Faced with the prospect of just getting rid of some 60 chairs at Panera Bread, management at the Westfield Brandon eatery opted instead to donate the chairs to one of Brandon’s most busiest charitable groups.

And that means for visitors to the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) on Parsons Avenue, lawn chairs are out and sturdier, more comfortable, chairs are in for clients as they await processing at the community food bank and clothes closet.

“Instead of just tossing them away, the chairs are now going to someone who can really use them,” said Leslie Corbett, the store's general manager, who first broached the donation idea.

Giving back to the community is nothing new for the Westfield Brandon eatery. Any food that is not sold at closing is donated to a local charity.

Corbett has no doubt the chairs are going to a worthy cause.  

“(ECHO) is a great organization. Everyone goes through some hard times at some point and it’s nice to know they are there. It’s good to live in a community with a group like this that really cares.”

ECHO serves more than 700 area residents a month from the communities of Brandon, Lithia, Dover, Gibsonton, Seffner, Valrico and Riverview. The group provides food, clothing and household items to individuals and families in emergency situations up to four times in a lifetime.

The chairs will be put to good use, said Irma Davila, an ECHO board member.

“We used to have lawn chairs out there so it’s a nice addition for clients and guests. People come to ECHO at probably some of the worst times in their lives so giving them a comfortable chair while they wait for help is an improvement. It’s nice to see the local stores doing something to help lift the spirits of our clients.”

The people sitting in those chairs waiting for help are some of the same people who used to donate to ECHO, Davila said.

“It happens all the time now. I know some folks who used to come in with donations all the time who are now coming in for help.”

More news from and about ECHO:

• The next ECHO Charity Thrift Sale is scheduled for April 30, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at ECHO, 507 North Parsons Ave. Brandon Patch in a report on the Feb. 5 yard sale noted its intent to help purchase perishable food items.
• ECHO needs volunteers for the May 14 Stamp Out Hunger Postal Food Drive. Unlike drives in the past, this year volunteers also are needed for two-hour shifts on the night before the drive. “We are changing things a little this year and doing it in conjunction with Feed America and therefore we need people at the Feed America facility,” Davila said. She’s confident Brandon will turn out for the event – the group usually has 300 – 400 volunteers every year – but with the changes this year she just wants to get the message out.
• ECHO on May 22, at Cross Creek Ranch in Dover, is hosting the "Baubles, Bar-B-Que & Bubbles" fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. Food is from Hungry Harry's Bar-B-Que.
• ECHO needs donations of gently used clothes, towels, blankets and household items. Food items most needed are canned meats, jelly, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, canned pasta, rice and macaroni and cheese. Toiletries and hygiene products also are needed.

Visit ECHO online for more information or call: 813-685-0935.