Words from our Congregation President, Ricki Bauman
June-July, 2026
55 years ago, three churches in Sun City Center created a plan to offer financial aid to our residents. A year later, in 1972, they formed the Interfaith Social Action Council to make it happen. They then opened the Nearly New Shop, and SCC abundantly gave, literally, nearly new items that could be sold. The shop outgrew its home, and in 2001, moved to the plaza. The member houses of worship grew to nine! Incredibly, the Nearly New Shop has earned more than 4 million dollars from its sales through the years.
Although the number of houses of worship has declined from 9 to 7 (one in particular was the United Church of Christ, our friend and benefactor from the 1970s); the good work never stops.
Here’s what the Interfaith Council has done for us recently: In my first year as President, we received a $5,000 grant that we dedicated to repair the Hurricane Milton damage. The next year, I personally applied for a grant — they gave us $12,500 to repair the hurricane damage. Right there was one-third of the cost. And ISAC had never done anything like that before! But they did, and we are very grateful for this. And thanks to our volunteers — and let me single out Barbara Nova here, as we just received another $1,500 that is dedicated to repairing our small Torah Scroll.
So, who do we partner with in the Interfaith Council? The other 6 churches: Prince of Peace Roman Catholic, Redeemer Lutheran, St. Andrew Presbyterian, St. John the Divine Episcopal, Trinity Baptist, and the United Methodist.
Let’s talk about our movers and shakers on the Interfaith Council. Barbara Nova, the big macher and Social Action Director, is our representative to ISAC. Barb attends their meetings along with Jo-Ellen Bromberg, Lyn Safian, Bonni Tandet, and Joan Kramer. Jo-Ellen Bromberg is also on their board and the Scholarship Grant Committee, overseeing many thousands of dollars of grants to deserving high school seniors going on to college. Lyn and Bonni volunteer on the Grants Committee, ensuring that the money is granted wisely. Joan and Barb work as money counters at the shop on sale days (that must be exhausting!), and to round it all out, Sandy Zion helps out in the shop on sale days.
Some of the grant recipients include Beth El Farm Ministry, ECHO of Brandon, Enterprising Latinas, Hope Foundation for Children, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, SCC Security Patrol, Summerfield Crossing Elementary School, and the Tampa YMCA. ISAC distributed about $200,000 to charities this year! It truly takes a village — and the Interfaith Social Action Council has been doing the good work for 55 years. They are part of us, as we are part of them.
L’shalom,
Ricki
