Where can high schoolers earn volunteer hours in Orlando?

By: Kelly Trace

It's that time of year again when all of you high schoolers can volunteer your services just in time to pick up a few of those high level scholarships requiring volunteer hours. Think outside of the box and I'm sure you will come up with your own ideas, but here are a few places that would love to see your smiling face and likely welcome your volunteering spirit.

Community Events
Most towns or cities host some sort of walk or benefit for a worthy cause. Some are for raising awareness, others are for raising funds. Each event runs smoothly because of the efforts of volunteers. Check out your local newspaper for upcoming events and give them a call. They will be happy to get another volunteer.

Animal Shelters

Check with your local animal shelter of S.P.C.A. There are always animals in their care and most times they are overwhelmed, overworked and could use your help with feeding, walking or just loving these dogs and cats.

Food Banks
Find out where the food banks are located and stop by to offer your help. They could be in need of your assistance in sorting food or deliveries to homebound recipients. Perhaps, they need help packing groceries up for customers or cleaning up at the end of the day.

Tutoring other students
It is amazing how many children could use your expert knowledge of school subjects. Offer your tutoring skills to the neighborhood elementary or middle schools. You have at least one subject that you really good at and this could be the one that a child struggles with.

Nursing Homes

This is a good volunteer opportunity for you, especially if you enjoy hanging out with those that would love your company. Older folks love the youth and would welcome your time to sit and read to them or even play games. It's a perfect match.

Have other ideas? Send them to me at kellyanntrace at gmail dot com.

Kelly

Flyer Friday! Donate $1 to the Special Olympics at Publix for coupons

Flyer Friday today comes from our friends at Publix, where shopping and GIVING is a pleasure.

I shop at the Publix located on the corner of Hwy 192 and Canoe Creek Road in St. Cloud, Florida. My friend Chase is in management there. So I thought he would be proud to know that the cashier was incredibly friendly, asked me how my day was and then offered me the chance to help others all in my super quick and easy check out experience. 

She shared that if I donated $1 or more when I check out, I would get these rad coupons for my next visit. 

I am very familiar with the Special Olympics and so what's one dollar? I'd probably just buy another Diet Coke. Clearly, someone else needs it more than me. Easy peasy. 

Plus, who doesn't love coupons?

Find out more about Publix's other community programs here.

Happy Weekend! 

Kelly 

How can you give hope to homeless families in Osceola County? Mary Downey, Executive Director, Community Hope Center

Every Tuesday I hope to have a guest blogger feature certain initiatives or efforts going on in Central Florida. Know of someone? Send me their information here! - Kelly

How can you give hope to homeless families in Osceola County?
By: Mary Downey

Executive Director, Community Hope Center Director of Missions, Community Presbyterian Church

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7

Seven years ago I moved to Central Florida. I was a small town girl from Arkansas and my view of the world was very limited. I knew that things like homelessness existed but back home in Arkansas, if someone was losing their home or couldn't afford rent, they usually had family or friends to lean on. Maybe someone would stop off the interstate and say they needed gas money to make it to Little Rock, but overall the scope of need in small town Arkansas seemed to center more around hunger issues, and less around housing.

So, when I moved to Florida it was a bit of a culture shock to realize that folks not only lived on the streets, but that whole families lived in hotels and motels located on the same road I take to Walt Disney World. Even in some of the hotels I had stayed, homeless families were living paycheck to paycheck and stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty. When I found this out, I wanted to help.

God moved us to Florida. I don’t often talk about it, but I got my first job in the church because God clearly directed me there. In that church, I met my calling. I was in charge of the Sunday Night Live service. Every Sunday night, at 5:30 homeless folks from the area would pile in to be fed a hot meal. Each Sunday I showed up, did a quick prayer and devotion and then snuck out the back door. I did this until God clearly spoke to me and asked me, “What do you think you are doing?” From that moment on, I began to stop looking at homeless people not as homeless people … but you know, as people. People like you and like me. People made in the image of God. Men and Women with struggles, doubts, and fears. They were children of God looking for connection and love and yearning for someone to offer them that without any expectations. I remember one night, I didn’t know what to do for a devotional, and so I decided to sing Amazing Grace instead of a prayer. I used to sing a lot, but at that time (and still today) I was not doing a lot of singing. But, when I was done singing, a woman came up to me. She had tears in her eyes, and she hugged me tighter than I’d ever been hugged. Then she pulled back, and kissed me right on the cheek. She told me that it was the first time she felt like someone really cared, cared enough to sing for her. In that moment, I heard God clearly say, these are my people, I love them … you do likewise.

