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Seffner Chamber Gives Back

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 06:12 pm

MANGO - Members of the Greater Seffner Chamber of Commerce mixed barbecue with charity last week when they gathered for their annual Christmas luncheon.

Area schools, charities and civic groups received cash donations from the chamber at the event Thursday.

"Every year, the chamber chooses charities important to the community, the young and families in need," Chamber President Dennis Schrand said as members feasted on a barbecue luncheon catered by Hungry Harry's.

This year, the list of beneficiaries included five local elementary schools - Mango, McDonald, Dover, Lopez and Seffner - and Burnett Middle School. Each school received $175.

"We'll use the money to help students, faculty and staff," Burnett Principal Herbert Peeples said.

Other principals said they would use the money to give students incentives to attend school daily.

Groups receiving checks for $300 or $400 included Family Ministries of Florida; the Brandon Family YMCA; the Seffner Community Alliance, which monitors growth and rezoning activities in the community; the Taylor Road Civic Association, which spearheads efforts to protect and improve the community and local environment; and TRAVERSE, an organization in Thonotosassa that provides therapeutic horsemanship for children with disabilities.

This year for the first time the chamber donated to Hillsborough County Animal Services, which takes in 150 to 200 homeless and abandoned pets daily.

"The burden is enormous," animal services spokeswoman Marty Ryan told the group, holding an 8-week-old puppy in her arms as she spoke. The puppy, named Holly, is one of eight in a litter that need permanent homes, she said.

In addition to the $75 chamber donation, animal services received the $25 cash prize that Taylor Road Civic Association President Cam Oberting won at the luncheon.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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