By Virginia Larsen

The Rev. Kristin Wee, former associate pastor of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and current senior pastor of Nativity Lutheran Church in Hernando County north of Tampa, Fla., was honored recently as one of four individuals instrumental in establishing a food assistance program in Hernando County.

This thriving organization called People Helping People began in 2009 by providing two meals monthly to the hungry and homeless at the Hernando County Senior Center. The mission quickly expanded to include clothing, bags of groceries, and bicycles or bus vouchers for those without transportation. Its volunteers also began connecting people with other help organizations in Hernando County. Sunday dinners are now served every week to more than 100 people. This past year over 5000 meals were served.

People Helping People also operates the Blessings in a Backpack project for about 350 children in eight elementary schools in Hernando County. Every Friday, a backpack filled with nutritious food is sent home with each child who otherwise would not eat well over the weekend. The children bring the empty backpacks back to their schools on Monday.

PHP supports a pantry in one of the towns of Hernando County and gives supplemental food to 35 elderly persons living alone in subsidized housing. This program is called Senior Blessings.

Everyone involved in the PHP programs is a volunteer. There is no paid staff. PHP relies on donations from individuals, businesses, faith communities, local restaurants and other organizations.

A unique aspect of People Helping People is that the faith communities working together are Jewish, Muslim and Christian. Clergy and lay people representing the church, the synagogue and the mosque are making a big difference in many lives in many ways.

Among Wee, those honored for their founding efforts included the superintendent of Hernando County Schools, a medical doctor from Damascus, Syria, and a medical doctor from India, all living in Hernando County.

People Helping People grew out of Pastor Wee’s vision of forming an interfaith organization to help the needy of Hernando County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors.