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Retired USF Police Chief Volunteer Of The Year

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

BRANDON - Having served nearly three decades as the University of South Florida's police chief, Valrico resident Paul Uravich is accustomed to supervising and coordinating major operations.

During his tenure as the Tampa campus' first police chief, he saw the campus grow to 200 buildings and his department ranks swell to 45 members.

So Uravich assumed coordinating the annual U.S. Postal Service's Stamp Out Hunger food drive for the Emergency Care Help Organization would be a cinch.

During the National Association of Letter Carriers' food drive, residents may place nonperishable food at their mailboxes for pickup by letter carriers. The event is ECHO's largest food drive each year.

"I'll tell you, there's a lot of people and a lot of coordinating involved," Uravich said, recalling May's food drive, when 113,000 pounds of food was collected. "My job was to meet up with the postal workers and deliver the food back to ECHO. It ended up being an all-day affair."

His labor didn't go unnoticed. Uravich said he was surprised to learn his efforts won him the Shirley Vandermeer Latimer Volunteer of the Year award at the annual ECHO volunteer appreciation luncheon Jan. 24 at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association.

The Valrico Service League, formerly the Junior Service League of Brandon, began presenting the award to an outstanding ECHO volunteer in 1995. The award is named for a 16-year league member who died in 1991 from complications arising from multiple sclerosis.

After retiring as police chief, Uravich said he barely had time to catch his breath before longtime friend Nat Storms, who has been involved in ECHO since its founding, persuaded Uravich to volunteer.

That was six years ago. Since then, Uravich has served as an ECHO director and is among the faithful 90 volunteers who work at the nonprofit organization at 507 N. Parsons Ave. Part of the "Tuesday crew," Uravich usually works in the kitchen, preparing bags and boxes of groceries for the stream of needy families that walk through ECHO's doors.

Last year, ECHO provided food and clothing to 9,440 Brandon area residents.

Storms also got Uravich involved in the New Horizons Group Homes, which provides housing for mentally disabled adults - some of whom volunteer at ECHO. He's vice president of the board of directors of that organization, also in Brandon.

Uravich said he couldn't think of a better way to spend his retirement.

"Retirement is great," he said. "I get to hang around with a lot of great people. We have a lot of fun together. Plus, I get to help others. There are so many people out there with so many needs, you can't believe it. This is one of the most personally rewarding experiences that I have been involved in, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so."

He recalled one man who rode his bicycle to ECHO to pick up food for his family. ECHO was closing for the day and, as Uravich drove away, the man was struggling to fit all of the groceries onto the bike.

"I turned around and went back and drove him home," Uravich said. "Sometimes the good Lord just puts a hand on your shoulder and reminds you that you have a responsibility to your fellow man."

As for his award, Uravich said he can think of many other volunteers more worthy of the recognition.

"I consider it a privilege to be among the many volunteers who give of their time and energies to make ECHO an organization that is willing to reach out and help those in need," he said. "The entire ECHO community can be proud of their efforts in assisting those in need. I know that this effort has touched my heart on many occasions, and I appreciate the fact that I can have a role in making life a little easier for those who may be experiencing temporary hardships in their lives."

Also honored at the luncheon were ECHO volunteers who logged the most hours during the year: Iris Blain with 588.5 hours; Terry Moore with 478.5 hours; and Chris Bailey with 376 hours.

Founded in 1987 by the Brandon Ministerial Association as a nonprofit, nondenominational food pantry, ECHO's mission is to support individuals and families through hardships and emergencies by providing food and clothing, but only four times in a lifetime.

The next "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive will take place May 10.

Call (813) 685-0935.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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