Pictured, Debbie Carter of the HCSO along with the officers of the HCSO Riverview community station accept a donation check from the Pleasant Living Association. Mitch Traphagen Photo
With a number of seniors living on a fixed income, extra funds for things like tree trimming are often difficult to come by. A number of residents of the Pleasant Living Mobile Home Park in Riverview are included in that group and some have been endangered or have had homes damaged by falling tree limbs. The Pleasant Living Association is actively raising money to pay for the necessary tree trimming, a task estimated to cost at least $9,000 for the entire community. Last month they organized an art show with the support and involvement of renowned artist Fred Rothenbush and the generosity of several local businesses including Chic fil-A, Cottage Florist, Riverview Florist, Hungry Howies, Dave’s BBQ, Packer’s Plus, Target, Fruit Creations For You and Destiny Church.
The event raised $800 but the park’s community association decided to donate half of it to the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping deputies and other employees of the sheriff’s office in critical need after unforeseen catastrophic events.
The foundation was created in memory of HCSO Deputy Lynn Sowers after her death in 1995 and, to date, has provided more than $1,000,000 to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting us and our community during periods of catastrophic need, ranging from losses of homes to cancer. The foundation steadfastly protects the identity of the recipients. Most of the money to fund the foundation comes from HCSO officers and civilian employees and some is provided by communities and private citizens. It is an invaluable resource for those who are dedicated to protecting and serving others in their time of critical need.
“Lynn Sowers was an HCSO Deputy and was pregnant with her first child when she suffered a brain aneurism,” HCSO Public Information Officer Debbie Carter said. “Both Lynn and the baby died. Within hours, deputies had collected several thousand dollars in her memory to give to her husband. He told them that they had their financial affairs in order and the money should be given to those who need it.”
The foundation was created and among the first recipients were young deputies suffering from cancer. If a deputy or a civilian employee’s house were to burn down, we could provide them a check the same day. Even if they have all the insurance needed, it can take longer than that for help to arrive. It is very private for the recipients in need.”
Private tax-deductible donations to the foundation may be sent to the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 270441, Tampa, FL, 33688 or call 813-247-8059.
For information on how you can help the seniors at the Pleasant Living Mobile Home Park, call Richard Brown at 813-769-6828.