Fast forward a few years and here I am today. I have worked in homeless shelters and churches. I have preached and I have served. I have cried and I have rejoiced. So, it was no surprise when God called me even deeper and told me that the county I lived in needed more. God positioned me in a wonderful church that wanted to make a difference in the lives of the homeless families living in our community through Community Presbyterian Church of Celebration. They heard the vision, latched on to God’s prompting and in a year and half we opened The Community Hope Center.

The Community Hope Center is an outreach center located in the heart of Osceola County for those who are facing homelessness in the community. It is hub where social service agencies are able to co-locate to better provide services to those in need.

The Community Hope Center is a multi-faceted program, which meets several needs of the community. As part of our case management strategy we have relied on best practices from other agencies to help individuals forge a path towards self-sufficiency. We have found, through our research, that holistic care is the strongest way to help an individual get a fresh start on life. By having a location that will house several agencies we have the ability to provide services from domestic violence to substance abuse. However, as a faith-based organization we also have the opportunity to offer spiritual guidance and care to those who have been marginalized in our society.

To be honest, it’s hard to talk about. When I’m interviewed about the project, I get so humbled that I can hardly talk about it’s inception. Yes, I’m the executive director of this program, and yes, I worked really hard … but it wasn’t me. It was never me. It was God. It is God.

And I still don’t know how to talk about it. It’s a huge part of my life. Working with homeless families, raising funds in the community to bring about kingdom transformation in the lives of these folks. But, I’m so humbled by it. I’m so honored by it. I just can’t even explain it. 

But you see – I think something happened. I think God showed up. I think God planned this all along. I could tell you story after story about how doors just opened up that I thought would be closed to us. About donations from folks who gave money strictly on faith that this was God’s will. I could tell you about how the staff of the Hope Center just fell into place in such a way that only God could have orchestrated it. Yes. Something BIG happened. Not just in opening the Center. But also in giving me my hopes and dreams. Allowing me to fulfill my calling to serve the least of these in a way that connects the church to the world. 

But, Mary Downey is not The Community Hope Center. I can’t take ownership of something that isn’t mine. I can’t brag about what I've done at an organization that may be placed in my hands, but is completely and totally managed by God. Everyday is a challenge but so rewarding. Right now we're working on a plan that requires us to raise $400,000 toward the purchase of our building on Highway 192 and we have to find even more volunteers to serve the families due to an expected but unfortunate high turnout of families in need. How do you begin to tackle that? Prayer. Prayer changes things. 

Perhaps you are feeling some of the same tugs I did concerning the betterment of homeless families in our community. If you would like to get involved in The Community Hope Center, please contact moreinfo@hope192.com. 

Mary Lee Downey

Executive Director, Community Hope Center Director of Missions, Community Presbyterian Church

The Community Hope Center

Monday's Message: Reverend Eric Camden of 7th Heaven on Community

Who wouldn't take advice from the noble Reverend Eric Camden of 7th Heaven? Best. Show. Ever.

I've always loved about 40 minutes into the show when the music would change from a happy whistle-like tune to this sultry, forgiving violin hymn in the background. Mostly because I knew there was a good life lesson coming up. 

I put this quote in my phone a few months back when I re-discovered the show on TV (thanks to that nifty feature on the DVR where it picks out shows you might like. GOT IT!). 

Churches are usually pretty involved in building community, often serving behind the scenes. I think for me personally, it has helped shape my love for the community I live in. 

Ok, pretend it's 2007 on a Friday night and you are settling in to watch some TV, unprepared for the intense drama of...."Sevvvventh Heaven...dah dah dah dah dahhhh" (I could have sang the entire song for you...you're welcome).

"annndddd action!"

