LWRBA members volunteer for local causes

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance continues its annual Giveback campaign with dozens of events.

By Scott Lockwood
| 8:40 a.m. October 18, 2021

Terry Phelps of Lakewood Ranch loads some tree trimmings onto a cart for disposal at Dream Oaks Camp. Phelps was one of more than 20 volunteers that took part in the event. Photo by Scott Lockwood.

East County
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Lakewood Ranch resident Beth Vandroff paused to take in the sight as a group of more than 20 volunteers began to clear out bushes and branches Oct. 7 in woodsy Dream Oaks Camp.

“Volunteering is near and dear to our hearts as a group, and we're here to clean up the property and give it an overall face-lift to make it nice and pristine for the season,” said Vandroff, who works for Gulf Coast Property Management.

A group of seven volunteers from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance helped sort donations and restock racks at The Twig on Thursday. The Twig allows foster children to shop for clothes free of charge. Photo by Scott Lockwood.

The event was one of more than two dozen in-person and virtual events with more than 220 volunteers that made up the fourth annual Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days, held Oct. 7-9.

“We just enjoy giving back to the community and Gulf Coast Property Management (a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance) is a big believer in giving back,” Vandroff said. “The Foundation for Dreams is an unbelievable organization."

Volunteers from organizations that belong to the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance also worked at The Twig, a boutique that provides children in foster care with clothing and shoes free of charge. They sorted and tagged clothing and moved it to the sales floor.

Volunteers from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and other groups from central Florida gather to help clean up the Foundation for Dreams site on Thursday. Photo by Scott Lockwood.

Keith Pandeloglou, who directs Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, said the event had a special meaning. He said The Twig was a newer organization with a great mission that he wanted to be a part of and learn how they could get the word out in the community for people in the foster system.

“I think personally, as someone who doesn't have kids, any opportunity I can have to give back to kids makes me feel like I'm doing my job as a you know, a pseudo parent,” Pandeloglou said. “There are others that may not have that ability.”