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Blog Post
Lending A Hand To Neighbors In Need!
April 24, 2020
"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in service to others." - Mahatma Ghandi
During this time of uncertainty as our faith and strength are tested, losing ourselves in the service of others just might be what we need to get back on track mentally and spiritually. Those that are already less fortunate are finding themselves in even more vulnerable circumstances as the organizations and support they’ve depended on are feeling the strain of increased needs.
We’ve assembled a list of organizations working incredibly hard to continue to provide services and support to our neighbors in need. Below you’ll find a variety of ways that you can lend a helping hand in our community.
Matthew’s Hope
WHO THEY ARE:
Matthew’s Hope is a faith-based Winter Garden outreach birthed in 2010 to help successfully move people from homelessness into a life of independence and self-sustainability.
Matthew’s Hope has seen a 30% increase in the number of homeless people they serve in the last 6 weeks. With so many people now furloughed or let go from their jobs, Matthew’s Hope is also receiving regular requests for help from non-homeless residents. They are “burning through” essential supplies such as food, water, clothing, and hygiene items at 5x the normal rate.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Matthew's Hope goes mobile every Tuesday and Thursday providing Protective Masks, Hand Sanitizer and Wet Ones to our homeless friends, along with food, clothing & hygiene items. They currently serve over 100 people on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
1. Donate Financially:
TEXT MHM to 41444 or visit MatthewsHopeMinistries.org/Donate-Money
2. Donate Essential Supplies:
FOOD
• Canned Meats – SPAM & Chicken
• Canned Soups/Pastas – Hearty Soups, Canned Pastas, Beef Stew, Chili
• Canned Vegetables – Corn, Carrots, Spinach, Mixed Veggies, Pork & Beans (smaller/single serving cans preferred)
• Fruit Cups, Pudding Cups, Applesauce
• Bottled Water
CLOTHING
(Adult sizes only at this time – may be gently used)
• Mesh Sneakers – (no leather sneakers please)
• Jeans
• Tee Shirts
• Men’s Boxer Briefs & Women’s Briefs (new)
HYGIENE/OTHER
(travel size when applicable)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Wet Ones Wipes
• Deodorant
• Gold Bond Powder
Donations purchased can be delivered or shipped to:
611 Business Park Blvd. #101
Winter Garden 34787
(across the street of Orange Technical College on Story Rd.)
Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm or by appointment.
Please go around the back of building by the Hope Chest Workshop with donations and look for the red arrows.
3. Provide Meals:
Sign up with your group, colleagues or neighbors to provide breakfast or lunch for 100 homeless friends on Tuesday or Thursday.
To coordinate and get additional info email Kim at kim@matthewshopeministries.org.
4.
Volunteer:
Help sort through donation items on Monday and Wednesday
Email Kim at kim@matthewshopeministries.org
CONTACT INFO:
Website: MatthewsHopeMinistries.org
Phone: 407.905.9500
Email: info@MatthewsHopeMinistries.org
Volunteer Coordinator: Kim - kim@matthewshopeministries.org
Seniors First
WHO THEY ARE:
Seniors First offers the choice, hope and quality care needed for senior independent living. It is the largest social services organization in Greater Orlando providing direct service to our community’s vulnerable elderly.
1 in 6 seniors struggles with hunger and may not know where their next meal will come from. Seniors First is providing solutions to this via Meals on Wheels, a Neighborhood Lunch Program and a Food Pantry to help older adults (60+) get the nutrition they need.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Donate Financially
at SeniorsFirstInc.org
2. Donate Essential Supplies
Immediate Needs are for the Food Pantry and Personal Care > View the Extreme Needs List During COVID-19
3. Write a note, make a card, or decorate a placemat.
Send our seniors words and pictures of love and encouragement. This is a great family activity and way to encourage your kids to get a little crafty while also helping bring joy to our seniors. Letters and cards in Spanish are also encouraged. These treasures will be delivered to a senior with the Meals on Wheels program.
Donations of essential items and cards/placemats can be delivered or mailed to:
5395 L.B. McLeod Rd.
Orlando FL 32811
Drop off times are Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm.
CONTACT INFO:
Website: SeniorsFirstInc.org
Phone: 407.292.0177
Email: requestinfo@seniorsfirstinc.org
One Heart for Women & Children
WHO THEY ARE:
The mission of One Heart for Family & Children is to educate, empower and mentor women and their families while transitioning through many facets of daily living and to assist with locating the many local resources available in the Central Florida community to meet their needs.
One Heart’s budget revolves around feeding and supporting around 3,000 people each month. However, with the recent changes in events due to COVID-19, One Heart is providing food for almost 5,000 people PER WEEK. Much of the increase is due to furloughs and job losses in the hospitality industry.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Donate Financially
at OneHeartforWomenandChildren.org/Donate-Now
Financial donations are MOST NEEDED now as One Heart can stretch $1 to almost 5 times that in food feeding a family of 4 for as little as $25 per week. They also currently have a “Match Donor” that will match $16,000 in donations.
2. Purchase Lunch for Volunteers
It takes up to 16 volunteers working 8 hour shifts each day to keep the One Heart machine running. Purchasing a meal to be delivered to the office is a great way to show appreciation and encourage their hard-working volunteers. Call 407.233.4718 to coordinate a day and time.
3. Donate Clothing
Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing is needed. Gently used clothing is accepted, must be stain free and clean as there is no system to wash clothes before distributing them.
Donations can be dropped off at:
2040 N. Rio Grande Ave.
Orlando, FL 32804
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10am and 4pm.
CONTACT INFO:
Website: OneHeartforWomenandChildren.org
Phone: 407.233.4718
Email: info@oneheartforwomenandchildren.org
Mask Donations
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Army of Masks
The Army of Masks is a Winter Garden-based grassroots virtual community of volunteers sewing and donating Do-It-Yourself (DIY) masks to meet the urgent need for masks in North America. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED URGENTLY.
You can visit the website at ArmyofMasks.com
for patterns, tutorial videos and to register to volunteer.
2. Donate Masks to Orlando Health
Are you already making your own DIY masks? Orlando Health is now accepting homemade masks from the community. Find specifications and the donation form here.
These are just a few of the opportunities to give back and be of service in your community. Whether it’s a financial donation, an afternoon spent sorting through supplies or even taking the time to write a note of encouragement to a senior – no act of service is too small to have a big impact.
We’d like to thank Tamara Zotti for her research and input for this article. She’s a true community superstar dedicating hours on end to the service of others.
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