The episode begins with a church deacon pressuring Reverend Camden about the recent drop in church attendance and faults his depressing sermons. The drop is reflected in the year's budget (that is a whopping $16,000 behind its projections) and the deacon says "The deacons want me to pass on to you their suggestions on how to increase the buzz in the services, get young people back into the church and, hopefully, more funds back into the budget."

Here is the excerpt below. During a church service, the Reverend is asked to return to the pulpit, where he had left because he could not align himself with the direction the deacons were asking him to go, and he says...

00:43:25	I remember when I first came to this church, I was... young and idealistic, and I had the whole world in my sights.
00:43:36	And back then the only things I cared about were taking care of my family and trying to help the people in this congregation.
00:43:45	And as time went on, those things began to not quite be enough, 'cause I also had to take care of people in need, who weren't part of my family, and I had to do my best to help people in this community who were outside of this congregation.
00:44:01	And I thought that was working pretty well.
00:44:03	But now, it seems that there are some people here who care more about figures and attendance and statistics than about doing the right thing.
00:44:12	It shouldn't just be about how much money we have and how many people are sitting in the pews.
00:44:18	It should be about how much good we do in our communities, our neighborhoods, our homes.
00:44:23	Some people seem to have forgotten about what's important.
00:44:28	I hope I haven't.
00:44:30	I hope I never do.
00:44:32	I have loved every Sunday that I've stood before you.
00:44:38	I hope you've loved them, too, because no matter what some people try to tell me to do, I'm not going to change the way I've always done things.
00:44:47	Sometimes you have to make a stand.
00:44:49	This is my stand.
00:44:51	I've always done my best for this community.
00:44:52	I don't think it's time for me to start doing my second best just because it looks good on the bottom line.
00:44:57	I think my community deserves better.
00:45:01	You-- I think you deserve better.
00:45:02	I think we all deserve better.
00:45:10	Oh, uh, sorry.
00:45:12	Uh... one more thing.
00:45:14	(papers rustling) Yes, yes.
00:45:16	Today's service is brought to you by Meyers Automotive.
00:45:20	With both new and used cars, Meyers Automotive has a friendly and courteous staff ready to help you with all your car-buying needs.
00:45:28	So get down to Meyers Automotive for their big President's Day Bonanza.
00:45:38	Thank you.

So, in summary what can we learn from this...

1. As times change in the organizations we serve in our communities, one thing should be constant. We should always give our best and recognize that others are too before we are quick to give criticism. We should always strive to do the right thing, not what is going to look best for our bottom line, whether financial or for personal benefit. Sometimes we have to think outside of the box and find creative ways to raise funds, but use the mission and goals of the organization as a guide and don't steer off track.

2. A small piece of advice from a marketing professional... please don't offer to sponsor your church's sermon as part of your marketing plan... :)

Happy Monday!

Kelly

How would you spend $100 right now? Nate Groover, President, Board of Directors, Christian Service Center

Every Tuesday I hope to have a guest blogger feature certain initiatives or efforts going on in Central Florida. Know of someone? Send me their information here! - Kelly

How would you spend $100 right now? 
By: Nate Groover
President, Board of Directors, Christian Service Center

The Christian Service Center began in 1971 to provide assistance to individuals and families who were facing critical need. The mission of the Christian Service Center is to prevent homelessness, combat poverty, cultivate self-sufficiency, restore hope and glorify God through faithful provision of services that directly address physical, emotional and spiritual needs for families and individuals who are struggling in Central Florida. 

How many times can you spend $100 over and over in your mind? New clothes? Shoes? Car payment? A new cell phone? Taking your spouse out for a really nice dinner? Buying your child the latest toy on the market? I have done all of the above. So how do I justify that? Well, I have needs as a human being and I like to provide for my family as anyone would. I do need suits for work. I have to have a car to get around town. I need a cell phone to make business calls and keep in touch with friends. And, yes, as a father, sometimes I'm guilty of buying the latest and greatest toys for my kids. I am lucky to be able to provide for my family. But what about people who don't have the blessings and means that we do to take care of their own needs? What do they do?

That is where the Christian Service Center helps to fill the gaps and lend a hand to those who simply need a little help fulfilling their needs, which are more along the lines of nourishment and good health than an iPhone5S, the latest Playstation system or yes, even Angry Birds toys (my 4 year old son is obsessed).

