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Our community’s cup runneth

over with uplifting stories on

this eve of a new decade.

by Jeff Lytle
et us try to count some of the ways that -A member of that task force – and many other civic efforts –
special individuals and organizations are from the start, Mike Reagen, continues to leverage goodwill earned
Lmaking our world a better place, often from leading the chamber of commerce in Naples from 2002-2013.
against tall odds, at the outset of 2020. That was an era of economic ups and downs that was in dire need of
- Empty Bowls: For the 14th year in a row, this his calming influence and voice of reason.
crusade against hunger comes to Cambier Park on Now in a very active retirement mode, Reagen remains solidly
January 25th. engaged. He shares insights, skills and often public encouragement
For tickets starting at $20, attendees can select with organizations involved with art, health care, household injury
and keep a ceramic bowl – handmade throughout the year by prevention, Collier County Mosquito Control, Keiser University,
volunteers at churches, senior centers, schools, property owners Collier Citizens Council, Naples Council on World Affairs and the
associations and many other places – and stroll the grounds Naples Discussion Group at Moorings Park. He wrote and now
sampling soup donated by 50 restaurants and country clubs. rewrites the book on involvement, dialogue and civility.
Thousands of supporters turn out every year to embrace the spirit - Collier Citizens Council, with representatives of groups
and enjoy music from high school students, witness pottery in throughout the county, has made Nancy Lascheid the third
progress and bid on special arts and crafts in a silent auction. recipient of its annual Murray Hendel Public Service Award.
The true beauty of all this is the all-volunteer culture: Proceeds She and her husband, the late Dr. Bill Lascheid, in 1999 founded
go directly to food charities such as Meals of Hope and the the Neighborhood Health Clinic, which recruits volunteer medical
Naples Senior Center serving food insecure neighbors of all ages professionals to treat the working poor and refer them to special-
and walks of life. ists when needed. The clinic, which started in a storefront and now
Thus, an event that is a year in the making and culminates in a is expanding its stand-alone facilities on Goodlette-Frank Road, is
single-day event keeps on making a difference year-round – while admired as a role model around the nation.
work on the next year’s event gets under way. Lascheid’s award predecessors are Carrie Kerskie for her
More information: Emptybowlsnaples.com. cybercrime-fighting and Collier County Judge Janeice Martin for
- The 250 member Literacy Volunteers of Collier County her pioneering work with local drug court. Hendel championed
organization is going the extra mile to tutor families and build beach renourishment and public beach access, among many other
better futures. civic projects, helped found the Collier Citizens Council and worked
When parents show up for English lessons at select local schools behind the scenes to finish the Freedom Memorial.
taking part in a pilot program, their toddlers are welcomed into -The Legal Aid Society of Collier County is a prime example of a
supervised settings that teach fundamental language and math skills. cause that has a full plate but keeps reaching out for more work.
No babysitters? No problem. In fact, Literacy Volunteers turns The team of lawyers and other legal professionals – known for
that challenge into an opportunity to prepare youngsters for success. going to bat for people unable to fight landlord-tenant and other
“Continued funding for Families Learning English is crucial to battles for themselves – now comes forward to offer pro bono help
continue and expand the program,” explains Cindy Denhart, director on wills and estate planning for veterans and first responders.
of family programs for the LVCC. “The money is needed to Though Legal Aid held a one day help-fest in November,
purchase curriculum materials for the adult students; educational services are available year-round.
games, toys, and books for the children; and fiction and non-fiction “We had a Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputy, a single
books to give to the families to enhance and encourage English mother, who sadly was diagnosed with cancer and we found an
literacy in their homes.’’ attorney very quickly to put that estate plan together pro bono,’’
The Community Foundation, whose priorities include early says Jeff Ahern, development director.
childhood education and literacy, is lending a hand with an angel “In addition, we offer holistic services at Legal Aid for those who
fund grant. qualify for other issues – including housing, family law, tax issues,
More information: Collierliteracyvolunteers.org. public benefits to address medical care and to meet basic needs, etc.”
- Collier County’s long standing Identity Theft Task Force is More information: Legalaid.org/collier.
expanding its mission and name to reflect the reality of our
expanding landscape of high-tech fraud. Lytle is the retired editorial page editor and TV host at the
The iFACT Task Force, for Identity Theft & Fraud Awareness, Naples Daily News. Jeff can be reached by email at Jlytle@comcast.net
still led by Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and cyber-crimefighter
Carrie Kerskie, is gearing up for a new round of public forums with
updates on how to protect yourself. Stay tuned.
More information: Carrie@griffonforce.com.

88 Life in Naples | January 2020