. We have sponorship levels beginning at the popular $125 level which is "Sponsor a Model."  This year's show is sure to be the best one yet. Don't miss out on the fun and the opportunity to help a great organization like ECHO.

ECHO's food pantry is dangerously low and even empty of some basic necessities such as beans, cereal, spaghetti sauce, pasta and dried milk.  If you are out doing your weekly grocery shopping, please consider picking up some extra items for ECHO.  Even if it is one or two items, that would be a tremendous help.  I know that people think that only one or two items will not make a difference, but believe me, a few items such as a can of spaghetti sauce and a box of pasta may mean the difference between a child having dinner or being force to go to bed on an empty stomach. 

The next scheduled food drive to fill our pantry, Feed the Bay,  is not scheduled until October 24th.  There are lots of days between now and Feed The Bay, so we hope you consider helping our organization in the mean time.

While ECHO does purchase discounted food through Feeding America, we  limit the purchases to perishable items such as meat, dairy and produce to conserve costs.  It is important that everyone, especially children, eat a well balanced, nutritional meal which is complete with protein, grains and dairy.  So, if you can, please consider supporting your local Brandon Food Pantry and picking up a few needed items and dropping them off at ECHO. 

Hello! My name is Kathy Collins, and I have the privilege of serving as the President of the ECHO Board of Directors for the 2010-2011 year.  I am looking forward to a fantastic year filled with hope and promise.  You have already seen some exciting changes which include a new logo and a fantastic new website.   I hope that you will vist the website often to read about upcoming events and all of the wonderful things that ECHO does in our community.

We held our first ever Hunger Awareness Concert on August 20 at First United Methodist Church in Brandon.  What a fabulous night it was!  I want to take a moment and thank all of our sponsors and the community for supporting the concert featuring Phil Stacey.  It was a great night filled with music and an outpouring of support from the community.  A special thanks to First United Methodist Church for providing a beautiful venue. 

We started with a VIP Meet and Greet Dinner.  Both bands, Phil Stacey and the opening act, Kings Highway, joined us for a lovely meal and fellowship.  The food was donated by Copper Bell, Beff O'Brady's, Shrimp Boat and Village Inn.  Our Treasurer, Vince Ferraro provided a delicious salad that everyone enjoyed!  Everyone had a chance to meet Phil Stacey, get autographs and pose for photos with him.

Kings Highway was the opening act.  They are a fairly new band from Pinellas County.  I also want to thank them for helping make the night such a success.  The Brandon audience loved them so much that their CD's sold out!

Phil Stacey then took the stage to the delight of the concert goers.  Phil was a finalist on Season 6 of American Idol.  He is an engaging entertainer who included the audience throughout his show. The crowd truly enjoyed the show!

Without the support of the community and community partners like Publix, the Osprey Observer and The Christian Voice, ECHO could not serve over 11,000 people, many of which are children, each year.  As our Executive Director, Stacey Efaw said, "It takes a community to run an organization like ECHO."