Community Corner
Float Focus: Miss ECHO 2010
The Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon, a food bank and clothes closet, has served more than 140,000 people over the past 23 years, according to the 2011 Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade announcer.
Marching in the 2011 Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, in the No. 58 spot, was Kaitlyn Fuson, the 2010 Miss ECHO designee.
Fuson rode in a 1935 Ford with the Emergency Care Help Organization of Brandon.
Fuson, 15, a student at Bloomingdale High, won the Miss ECHO title for raising the most money for the ECHO Fashion Show in October.
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“I felt so surprised and overwhelmed and I guess relieved that I did it,” Fuson said, about earning the title with her fundraising efforts.
Her future goal is to study interior design at college.
Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Five Things To Know About ECHO
1. Mission
ECHO provides food, clothing and household furnishings to individuals and families facing an emergency situation. Help can be sought up to four times in one lifetime.
2. Need Persists
ECHO has helped more than 140,000 Greater Brandon residents over the past 23 years. ECHO is at 507 North Parsons Ave., in the same strip center as the Brandon Outreach Clinic.
3. Respected Non-Profit
ECHO received in 2010 the first Non-Profit of the Year Award granted by the Community Roundtable, a not-for-profit organization that serves as an umbrella organization for area charities and businesses.(This year’s recipient was the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association.) The Community Roundtable also presents the annual Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade and race for . The group also gives the , which this year went to Sandy Pullinger.
4. Monthly Yard Sale
ECHO holds a monthly thrift sale the first Saturday of the month (in July, because of the holiday, it will be July 9), from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds are used to purchase perishable food items, a commodity ECHO volunteers are not allowed to receive from the general public.
5. Help Needed
ECHO always can use .
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Editor’s Note: More parade coverage to come. Please check back again.
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