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VLWWC presents checks to Sun City Center EMS and SouthShore CAHT

The Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club (VLWWC) presented checks the week of February 17 to both the Sun City Center Emergency Medical Squad (SCC EMS) and the SouthShore Campaign Against Human Trafficking (CAHT). The VLWWC has 225 members and members must be residents of the Valencia Lakes community. The focus of the Club is charitable giving and outreach in the local community.

In order to raise awareness about cardiovascular health risk, which is the leading cause of death among women, the Club held a “Wear Red Dinner Dance” on February 7, 2025. The event coincided with the American Heart Association National Wear Red Day.  SCC EMS Chief Michael Bardell was in attendance and spoke briefly about the role of the EMS.
The squad benefits the community by responding to emergency calls, providing education and medical equipment, and assisting with disaster communication for the Valencia Lakes community. 

A total of $2000 was raised and donated to the SCC EMS. With the check presentation, Deputy Chief, Ed Whitehead provided the VLWCC President and Vice Presidents with a tour of the facility.

 

The SouthShore CAHT has a mission to raise awareness, prevent human trafficking and to support victims and help put an end to human trafficking. Florida DCF revealed that in a county-wide data, Hillsborough County had the highest number of reports of human trafficking in Florida for 2024.

The Rescue Backpacks Program was formed eight years ago and is part of CAHT’s Victim Services Program.  Since the survivors of human trafficking often have nothing but the clothes on their backs - and sometimes not even that - rescue backpacks are filled with items a newly rescued victim will need to begin a new life.  They are given for free to the victims but cost approximately $60 each.   Almost 800 backpacks have been distributed during the past five years. The VLWWC will again be donating $1000 to the SouthShore CAHT to purchase additional backpacks.  They expect to need 224 rescue backpacks this year. Additional donations to CAHT will be accepted via their website sccblueheart.org.

 

The VLWWC would like to thank the entire Valencia Lakes community for their generous donations to these community partners. Additional support was obtained from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay SouthShore Council.

Published in SCC Observer 3/20/25