Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-27-21

Features
Trio Of Friend Realtors Join Forces To Help Haiti
Longtime Sentinel Carrier Succumbs To Health Issues
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
A longtime newspaper carrier for the Sentinel passed away Friday, August, 20, 2021, after a brief hospi- tal stay in Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Darlene Thomas was 64 years old.
Mrs. Thomas started delivering the Sentinel with her family in 1984, making stops in Seffner, Plant City and Lakeland, and other stores along the way.
Mrs. Thomas graduated from Plant City High School in 1974. She became the wife of Herbert Thomas in 1977. Together, they were the parents of 5 children, and now 18 grand and great- grandchildren.
DARLENE THOMAS
In addition to making de- liveries for the Sentinel, Mrs. Thomas was em- ployed by Discount Auto Parts for several years.
For years, Mrs. Thomas worshipped at Mt. Olive in Plant City. In recent years,
she worshipped at New Grace Chapel CME Church and St. Mark.
Funeral services are being planned for Saturday, Sep- tember 4, 2021, 1 p. m. with Washington Funeral Home in charge of services.
Rene Parra and Laurie Brunache load the van to Miami.
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
The city of Les Cayes, in southwestern Haiti is dealing with the after effects of a mas- sive earthquake that hit the country on August 14th.
Haitian authorities have now registered more than 2,200 deaths and there are at least 344 people missing. More than 12,200 people were in- jured and over 129,900 homes were damaged or destroyed. Authorities have also said that some 684,000 people in the hardest-hit regions need ur- gent humanitarian assistance.
Three friends and real es- tate agents, Rene Parra, Anne-Sophie Petit-Frere, and Laurie Brunache are determined to help the Haitian people as much as they can.
Petit-Frere and Brunache are both Haitian. The friends promoted the ef- fort on their Instagram pages and created an Amazon Wish
List to give direction to those who wanted to give.
On August 24, 2021, over 40 boxes of canned goods, toi- letries, and other items were sent down to the Miami area to the Brunache family home. Over 300 items have been pur- chased and those items have already been sent to Miami. They will then be sent to Haiti.
Although the cut-off for do- nations was August 23, 2021, there is a good possibility that another drive will happen soon. To keep abreast of future efforts, and look for donation opportunities, visit the friends’ Instagram pages (@anneso- phiepf, @reneparra, or @lau- riebrunache).
Rene Parra states, “We want to continue to help the earthquake and hurricane vic- tims. This is our first attempt to help. Once we get through this one, we will see if we need to do anything to make it eas- ier. Then we’ll do another ef- fort.”
Tampa Chapter Of The Links, Inc. Team Up With Solita’s House
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Saturday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m., the Tampa (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorpo- rated and Solita’s House will kick off their new partnership to help community members with home ownership.
Willa Peterson, Co- Chair of the National Trends Facet says that the initial push for the partnership was a grant sponsored by the Southern Area of the Links, Incorpo- rated. The grant was to be used to promote financial empow- erment and home ownership.
The Tampa Chapter awarded the grant to Solita’s House based on the work they were doing in the community to help first time home buyers.
The Tampa Chapter of the Links took 3rd place in the grant proposal effort and re-
WILLA PETERSON
ceived $1,200 to give to Solita’s House.
Peterson states, “We wanted to write and host sev- eral workshops for Solita’s House clients. However, Solita’s House already had a program of workshops.
The Links, Inc. will help mentor the clients in various areas including budget, fi-
nance, and career skills. After fully completing the eight workshops, the clients should be ready to buy a home. The Links will pay $100 toward each client’s closing costs and provide house-warming gift baskets to help make their new homes cozier.”
Founder of Solita’s House,
Aidza Antonio-Thomas
says, “we are super excited. Both of our missions will help to enhance the resources of minority families in the Tampa area with the goal of increased financial security.”
Antonio-Thomas con- tinues, “we are a staple in the community and have been around for 15 years. We bring the resources that our clients need in terms of affordable credit and making it available to clients that may not have the best credit.”
Solita’s House prides itself on being a social lender and the second chance giver for in- dividuals to become credit worthy. Becoming credit-wor- thy brings lower interest rates and reduced costs for houses.
The Facebook Live event will kick off the program. Go to the Facebook page of the Tampa Links (@TampaLinks) or Solita’s House (@Soli- tasHouse) on Saturday at 10:00am to view the Facebook Live event.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021