We focused on breaking down the silos that often separated churches from working together in the community. Our goal was to identify the needs in our area and begin mapping out available resources, allowing us to partner and extend our impact. We planned our first community-wide Serve Day, encouraging local churches to actively support our local schools. With 180 participants from four area churches—Generations Christian Church, Hope United Methodist Church, Seven Springs Presbyterian, and First Baptist of New Port Richey—we provided cleaning services, set up classrooms, and supported teachers at seven local schools, preparing them for the back-to-school season. This effort laid the groundwork for ongoing partnerships and collective action. 

We launched the Pack A Sack program at Gulfside Elementary School under the direction of the PAS founder, Lewis Hill and Principal Chris Clayton, providing weekend food for 50 children. We expanded our church partnerships to include Community Congregational Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Trinity New Life Church, and Unity Spiritual Church and Impact Family Ministry. Together, we made plans to provide a community Cold Night Shelter for the homeless, organized the Crop Hunger Walk to raise money to fight hunger, and held our second annual Serve Day with eight church partners working at 15 different schools and local non-profits. Additionally, we held an event called Homeless Connect to offer essential resources for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

The Pack A Sack program expanded to three more area elementary schools: Richey Elementary, Anclote Elementary, and Learning Lodge Academy. This expansion was made possible through partnerships with Unity Spiritual Center, Community Congregational Church, and the Seven Springs Rotary Club. In November, we held our first Stand Down event at Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson, serving 137 homeless and at-risk veterans in our community. We also established OCN Connect, a Christian Business Networking Group led by Tricia Staltare, to foster collaboration and support within the business community. Additionally, we partnered with seven area churches to provide a Cold Night Shelter on eight different nights, offering warmth and safety to those in need.  We began to cast a vision for Neighborhood Transformation in the Holiday Lake Estates community.  

Our Stand Down event reached over 200 veterans, providing essential services and support. The Crop Hunger Walk raised over $10,000 to help fight hunger both locally in Pasco County and globally. We launched “Knitting Thru Faith,” led by Nicole Worley, as an outreach initiative providing blankets, gloves, scarves, and hats during the winter months. Our first community event over Spring Break was held at Gulfside Elementary School in Holiday, aiming to connect with families in the area. Additionally, we started our first youth soccer program in Holiday Lake Estates, offering 71 low-income and underserved children the opportunity to participate in organized sports. We also partnered with other non-profit organizations such as Toys for Tots, West Pasco Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and Metropolitan Ministries to broaden our impact in the community.

The Chasco Fiesta Hunger Walk, now renamed and relocated to Gulf High School Football Stadium, raised $35,000 for our Pack A Sack Food 4 Kids program. We hosted our first two-day, overnight Stand Down event, providing critical services to 259 homeless and at-risk veterans. Pack A Sack expanded to three additional schools – Cotee River Elementary, Bayonet Point Middle, and Sunray Elemntary – thanks to new partnerships with St. Orthodox Church, the Marine Corps, and All Saints Episcopal Church. Our Neighborhood Impact Program in Holiday grew through collaborations with Holiday Lake Estates Civic Association, Gulfside Elementary, Paul R. Smith Middle, and Anclote High School. We hired our first staff members, Dave and Lisa Heeter, as “missionaries” to reside in the Holiday Lake Estates community. Our sports programs expanded to two seasons, serving 88 children and training parents as coaches. We also organized several holiday community events: Back to School Bash, Tools for Schools, Halloween Party, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Christmas Party.

Pack A Sack grew to serve seven area schools, providing food for 245 children every weekend. We welcomed new community partners, including Arc Nature Coast, Denham Oaks, and Korean United Methodist Church. OCN Connect’s membership expanded to 20 local Christian business professionals. Neighborhood Impact signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Metropolitan Ministries to offer weekly hot meals at the Holiday Lake Estates Civic Center, providing essential resources like food, clothing, children’s programs, and financial budgeting classes to low-income families. We organized a community-wide neighborhood cleanup day and additional events to enhance our outreach in the Holiday area. Our sports programs expanded to include both basketball and soccer, held twice a year.

