5 Ways to Help ECHO

Here are 5 ways you can be a local hero to a Brandon area family in need.

1. Attend Baubles, Barbeque and Bubbles, an upscale barbecue to benefit the Emergency Care Help Organization, Sunday, May 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cross Creek Ranch in Dover. This will be an evening of food, entertainment and an auction. Dress in denim and jewels. Tickets are $50 and are available online at www.echofl.org/or at ECHO, 507 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon.

2. Donate to the Stamp Out Hunger annual postal food drive May 14. You can also sign up to volunteer to sort food on May 14-15 online at www.echofl.org/ or by 813-685-0935. The Feed the Bay food drive in April was a big success. ECHO received 24,598 pounds of food.

3. Be a regular weekly volunteers for ECHO. ECHO needs volunteers to work one day a week from 8:30 to 12:30 or 10:30 to 2:30 Monday through Friday in its food pantry and donation area.

4. Friend ECHO on Facebook. Share ECHO's story with family and friends.

5.  Attend the Crawfish Festival at Park Square in FishHawk Ranch. The FishHawk/Bloomingdale Rotary Club will present its first Crawfish Festival on Saturday, May 14 from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance/ $15 at the door. Visit http://www.fishhawkrotary.com/.