The CSC hosts a few different programs under its wing like KidFOCUS, Fresh Start and Love Pantry, but there are two that I'd like to highlight here. Family and Emergency Services (FES) provided emergency relief and assistance to 11,814 people in 2012 with items like food, clothing, rent assistance, transportation and medication. They also fund Daily Bread, where in 2012 they served 177,231 meals, averaging to about 568 meals per day! I try not to think about what those people would do if our organization didn't have the means to feed them. Go hungry maybe. Be embarrassed to beg for their meal from people walking around. Sort through trashcans, hoping to find someone's unfinished meal.

Check out the stats below. It amazes me the work we are able to do with so little.

• $750 provides 1,110 meals for an entire semester through the Love Pantry
• $500 prevents a family from losing their home after enduring a crisis
• $170 provides a scholarship for a man looking for a fresh start in life
• $100 provides food for 450 hungry neighbors through Daily Bread
• $50 provides a week of learning enrichment for a child at risk of a lifetime of poverty

So why do I serve? I personally feel the Lord leading me to help others, to give because I have been given to and I am blessed enough to give back...but I will leave you with this testimonial that motivates me daily to keep finding ways we can reduce the number of homeless families in Orlando. 


“I made the last bottle of baby formula this morning. I get WIC assistance, but it’s not enough. I applied for food stamps, but was turned down because my husband made a few dollars too much. We haven’t been able to catch up on our bills. We were doing OK and then the car broke down. My husband needs the car to get to work, so we did what we had to do, but then there was no money for the electrical bill. This place is changing lives. Thank you for feeding my baby.” - FES client

So how can you help? We have plenty of volunteer opportunities. Get your company involved and sign up to serve in our kitchen for just one meal, donate items for the Love Pantries in schools all over Orange County or help collect clothing items for our FES Program. However you choose to give, I hope you will join me in fighting one of the fastest growing problems in Central Florida until families can fulfill their needs like we do every day.

Sincerely,

Nate Groover
President, Board of Directors, Christian Service Center, 2013
http://www.christianservicecenter.org
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Ten unique ways to give back in Central Florida this holiday season!

I spent some time researching unique ways to give back this holiday season. We see so many requests for items, food pantries are empty, people are in need or missing loved ones. Every time we see someone in need, they all seem to tug on our heart strings, but you might find something below that strikes a chord and speaks to you.

If you haven't found a way to give back that really resonates with you, check these great causes and events out that have deadlines fast approaching! 


1. Lend a hand at Heavenly Hooves WINTERFEST


Mission: To provide equine (that means horse...) assisted therapy to enhance the mental, emotional and physical well being of individuals with disabilities and Veterans who have served our Nation.

What can you do? Heavenly Hooves is in need of lots of volunteers at their barn to help set up for their amazing annual Winterfest event on the following Sunday, December 15th. In addition to setting up tables and chairs, they need several people to help them put together, paint and build festival games for the event. The day of the event, they are also in need of volunteers to run the games, crafts and to assist with the horse show. Perfect for the whole family to get involved!

When: Friday December 13th at 12pm & Sunday, December 15th at 12pm at Heavenly Hooves, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744.

Who can you contact? Anyone who wishes to volunteer should contact Tiffany Chapman at 407-933-7433, ext 2 or visit their website for more information!




2. Donate your old holiday light strands to The Mustard Seed of Central Florida

Mission: To help to rebuild the lives of families and individuals who have suffered disaster or personal tragedy by providing household furnishings and clothing while being environmentally responsible to our community.

What can you do? The Mustard Seed of CFL collects old (working or not) holiday strands of lights and recycles them, using the money they raise to continue their mission and help those in need. As you start putting up your lights this year, maybe you can donate some that are no longer working or have a couple of bulbs out.
When: ALL YEAR LONG!

Who can you contact? Call 407-875-2040 or drop them off at 12 Mustard Seed Lane, Orlando. Check out their website for other items to donate!

3. The Community Hope Center needs your help to BUILD HOPE!

Mission: The mission of the Community Hope Center is to End Homelessness by Restoring Hope. They secure a “no wrong door” policy and are committed to providing resources, referrals, and case management services for those who are actively searching for assistance and who are willing to forge a path towards self-sufficiency.

