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Businesses Benefit Gulfside Regional Hospice

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: July 12, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY -- Area businesses are pitching in to benefit Gulfside Regional Hospice programs.

The Ridge Road location of Fantastic Sams is donating some of the money from haircuts every Tuesday during July, according to Ashley Mann, community relations coordinator for the hospice.

The Starbucks Coffee Co. at U.S. 19 and Gulf Drive has donated pastries to the hospice, saving the nonprofit agency some $40,000 since last fall.

At the Fantastic Sams, the manager, Michelle Arends, came up with the idea to set aside 10 percent of payments for haircuts and other regular priced services or products on Tuesdays.

Haircuts for Hospice lets people look fantastic will helping a good cause, Mann explained in a press release. Customers can call 727-849-5075 for an appointment at the location, 8532 Ridge Road. The Fantastic Sams is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

Meanwhile, Anna Morgan, manager of the Starbucks location which opened in October, said that the store sought out a community organization to benefit. Morgan met the hospice's Director of Development Robin Vollmer, who explained how the store could help.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a Gulfside volunteer goes to the store, picks up the pastries and distributes them to Gulfside's hospice houses, bereavement community center, thrift stores, and main administrative office in New Port Richey.

The pastries are given to patients and their families to provide a sense of home, as well as served at various meetings and functions. Starbucks has also provided refreshments at various Gulfside events, such as Hike for Hospice and the 2008 Golf Classic.

The food donation from Starbucks has saved Gulfside Regional Hospice more than $40,000 since last October, which is then put back into providing patient care.

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