Florida Hospital North Pinellas, Shepherd Center Team Up to Make a Difference

Florida Hospital North Pinellas partnered with The Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center to bring Thanksgiving dinner to those in need with a tradition known as Project Thanks.

The tradition is more than 30 years strong.

This year’s Thanksgiving chapter of Project Thanks was made up of over 800 cans of green beans donated from Florida Hospital North Pinellas employees, family and friends.

Additionally, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral donated enough rice to feed the 600 families while Tarpon Springs High School donated just as much corn to complete the Thanksgiving bags.

“There were turkeys, stuffing, butter, eggs, canned fruit, corn and green beans, and cranberries; each family went home with a full meal,” said Paul Hoover, Vice President of Business Development for Florida Hospital North Pinellas. “We’re in great company at The Shepherd Center this year; it’s great to see the community come together and to support one another and this time of thanks and giving.”   

Hoover was also a volunteer at this year’s Project Thanks.

Project Thanks is a program initiated by the Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center that provides a basket of food at Thanksgiving and Christmas to households-in-need in the community that register with The Center each season. The group serves over 1,000 households annually with their holiday meals.

Naomi Patterson, a 44-year employee of the hospital, is an ambassador for the Tarpon Springs community and for The Shepherd Center. Her sister, Mary Burruss is a founder of The Shepherd Center.

Patterson says that she and her sister, “Taught [their] children to be humble and [to] always share and give to others.” The work they continue to do through Florida Hospital North Pinellas and The Shepherd Center is “very rewarding.”

The hospital has been helping with this annual project for over 20 years. A number of churches, schools and organizations make up The Shepherd Center family. The community within the partnership consists of people who are concerned with others who may be down on their luck and who need a helping hand.

To learn more about how you can help or donate to The Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center during the upcoming Christmas season, please call (727)939-1400 or visit their website at http://www.tsshepherdcenter.org