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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