When: Everyday beginning Tuesday, December 17th, 8 - 5pm at 2198 Four Winds Blvd, Kissimmee, Florida 34746.

What can you do? The Community Hope Center is looking for volunteers to assist in tearing down and moving out as they remodel their current building. They are adding a clinic to their already long list of services and will need to move out for a couple of weeks to make the changes needed. Volunteers are needed starting Tuesday, December 17th. I'm sure they could use a few handymen, painters, movers and warm bodies to cozy up the former blighted restaurant turned amazing community resource. Would be a great family activity.  

Who can you contact? For more information or to volunteer please contact Tricia Hall at Tricia.Hall@hope192.com. Follow them on Facebook so you can keep helping those in need!



4. Calling all MOMS! Help make baskets for moms who need a hand!

Mission: Baskets will benefit mothers currently living at H.O.M.E. (Helping Others Make the Effort) who is working to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and life skills to homeless women and their children. Community Moms are coming together to help them get back on their feet this holiday.

What can you do? People like you and me have fallen on hard times and have been or currently in a homeless shelter with their children. They have adopted 25 Moms that currently live at HOME and are asking for the following items to be donated: Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Body Wash, Hair Spray, Make-up bags etc. as well as candles, perfume, spa or salon gift cards and cookbooks. (I have plenty I've never even opened!)  

When: Basket items are due by December 12th

Who can you contact? Contact Jennifer Nicholson at 407-518-2179 to arrange pick up or delivery!


5. Volunteer at one of Orlando's first POP UP SHOPS! 




Mission: The Daily City works to prove with each post that Orlando is a wonderful city. Their blog helps locals love their city more, helps transplants quickly settle in and helps tourists take more local detours. (ps. you might know them as the creators of the Food Truck Bazaar...nomzz.)

What can you do? Dec 6 -7 // Volunteer in one of the most unique holiday experiences in Orlando! Plus $1 from each ticket sale will go to Saving Grace in Uganda!
Find out more! 

When: December 6 & 7 2013 (THIS Friday/Saturday)

Event is sponsored by TheDailyCity.com
Who can you contact? Mark Baratelli at mark@thedailycity.com.







6. Help the world suck less by donating your old jeans to the TEENS for JEANS Drive

Mission: Over 1.5 million teens and children are homeless. Help keep them warm by donating your old jeans and renewing a young child's spirit this holiday season!


What can you do?  Bring your old jeans to any Aeropostale location and be able to make a youth's dream come true by providing them with the jeans they have been longing for. Teens are often forgotten during holiday toy drives and a hip pair of jeans will do just the trick!

When: Donations are being accepted until February 2014

Who can you contact? Visit their website to see the huge hauls of jeans they donated last year!



7. We all love adopting families during the holidays. Now you can help all the organizations who are offering this program right in one place with the "Be An Angel Program"!

Mission: Give Kids Safe Shelter's mission is to support and advance initiatives that provide children in our community with a safe and healthy environment. They accomplish this by Supporting ongoing initiatives of agencies that serve children in the community and by supporting emergency initiatives involving children. (Which means, see all those logos up there? They help all of them provide for our community's children.)


What can you do?  Be an angel and help GKSS reach their goal of providing gifts to 500 abused, neglected or at-risk children. You can drop off any new or unwrapped toys, children's clothing items, gift cards or other items at any of our drop off locations (listed here on pages 2 and 3). Gifts for all age groups are welcome but the most needed items are those suitable for pre-teens and teenagers who are often forgotten during most “toy” drives. Or make a cash donation and let us do the shopping for you!

When: Donations are being accepted until December 11th. 

Who can you contact? For more information, please contact: Sandy Geroux at 407-856-1188 or sandyg@sandygeroux.com. 

8. Help young adults paint First United Methodist School for the new year!

genYsis

Mission: genYsis is a young adult ministry in Central Florida whose goal is to provide fun and fellowship for young adults while serving the community.


What can you do?  On December 14th, the genYsis group will be painting the First United Methodist School in Kissimmee (come on, you know you went to school there). Wear your painting clothes, bring the family and give back to this community school that has given so many of us so much. 