The Pack A Sack program extended to 15 schools feeding 690 children.  The annual One Community Now Hunger Walk continued to thrive at Gulf High School, raising $73,000 to support Pack A Sack and Metropolitan Ministries. Our Operation Stand Down event expands to a three-day, two-night event serving 300 veterans. Through our Neighborhood Impact program, we held our first Mother’s Day event and further developed our sports programs, which successfully engaged parents and schools. Our weekly hot meal center saw an average of 50 attendees, and we introduced Getting Ahead Classes to support participants in improving their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being while connecting them to community resources. Volunteers Margot Zukowski and Victoria Blevens became key leaders in our Neighborhood Impact program. As a result of our work in the Holiday community, Gulfside Elementary School was selected as the county’s first Community School, offering medical, dental, and mental health services to students and the broader community.

The Pack A Sack program expanded to 24 schools, providing weekend meals for 930 students throughout the school year. Operation Stand Down served 315 homeless and at-risk veterans, leading to federal funds being awarded to Pasco County for homeless veterans’ housing and mental health support. We organized neighborhood clean-up days in Holiday Lake Estates to improve the local environment and overall cleanliness. Our successful grant application through Pasco County Community Development secured funding to remodel the Holiday Lake Estates Civic Center into a Community Resource Center. Community events included a Mother’s Day of Pampering, a Thanksgiving Dinner with 108 attendees, a Christmas party for children, and a Bunco fundraiser. Operation Stand Down was relocated to the Concourse Rotary Pavilion, allowing us to expand our services to veterans.

Patti Templeton was hired as the first full-time CEO/Executive Director to continue expanding the vision of One Community Now. Under her leadership and direction of the board, all of the programs expanded to reach more people, and our volunteer base grew. The Pack A Sack program broadened its impact by supporting 26 schools, in collaboration with 24 partners, delivering meals to 1,000 children and addressing their nutritional needs. The Hunger Walk reached new heights, raising $109,000 to advance hunger relief initiatives. Our programs in Holiday continued to grow, even as we had to change our location due to the remodeling of Holiday Lake Estates. More than 40 families attended and graduated from our Getting Ahead classes, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to enhance their lives and build a more secure future. These achievements demonstrate our continued efforts to tackle food insecurity and uplift families in our community. Over the summer, in partnership with the Korean United Methodist Church, we provided a VBS program for 35 children from low-income households living in Holiday. In the fall, Operation Stand Down faced last-minute changes due to a hurricane, leading to a new partnership with Pasco County Public Schools for our overnight accommodations, expanding our outreach and support capabilities.

The Pack A Sack program made impressive strides, expanding to 34 schools with the support of 33 committed partners and feeding 1,315 children in need. Additionally, the Hunger Walk exceeded all expectations, raising an outstanding $120,000, fueling our ongoing mission to fight hunger and support our community. Our Operation Stand Down event was a significant success, providing crucial aid to 362 veterans. Construction continued at Holiday Lake Estates, prompting us to move our hot meal program to Gulfside Elementary School and expand our sports programs, offering soccer, basketball, and cheerleading to children ages 5-12. We also continued to provide the Getting Ahead program and partnered with Pasco County Schools to train their staff on offering this program to many parents. We celebrated our 10th anniversary with a beautiful gala at Spartan Manor, attended by 300 supporters, volunteers, and staff members. Additionally, we sponsored a Habitat for Humanity home for a veteran, furthering our commitment to serving those who have served our country.

We began the year by celebrating several of our Getting Ahead graduates who became first-time homeowners through Habitat for Humanity. We were also offered the opportunity to take over Connections Job Development, including their office in downtown New Port Richey and a thrift store on US 19. This significant boost allowed us to expand our services and establish a physical location for client meetings.

Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, we experienced growth and expansion. We quickly adapted by setting up seven emergency food distribution sites, providing essential aid and financial relief to families, and receiving funding for rental and utility assistance to prevent homelessness. Thanks to the financial support and volunteer hours from our faithful supporters, we were able to make improvements on both properties and expand our staff to seven members.

We celebrated the grand opening of our new office in June 2020, marking a milestone in our mission to support our community during these challenging times. Although we had to suspend our hot meal programs, classes, and sports programs in Holiday due to Covid, we partnered with Joining Hands Mission and Metropolitan Ministries to continue providing “To Go” meals at the civic center and school.

