Maitland City Talk

For 15 years the Maitland Men’s Club has been doing well by doing good. Comprised of about 40 local guys, the Maitland Men’s Club is dedicated to community service with a special emphasis on helping children.

This year the Men’s Club has once again come through for disadvantaged local school children by partnering with the Christian Service Center (CSC) to provide “Love Pantries” in each of Maitland’s three primary schools: Lake Sybelia Elementary, Dommerich Elementary and Maitland Middle School.

Love Pantries are the brainchild of Commissioner Robert F. Stuart (Orlando City Council, District 3). As executive director of the Christian Service Center, Commissioner Stuart became aware of an acute need in our communities: The daily need for take-home food for our local school children. We’ve all heard about it in the mainstream media as if it was occurring in a foreign land, but as unlikely as it sounds, many Maitland area school children come to school hungry every day.

Every day students come to Dommerich, Lake Sybelia Elementary and Maitland Middle without a full stomach and without the expectation of a hot, healthy dinner. It impedes their learning and impedes the progress of the entire class. To use what he often refers to as his “gift of administration,” Commissioner Stuart recognized this need and organized a solution.

Love Pantries are specially made cabinets loaded with about 30 carefully selected food and hygiene items. Neatly arranged in the cabinet, the items are stocked and restocked weekly by trained volunteers. The food is purchased from Second Harvest Food Bank and is delivered to the schools by volunteers each week. It is handed out graciously and discretely to those who need it. There is no cost to the recipients and no cost to the schools. There isn’t one government dollar in the program.

There are 180 public schools in Orange County. This year the Christian Service Center will have Pantries in 60 of those schools. Thanks to the Aug. 9 donation of nearly $7,000 from the Maitland Men’s Club, all three of Maitland’s primary schools are now included.

Congratulations and thank you to Principals Paradise, Handley and Maxwell for their enthusiastic commitment to this project within each of their respective schools. And thanks to the men of the Maitland Men’s Club for once again demonstrating their compassion and commitment to this community.

In the months ahead, the Maitland Men’s Club will look to partner with other local civic groups, such as the Maitland Rotary, The Heritage Club, the Maitland Women’s Club and PTSA groups in each school, as well as local churches, faith-based groups, and individual and corporate sponsors who can help the Men’s Club keep the program going and growing. The need is there. The solution is there. All that is needed now are people who care and who are willing to act.

Anyone interested in assisting in this endeavor is invited to contact me at [email protected] or at my office, 407-835-8811. Or contact Ms. Mary Lee Walker at the Christian Service Center at 407-425-2523, ext. 230, [email protected]

—Vice Mayor Philip F. Bonus

President - Maitland Men’s Club

New City Hall is open for business

On July 23 the long-awaited new city hall building opened for business! Although there are still some final touch-ups under way, city staff moved into the building on the 23rd, and business is being conducted from the new location. The new facility is compliant with the latest U.S. Green Building Council requirement for an energy-efficient building. It is beautifully landscaped, and the interior is efficient and nicely appointed. The administrative city staff and all offsite storage have been consolidated in the building. The new City Council chamber has been outfitted with the latest audio-visual technology so meetings can be conducted more effectively and with better acoustics and visual access for all participants.

If you are coming to visit or to do business, you can find the following functions as shown below:

First Floor –Utility Billing, Finance and Management Services, City Council Chambers

Second Floor – Building Permitting, Planning and Zoning, Mapping, Code Enforcement

Third Floor – Administration, Personnel, Leisure Services

In order for the community to be able to inspect the new facility and to celebrate its opening, we will host a grand opening event from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in front of the new building followed by a dedication ceremony in the new City Council Chambers.

Everyone is invited to attend!