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On A Mission To Help Others

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By LENORA LAKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 24, 2007

UNIVERSITY AREA - While the meal for about 200 guests wasn't a traditional turkey dinner, "I know this is the only Thanksgiving some of these people will have," said Santa Maria Mission coordinator Ondina Hernandez.

The dinner of ham, yellow rice, salad and cake Nov. 17 was donated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Hispanic Advisory Council and served by council and mission volunteers, as well as representatives from the sheriff's office and the Hillsborough County State's Attorney's Office.

It has become an annual event at the 6-year-old mission on North 15th Street, which is sponsored by St. Mary Catholic Church and caters to a growing Hispanic population west of the University of South Florida.

The guests included members of the mission, who attend Spanish-language Mass and religion classes, and other community residents, who also receive food and clothing from the mission.

Some came in wheelchairs or on electric scooters; parents came pushing strollers; others had bedrolls with them.

Hernandez said: "It's the sense of community. It's the gathering of people who worship here and anybody from the community who feels this is their place."

For some immigrants, it was their first celebration of Thanksgiving.

"It's Thanksgiving not a common thing worldwide," said Linda Thorpe, president of the Hispanic Advisory Council.

"But this gives them an opportunity to see that other people care - not just the church."

Several sheriff's deputies from the nearby District 1 office participated by slicing and serving cake, pouring coffee and talking with the residents.

Cpl. Lisa Croissant said: "It's a way to get some trust in law enforcement and build those bridges. A lot come from countries where they can't trust law enforcement."

The event also included door prize drawings for 50 take-home boxes of turkeys and canned food, donated by St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa.

TO HELP
Santa Maria Mission provides food, clothing, linens and personal care items to those in need. The mission particularly needs donations of canned goods, blankets and diapers. To donate, call (813) 910-3575.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-5851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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