Despite ongoing challenges, we saw significant growth and expansion. We achieved a milestone by housing a homeless veteran and his family in our first purchased home, and we were gifted a duplex, enhancing our capacity for affordable housing and veteran’s programs. Thanks to the financial support and countless volunteer hours from our faithful supporters, we were able to make substantial improvements on both properties.

We were also excited to resume our Operation Stand Down event in the fall, after its 2020 cancellation due to Covid. Our Pack A Sack program evolved into a year-round program, including home deliveries over the summer months, feeding 1,200 children and ensuring their consistent access to nutritious food. Additionally, we moved our Hunger Walk event to Sims Park, which allowed us to reach more people and raise over $175,000 to support Pack A Sack. Our homeless prevention services made a difference by assisting 18 families facing eviction and helping them remain housed and assisting 45 people in search of employment.

Our organization achieved remarkable milestones, enhancing our services and support systems. We opened a Veteran Support Center, providing veterans a space to connect with each other and access essential resources. A generous grant allowed us to purchase a triplex, broadening our affordable housing initiatives. Operation Stand Down expanded its services by providing dentures, addressing a vital need for many veterans.

The Hunger Walk evolved into “Pack the Park for Pack A Sack,” welcoming over 2,500 participants and raising an impressive $217,000. Additionally, we provided case management to house 12 homeless families, further demonstrating our commitment to supporting those in need. We also committed to preventing veteran suicide by offering the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) course to 20 community partners and staff members, equipping them with the skills to provide critical support.

We repaired the triplex and housed families overcoming challenges such as homelessness and addiction, helping them find stability and reconnect with their children. We provided housing for 15 additional homeless families and prevented eviction for 14 families, ensuring they could remain in their homes.

The Pack A Sack program made a significant impact, distributing 60,080 bags of food to 1,500 children across 37 schools, guaranteeing consistent access to nutritious meals. We also assisted 75 individuals with resumes, job coaching, and life skills, helping them secure full-time employment.

We launched our first Clay Shoot Fundraiser to support Operation Stand Down and the Veterans Support Center. The Stand Down event continued its essential work, serving 348 veterans with the support and services needed to transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing. Notably, seven veterans made professions of faith at the Stand Down, and several past participants now volunteer to assist others.

Our Veterans Support Center, sponsored by Chapters Health Valor Program, BayCare, and Aetna, offers a unique facility focused on peer support and mental health. Veterans can meet their basic personal needs and connect with Veterans Service Officers, health navigators, and housing specialists, providing comprehensive support and resources. 

In 2024, we began the year with our 2nd annual Clay Shoot followed by a Corn Hole Tournament, both supporting our Veterans programs. We continue to be blessed by volunteers providing their time, talent, and treasures to support all of our initiatives, which focus on eradicating childhood hunger, ending veterans’ homelessness, empowering employment success, and elevating families out of poverty. We were honored to be selected as the 2024 Outstanding Non-Profit of the Year by the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

As we reflect on the past 15 years, it has been an incredible journey, witnessing how God has provided for us as we have humbly sought his will for dedication on how best to serve our community. We are deeply grateful to each of you who have supported us, whether as volunteers or contributors, sharing your time, talent, or resources. Your generosity and commitment have been instrumental in our mission to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.

The Future:

Looking to the future, we have ambitious goals to continue expanding our impact. Our vision includes purchasing at least five more housing properties to provide affordable housing, expanding the Veterans Support Center’s hours of operation to be open five days a week, and hiring a second veterans’ case manager to enhance our support services. Additionally, we aim to grow our Pack A Sack program to ensure that no child in our community faces food insecurity over the weekend or during school breaks. To achieve these goals, we need your continued financial support.

Consider donating property, stocks, bonds, RMDs, or cash, or include One Community Now in your will. Every contribution helps us move closer to our vision of a thriving, supportive community.

Please join us in prayer as we seek God’s guidance for the future.

Thank you for standing with us on this journey and for your unwavering support. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.

Join us on Facebook as we look back over the years, sharing memories of One Community Now and celebrate 15  amazing years!