Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 11-14-17

Local
Founder To Host 31st Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Event
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, November 20th, Feed Our Children Min- istries, Inc., will host its 31st Pre-Thanksgiving Event. It will take place at Calvary Community Center, 3401 E. Louisiana Avenue, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, the organiza- tion will not have the tradi- tional sit-down dinner because of a lack of space. However, Pastor Brown said, some prepared dinners will be available and there will be activities for the chil- dren.
Pastor Moses Brown,
founder of the organization said, “We had to move the event to a new location be- cause of the hurricane. But it was an epiphany for me. This
will give people an opportu- nity to make an appointment and get a check up and get their food at the same time.”
Pastor Brown further stated that taking care of your health hit home when he went to the doctor and discovered he has diabetes. “I was dying and didn’t even know it. So, I want to em- power people to help them- selves.
“Thirty-one years ago, I didn’t think that I would be still doing this. But one of my greatest successes is when the ones I used to help come back and help others. That’s when I knew the effort has reached an apex. We have empowered others who were hungry and they were hungry enough to want to do better.”
More than three decades ago, as the Thanksgiving hol-
PASTOR MOSES BROWN ... Founder of Feed Our Children Ministries, Inc.
idays approached, Pastor Brown learned through a conversation with an East Tampa child that his family wouldn’t be celebrating Thanksgiving. The child told Pastor Brown that his par- ents didn’t have the money to buy the food for the tradi- tional Thanksgiving Dinner.
Pastor Brown recalls immediately getting on the telephone, calling several friends, and making plans to have a community dinner. The friends responded in force and the 1st Pre-Thanks- giving Dinner was held at the Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center. That en- counter became the basis of the annual Pre-Thanksgiving Event now in its 31st year.
In reviewing the year, Pastor Brown said it has been unusual because of the hurricanes. However, those events showed him how much compassion the com- munity has for others.
Because of the generosity of others, Feed Our Children Ministries, Inc., was able to help victims of the hurri- canes in Houston, Puerto Rico, and the Islands with
donations of food and cloth- ing.
Anyone interested in ob- taining a food box can regis- ter on line at www.feedourchildren.org.
Christmas Celebration This year, Pastor Brown is asking for anyone in need of help with Christ- mas gifts to register as soon as possible. The information needed is the parents, the ad- dress, name of the children, and the gift the child wants
most.
The sponsors will attempt
to match the requests. Regis- ter for the Christmas Cele- bration at www.feedourchildren.org.
Anyone wishing to volun- teer or to obtain more infor- mation can contact Pastor Brown at (813) 784-1021.
NAACP Branch Calls For Meeting:
Supt. Jeff Eakins Meets With Community
The Hillsborough County Branch NAACP called for Superintendent Jeff Eakins to meet with the community to discuss the fate of the 7 failing schools. The Superintendent agreed and met with several members of the community at Leary School. (Photos by Frederick Harris)
Hillsborough County School District Superintendent Jeff Eakins addresses those who attended the meeting called by the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP on Monday, Novem- ber 6, 2017 at Leary School.
Retired School District official Dr. Lewis Brinson watched the meeting proceedings.
Community activist Joseph (Joe) Robinson also made comments. Asst. Supt. Owen Young can be seen in the rear.
School Board Member Susan Valdez addressed the audience.
Retired Tampa Police Officer Orlando Gudes made comments about the failing schools to Supt. Eakins.
Henry Bell also made com- Malik L. Abdullah had con- ments. cerns about the failing schools.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9