When: December 14th from 3-6pm

Who can you contact? For more information, please contact Keith Trace.

9. For the animal lovers!

What can you do?  DONATE ITEMS! They get a lot of questions by concerned animal lovers asking what they can donate that is either in high demand or would be useful. Click here to see the many things needed for our furrier friends in the County. 

ADOPT AN ANIMAL!
Like them on Facebook!

When: ALL YEAR LONG they accept new or used items as long as they are clean. This is important in order to maintain a healthy and disease free environment for our animals.

Who can you contact? For more information, please contact Osceola Animal Services.



10. We always see HUGE school supply drives in August, but in January?

What can you do?  With so many friends who are teachers, this really resonates with me. Many of them have to purchase their own classroom supplies, something us in the corporate world are not often asked to do. They are doing such an important job and A Gift for Teaching is here to help them by offering the Free Store, teachers can come in a few times a year and gather supplies at no cost that have been donated. With all the big pushes in August, sometimes the shelves are empty from January to June. 

The three Free Stores are open throughout the entire school year and they always need brand new basics and books. Teachers come in looking for books and we need to keep the shelves stocked! Any new or gently used books for K-12 may be another great drive to get involved with A Gift For Teaching. If you're cleaning out your office, they are a great organization to donate old folders or notebooks to that maybe you didn't use. (I say that because I'm a sucker for a good notebook...but that doesn't mean I wrote anything down...whoops!)

Another great idea is to get your company involved! Whether it's a team-building event in your office or a neighborhood collaboration, supply and book drives help keep the shelves of AGFT's Free Stores stocked so teachers can prepare their classrooms and students throughout the year, not just in August. Click HERE to download the supply drive packet.

When: ALL YEAR LONG!

Who can you contact? A Gift for Teaching serves Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Find the nearest donation location to you here!




Well, there are TEN, BUT I assure you there are more great ways to give back in the next few weeks. If you see any, post them on our Facebook page and I'll be happy to add them in to a new post!


I promise you, you will be more passionate about giving when you find a cause that speaks to your heart. 

Until next time,

Kelly

Which side are you on?

Opened right up to today's quote on community. "In genuine community there are no sides." - M. Scott Peck

I credit choosing sides to human passion. We are all passionate about different things. Sometimes that same passion (disguised as opinion) can blind us, causing us to have a hard time seeing why others might feel the way they do, creating sides. This causes us to say and think life-taking words about people in moments of frustration, like "How can they feel that way? Don't they see the proof in the numbers I presented? Didn't they hear what I just said?" 

Then, when their idea fails, we find the "I told you so." undertone projected behind everything that comes out of our mouths. But, if our idea fails, we tend to start our next sentence with "Wellllll" or "But I didn't know that they...", implying we CLEARLY didn't have the whole truth... 

Mmmm humble pie... tastes good...(and I would know the way the Gator football team has been playing lately!)

Sometimes when we come across this, specifically in community situations, not to be cliche, but we really have to ask ourselves what the other side is thinking. What is their objective? WHY are they thinking their way is best? Am I missing something? Is it really better? ::chomp chomp:: mmmm more humble pie. 

Let's look at elected officials. We're not always going to agree with the people elected to make decisions for our community, regardless of how we voted on Election Day. That doesn't mean we should spring out hate messages through every outlet possible and rip them apart. We're all human beings and all that is going to do is cause more hurt and pain. The saying "nobody likes a sore loser" is not just about sports. 

Next time you are involved in a situation like this, work or personal, try not to take a side, but instead get on the same page as the other party involved and form a new opinion, together. Educate yourself on their beliefs/passions. Slowly, the internal wall of hatred will start to fall. If you only worry about your own side and point of view, you'll miss a HUGE opportunity. A really important one. An opportunity to GROW as a person. You can still disagree, but the more you understand the opposition, the wall will continue to fall, brick by brick. 

There is a whole silver lining here that we have to keep reminding ourselves about. Everybody is just trying to do what they think is best. Sure, some have personal agendas, but that can't be your worry. Creating community requires a genuine heart and always starts with just one person, fulfilling a passion. 

Remember, as different as we all are, as opinionated as we all are, we will always have one thing in common. 

We're on the same side. 

Kelly