Shop for a Cause at ECHO Charity, Yard Thrift Sale (Jan. 26)

Charity thrift sale volunteers at the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) will be on duty Saturday, Jan. 26 to sell discounted clothes and small household items to the public.

These items are received weekly from the residents of Greater Brandon, who support the food bank and clothes closet with donations of gently used items to help neighbors struggling through tough times.

Once a month ECHO opens its storefront to the general public, which allows the non-profit to clear overstocked items and raise money for other needs that people have, such as perishable food items.

ECHO is available to people who, because of emergency situations, are having trouble paying for food, clothes and other items. A person can used ECHO services up to four times on one lifetime.

Last year, the ECHO Client Service Center opened to provide a fuller range of services for people in need, including

• See ECHO Grows With Client Service Center

• See

At the center, Efaw noted, clients can learn about and sign up electronically for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps; the Temporary Cash Assistance Program; Medicaid; and Healthy Kids insurance.

In addition, ECHO works with Hillsborough Coummunity College and others to provide workforce training and classes and to provide counseling and assistance to better meet the needs of clients who find themselves in dire situations because of tough times, emergency situations or an ailing economy.

ECHO is at 507 North Parsons Ave. in Brandon, north of Brandon Boulevard, just over the railroad tracks on the east side of the street.

The Jan 26 ECHO Charity Thrift Sale runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.