The Volunteer Way is Raising Funds for a New Building

As the recession continues and unemployment benefits run out, some New Port Richey residents are forced to seek help from charities like The Volunteer Way.

But The Volunteer Way is running out of resources at its headquarters at 7820 Congress Ave. in New Port Richey.

“We didn’t realize how bad the economy was going to get,” said Chief Executive Officer Lester Cypher. “We don’t have enough parking. We can’t give enough food. We can’t service everyone we need to.”

To remedy this, The Volunteer Way is attempting to raise funds for a new warehouse on a seven-acre plot of land where the nonprofit's hydroponic farm exists. The move will take them just up the street to Port Richey at 8061 Congress Ave.

Cypher says this is a necessity and plans for the new building to be fully operational on the plot, outside the city borders, by July 2011.

The new building will give The Volunteer Way 10,000 square feet of office and storage space, more than double the 4,800 sq. feet they currently possess.

Right now, Pasco County Parks and Recreation next door closed up the front of its building and operates out of the back so that The Volunteer Way can use the front parking lot. Individuals visiting  for their monthly box of food or to shop at the thrift store also line up along the side of the road and down the street in other businesses’  lots.

“[The Volunteer Way] does wonderful work,” said New Port Richey resident Yvonne Eversen. “It really helps out when you’re on a limited income. We can buy stuff cheaper here and get food here and it helps out.”

Building foundations 

Cypher estimates the cost of the building to be between $500,000 and $600,000. About $300,000 of it has been raised, $100,000 from a Pasco County block grant and the rest from donations and fundraisers.

Martha O’Brien, assistant CEO, started “Path to Hope” for donors to buy bricks engraved with loved one's name, memorials or other messages for $100 a piece. The bricks will be used to construct a 120-foot path leading up to the new building.

“We are debt-free, and the board of directors has directed me to be debt-free for the new building,” Cypher said.

Moving on up

“The main benefit of the move is that we’ll have a larger building,” Cypher said. “Right now, every office, every hallway is a storage space. We are so large and have so many activities and people working but not enough storage space.”

Cypher said he grew up at the end of The Great Depression, and the economy didn’t seem as bad then as it does now.

 “The move will make us more available for different needs that the community has,” Cypher said.  “The economy is going to get worse before it gets better. In the last two years, I’ve seen people who have never asked for help before come in crying because they have to be here.”

The Volunteer Way currently serves about six million pounds of food a year to more than 20,000 families a month. Cypher said that the new warehouse will allow them to serve another million pounds worth of food and another five to 10,000 families a month, though Cypher doesn't see that as a good thing.

"I'd like to see it down to zero," Cypher said. 

Roadblocks on the path to a new home

“As a lay person, I’m not familiar with constructing new buildings,” Cypher said. “It took us so long to get the permits. I’m in the field of helping people not building buildings.”

Cypher said that by Feb. 9, the materials for the building’s construction will be delivered to the new location. As soon as they get a bid from the contractor, money and God-willing, the building itself will go up in a couple weeks.

Keeping the old 

“It’s still on the drawing board but we hope to have a resource center here,” Cypher said. “If you need counseling or food, electric money, etc., we’ll cover you. Anything the low-income or underserved need.”

O’Brien said that The Volunteer Way hopes to hold seminars there teaching people basic skills like how to use a computer and dress for success. Cypher would also like to install showers and a laundromat.

 “We’re a small charity, but we keep growing, and we need to keep changing,” Cypher said.

The Volunteer Way is seeking donations for the new building and volunteers to help run it. To find out more, fill out the volunteer form online or call (727) 815-0433.