Oldsmar Cares charity prepares to move into first permanent home

OLDSMAR

Bonnie Dunn sees it a lot. First-time visitors walk inside the office and just freeze. "The people come through the door and they stand there like, 'What do I do?' because they've never had to do it before," said Dunn, a volunteer for Oldsmar Cares. Despite signs that the economy may be slowly turning the corner, many are still struggling.

In November, the last month with a full tally, the nonprofit's food pantry provided food for around 139 families.

"It was the most we served any month ever," said Michael McKnight, chairman of Oldsmar Cares, now based inside the Community United Methodist Church of Oldsmar.

Within a few months, the charity plans to settle into its first independent home. McKnight and other Oldsmar Cares volunteers hope the move will allow them to help even more people.

At the last Oldsmar city meeting, city leaders agreed to lease the charity a city-owned building on State Road 580. The site used to be the headquarters for the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is now across from City Hall.

Mayor Jim Ronecker told McKnight that Oldsmar Cares provides a valuable service to the community, especially since "it doesn't look like things are going to get better any time soon for a lot of folks that are hurting right now."

The charity's rent will be just $10 a year for the length of the three-year lease. Oldsmar Cares will also be responsible for insurance and utilities.

"In that site, we'll have better exposure. It will be easier for people to find us," McKnight said.

The new location will also give the charity more flexibility to open in the late afternoons or evenings to accommodate people who are working, but still having a hard time making ends meet.

The lease begins in January. But the charity doesn't expect to complete its move until March.

Besides giving food and clothing to people in the greater Oldsmar area, Oldsmar Cares also provides rent and utility assistance to people who live specifically in the 34677 Zip code.

In 1997, Oldsmar Cares began as a church effort to help members of the community. But the demand grew so much that organizers decided to form an independent 501(c)(3) in 2009.

"People are still struggling," Dunn said. "They're having their hours cut. They're getting laid off, still."

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4155.