Griffin grew up during the Great Depression and knew firsthand what it was like to go hungry, and he wanted younger club members to become aware of the implications of hunger that comes from missed meals. Thus, the tradition of ‘skipping a lunch to feed a bunch’ became the SALFAB program, and the members of Tampa East Sertoma enthusiastically support the SALFAB initiative, which lives on as a legacy to our beloved former founding club member.
This year, the SALFAB Program provided food to 30 families associated with the Sam and Laurice Hachem Foundation Temple Terrace Boys and Girls Club and the St. Joseph Catholic School in Tampa. The recipients of the donated food vary year to year depending on where needs are greatest.
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Sertoma, Inc., was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit national service organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life today for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss through education and support.
Sertoma is a non-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization, and the Club is proud of raising more than $2.5 million for local organizations and has donated more than 800,000 volunteer hours to the community. Organizations helped by the Club include: Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation, Early
St. Joseph Catholic School was brought to our attention by long term club member, Laura White. White, Director of Grants and Programs for the Conn Memorial Foundation, and School Principal, Brenda H. Budd identified 20 families which would benefit from the SALFAB holiday meal donations. Budd stated, “This act of kindness is a true blessing, as many in our community struggle to afford holiday extras while focusing on essential needs. Your generosity has made a significant impact on these families during a special time of year.”
our food distribution. This year’s donations totaled $6,015 providing approximately $200 worth of groceries and grocery gift cards for each family.
Temple Terrace Deputy Chief Rob Staley shared in the holiday spirit by helping with the food distributions. Staley said, “We come out here a lot to build a relationship with the kids and the community. This Tampa East Sertoma program really helps families at this time of year.”
To learn more about Tampa East Sertoma Club, please visit www.TampaEastSertomaClub.org, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TampaEastSertomaClub/, or contact our club president, Jim Weiss at 813.431.3058. For more information about our national organization, Sertoma, Inc. and its community of clubs, call 816.333.8300 or visit: www.Sertoma.org.
Sertoma member Carl Brown helps Odila Rodriguez and Tony Crafa load holiday groceries.
The holiday season is a special time of year, and for more than 35 years, Tampa East Sertoma Club has tried to make the holidays a little more special for local families by delivering groceries for a complete holiday meal. These charitable food donations are made possible through a program the Club calls “SALFAB.” The acronym means Skip-A-Lunch, Feed-A- Bunch, and club members skip lunches throughout the year and donate those funds to feed families during the holidays.
Sertoma members Jim Bransford, Sheldon Wind and Joe Howell.
Publix Super Market Manager Jennifer Redmond with her Employees and Tampa East Sertoma Club members.
helping youth
“Giving families in need food for Christmas is one of my favorite Sertoma Club activities. The joy of the holiday season expressed in the happy faces of the recipients reminds me of why I joined this club. I get more personal reward from this event than any other.” said Tampa East Sertoma Club president Jim Weiss.
Childhood Council, ALOTO (A League of Their Own), Sertoma Camp Endeavor, Self Reliance, Inc., USF Audiology Scholarship, Lopez Exceptional Center, and others, in addition to the Temple Terrace Boys and Girls Club and St. Joseph Catholic School.
Food insecurity is a growing problem in the Tampa Bay area with an increasing number of families and children identified as being food insecure in Hillsborough County. The impacts from the recent hurricanes, economic inflation and jobless rates have only increased this need for many families. The SALFAB program brings good food and holiday cheer during this special time of year.
Sertoma stands for SERvice TO MAnkind, which is a perfect description of the group's mission. Tampa East Sertoma Club was founded in 1965 and is one of the area’s oldest civic organizations, serving the Tampa Bay community for nearly 60 years.
As in the past, Publix Super Market in Carrollwood provided in-kind food donations as well as considerable employee time to put the food bags together. Store Manager Jennifer Redmond and several of her employees worked very hard to organize the groceries based on family sizes and to do “thrifty” shopping to try to select “Buy One, Get One” (BOGO) products to make the donations go even farther. “It’s a pleasure to work with Sertoma to deliver meals at this time of year.” said Redmond as she handed off bags of food.
Tampa East Sertoma Club is proud of the work we do to support the Sertoma mission of
SERvice TO MAnkind.
The SALFAB program has grown through the years with funds for purchasing the holiday groceries made possible by Sertoma Club members through their donations as well as through a $2,000 grant provided by Sertoma, Inc. the national organization for local Sertoma civic service clubs. Sertoma, Inc. established the Sertoma Club Grant program to help further clubs’ efforts to support community charitable organizations. With these grants, Tampa East Sertoma Club has been able to increase the number of families included in
Tampa East Sertoma Club’s Traditional
SALFAB Program Feeds Local Families
Cortney Johnson, Daviyonna Holmes with Deputy Chief Staley and Sertoma Member, Stephanie Coonrod.
Mercedes Engran and Keniya Norwood with Sertoma member Don Leggett.
The Boys and Girls Club was suggested by Temple Terrace Mayor Andrew Ross and Temple Terrace Police Chief Kenneth R. Albano. The facility, managed by Carl Brandon, provides afterschool childcare in Temple Terrace with programs designed to assist children to succeed in school. The Club provides a safe & empowering environment and provides help with homework, STEM, College & Career Prep Programs and much more.
The SALFAB tradition of holiday giving was started by Tampa East Sertoma founding club member, the Honorable Judge Jack Griffin who championed the event to expand the Sertoma tradition of “Giving Back” to those in need.
helping seniors & Low income FAMILIES
Tampa East Sertoma Club takes great pride in the fact that 100% of fund raising proceeds go to charity. The cost of the club operation is funded separately.
The Sertoma organization was founded in 1912; currently with approximately 500 clubs and 13,000 members in the US and Canada. Learn more about Sertoma.org:
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