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Chamber Reaches Out To Charities

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

RUSKIN - Chambers of commerce exist to serve their members - companies and individuals wanting to grow their businesses. But some chambers go beyond the usual luncheons, parties and training programs by making community service an equal part of their missions.

The Ruskin Chamber of Commerce is one.

"It's all about bettering the community and making Ruskin a great place to live and work," said Melanie Morrison, executive director. "Raising money, promoting events and providing volunteers for area nonprofit groups increases their exposure and builds awareness. It's good for them, good for the community and our business members."

When Morrison came to the chamber two years ago, she began working with its board to get the chamber more involved in projects that help those in need - veterans groups, schools, the elderly, homeless and stray or abandoned animals.

While the chamber has grown by 104 business members this year to a record 354 and tripled its ambassadors to 26, it also has increased the number of its nonprofit members to 20.

They include a diverse mix of groups, such as the Mary and Martha House shelter for battered women and their children, the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center, Critter Adoption & Rescue Effort, the SouthShore Arts Council and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Schools and churches also are considered nonprofit agencies, but they are counted separately.

Nonprofit groups join at a reduced rate and participate at no charge in events such as the chamber's annual seafood festival and business expo.

During 2008, the chamber formed an education committee to connect member businesses and the community to schools.

Morrison said chamber members sponsored Lennard High School's first migrant graduates banquet, spoke to clubs at area schools, participated in the great American Teach-In and sponsored a talent show for Beth Shields Middle School students.

The chamber also increased the number of schools it hosts at its annual breakfast for new teachers from seven to 11 and has chamber members sitting on student advisory committees at seven schools.

"We want the schools to tap into our resources by letting us know what they need," Morrison said. "We help when we can, in ways that we can."

The following are just some of the chamber's projects:

•Gave part of the proceeds from the chamber's major fundraiser, the Ruskin Seafood Festival, to Hillsborough County Friends of the Park in support of E.G. Simmons Park

•Split more than $5,664 from its annual honorary mayor's race between several area nonprofit agencies
•Fielded a team in the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life

•Hosted a spaghetti dinner for the community at the Ruskin VFW to support the Bloomingdale Library attack victim and raised $20,000

•Agreed to be a collection site for Pearson Capital's annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive, along with 20 of its members

•Partnered with VFW Post 6287 to expand the annual Ruskin Veterans Day Parade, a free community event

•Partnered with the South Shore Gallery and Beanie's Family Sports Grill to organize, promote and staff the Ruskin Big Give, a new event that fed up to 500 people in need on Thanksgiving Day

•Partnered with the South Hillsborough Community Cupboard at the Ruskin Community Service Center to re-stock its shelves year-round

•Printed 3,000 Shop Ruskin Chamber First coupon books for area nonprofit agencies to sell for $10 apiece; the agencies keep the proceeds

"In the economic state we have right now, we can't always ask our members for monetary help," Morrison said. "But we can give them the opportunity to get personally involved in community service to benefit some very worthy causes."

"The chamber has been wonderful to us," said Laurie Kepler, executive director of Mary and Martha House. "It's helped us renew our presence in the community and, through its donations and other efforts, helped us keep our programs going."

For information on the chamber or how you can help its various causes, call Morrison at (813) 645-3808.

Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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