THE CEDAR KEY COMMUNITY RELIEF FUND NEEDS YOU

November 18, 2019

...a note from Jennie Pinto

The Cedar Key Community Relief Fund started in 2010 when a local woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Even though she had insurance, we as a community, realized the cost of going back and forth for treatment and the cost of her family visiting her while she was in the hospital was going to add up. The Cedar Key Lions decided to hold a fundraiser to raise money for gas cards. Cedar key Lions didn’t feel they were the best organization to handle this type of charity work and asked the local churches to take charge of this mission.

Pastor Clark Reichert and Father Jim Wright took charge of what became the Cedar Key Community Relief Fund. Ken Young, Mrs. Thelma McCain, and Jennie Pinto were “the foot soldiers.” The main focus is providing gas cards for people who need to travel for treatment, when a loved one is in the hospital or for other medical needs.

We survive on donations, and when we run short of money, we host a benefit dinner. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Women’s Club, the Lions, the churches, individuals, and the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association support us.

We are not out of money but we’re starting to run short. We’ve had some needs recently that have impacted our bank balance.

We asked to hold a benefit dinner at the Community Center and asked the City of Cedar Key to waive the rental fee. Thank you, City of Cedar Key for waving the fee. Thank you CKAA for helping host the dinner, thank you to all who have contributed and to those making the desserts!

To date we have provided $8,425 in gas cards. We have three gas cards left at $50 each; we have just under $300 in the bank.    

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