Westchase Teens Help Others Gear Up for School

Two Westchase area teens have teamed up to help children served by the Kaye Prox Food Bank get geared up for classes in August.

Maya Barrett and Isabel Giovannetti are working together to collect backpacks, notebooks, pens and more to make sure kids in need report to the first day of classes ready to succeed.

“I have been granted an opportunity to really make somebody happy and for that I feel really lucky,” said Barrett, 14, who is co-leading this year’s drive with Giovannetti.

Barrett has been volunteering at Kaye Prox and helping out with the school supply drive for a few years. This year, she was asked to help lead the venture.

“I will be honest, this project is a lot of work, planning and organization,” said the incoming Robinson High School freshman. “But to me, when people compliment me or when I see the effect I am having on kids, it doesn’t feel like work anymore.”

Carol Collins, an adult volunteer at the food bank, said the drive benefits children throughout Northwest Hillsborough County.

“We will distribute the supplies and backpacks to the families that visit the food bank during the two weeks before school starts,” Collins said.

Kaye Prox serves families in need in a seven ZIP Code area that includes Carrollwood, Town ‘N Country, Odessa, Tampa and beyond.

Last year’s drive, Collins said, netted enough supplies for 225 kids. The goal this year is 250.

Items needed for the drive include backpacks, filler paper, notebooks, rulers, pencils and Crayons. (See the PDF included with this story for the entire list).

To help out, just drop off new supplies at the following locations:

• Lutheran Church of our Saviour, 8401 W. Hillsborough Ave.
• First Reformed Church of Tampa, 8283 W. Hillsborough Ave.
• Westchase Swim and Tennis Centers, 10405 Countryway Blvd. and 10049 Parley Drive

 “We are also collecting gift cards from such stores as Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, Target or Walgreens,” Collins said. “They can be left at the Westchase Community Association Office, 10033 Parley Drive.”

Collins said any group or organization is invited to help collect and promote the drive.

“We would be happy to provide a donations box and come to that location to pick up donated supplies.”

For more information about the Kaye Prox food bank, visit its website.