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