By Steve Lee

A heartfelt suggestion by Andy Taylor, the aide for Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, turned into a collaborative community event to help feed needy families adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Farm Share Food Distribution took place on May 20 at The Shops at Wiregrass.

“These are tough times for people,” Moore said. “Anything we can do we had to.”

Moore enlisted the help of Randy Maggard, State Representative for District 38, and Dave Reynolds, Farm Share’s facility manager, to pull off an effort that fed more than 600 people and amounted to more than 33,000 pounds of food.

“With the amount of folks out of work and not knowing where their next check or next meal is coming from, this is what we’re here for,” said Reynolds, noting that Farm Share has given out 22 million pounds of food since March 1.

Greg Lenners, general manager of the outdoor mall, was happy to oblige when he was approached to host the event: “We’re always about helping the community. It was an honor for us that we were chosen for that.”

There were about 50 volunteers from Saint Leo University, various Rotary Clubs and government and non-profit agencies who helped. The packages included such items as canned goods, tomatoes and zucchini, spaghetti and rice, cereal and chicken, etc.

“What’s more gratifying than seeing people in need is to see the volunteers come together,” Maggard said, noting that he was eager to help after receiving a phone call from Moore. “I said, sure, I’m there.”