Have you Clicked today?

HOME is in the running for $1000 this month and you can help! All you have to do is visit our profile on the Community Foundation's Donor Edge page! Click here to visit now! The organization with the most clicks at the end of the month will win $1000. Remember to come back to this page daily (you must come from this link, our facebook page, or the "Learn More" link on our website) to help HOME win $1000! Sphere: Related Content

HOME hosts annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Walk a Mile in My Shoes —
Community Awareness walk to reveal the face of homelessness

Would you know I was homeless? It’s the question Helping Others Make the Effort is asking to those in Osceola County as we work to raise homelessness awareness through a community
awareness walk on Nov. 13, 2010 at 11 a.m.

November is Homelessness Awareness Month and HOME hopes that through the event residents of central Florida can get to know who the homeless really are in their community. Right now, in Osceola County alone, there are over 1000 school-aged children who are homeless. HOME is working to provide safe housing for those children and single mothers through case management, life skills, and transitional living.

Walk a Mile in my Shoes will be held at the Saint Cloud Lakefront, in downtown Saint Cloud, Fla. and registration will be located at Crabby Bill's Restaurant (1104 Lakeshore Boulevard Saint Cloud, Fla. 34769).

Walkers are encouraged to arrive at 10 a.m. for registration and fun at Crabby Bill's patio area and then begin the walk at 11 a.m. The walk will conclude with a statement from HOME board members about homelessness in Osceola County. Each participate will receive a Walk a Mile T-shirt to commemorate the event.

To register for the walk simply go to http://www.osceolahome.org/walkamile.asp and fill out the quick and easy registration form.

Business and individual sponsorships are available for the event. For more information please contact Mary Downey, HOME Deputy Director, at mdowney@osceolahome.org.

We look forward to you being a part of breaking the cycle of homelessness in Osceola County and Central Florida! Sphere: Related Content

Retired Residents of Solivita Friend-Raise to Help End the Cycle of Homelessness

Many snowbirds and national retirees move to the Sunshine state in the hopes of leading a leisure filled lifestyle. What they find however is that they have never been more occupied with activities and charity gift giving in their entire lives. This could not be truer of the local retired residents found in the Solivita community. Many come to Helping Others Make the Effort (HOME) seeking an opportunity to make a difference and help break the cycle of homelessness in Osceola County. What we receive is their gracious time and talent. Their efforts and dedication could not be more evident given the current times when many local non-for profits find it harder than ever to meet the needs of their constituents as budget cuts run rampant and personnel is downsized. HOME volunteers have continued their commitment to our organization and shown their passion through these trying times through the facilitation of local fundraising events.

Retired Solivita residents and steadfast tutors at HOME, Joe and Meg Burkhart recently hosted a charity wine tasting event with the Solivita’s Women’s Golf Association. They were able to not only raise $600 (check presentation pictured) for HOME but raised awareness about homelessness and how HOME is working towards helping families get a second chance at life. Many of the participants were eager to get involved and have since been trained to work as fellow volunteers. What is even more exciting is that the Burkharts and Griffith family, also dedicated volunteers at HOME, have been able to purchase a much needed storage shed for HOME and installed all the shelving units it required! These volunteers were able to turn a social event into a charity fundraising experience.

HOME is lucky to have the core volunteers we have to give back to families in need in the community. Whether it is through the didactic role of tutor or instructor, as a childcare facilitator, or involvement in a special service project, volunteers make a commitment to give the best of themselves every time they serve at HOME. Moreover they help maintain the campus and keep the facility running. They are truly the backbone of our organization.

If you are interested in getting involved please click here to volunteer now!

*Post by Albery Melo, HOME program assistant.

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Disney Cruise Winners!!!

Congratulations to our Disney Cruise Winners!
Jenna Cawley, Jaime Pollack, Donna Sines, Julia Powell, and Sara Melendez, along with three of their friends, will be traveling to the Bahamas via the Disney Wonder Cruise ship on April 22-25!!! Have a great time and congratulations!!!

Also, a BIG THANK YOU, to all who donated for the raffle! HOME raised $1850 for homeless families in Osceola County! Sphere: Related Content

Matching Funds for HOME

We are so excited that we have the opportunity to receive matching funds from the Feinstein Foundation. During the months of March and April every dollar that is raised by HOME has the potential to be matched by the foundation up to $40,000!

Here's a press release from the Feinstein Foundation:

For Immediate Release

2010 13th Annual $1 Million Giveaway To Fight Hunger

For the 13th consecutive year, Alan Shawn Feinstein will divide $1 million among anti hunger agencies nationwide using it as a spur to raise funds during March and April, 2010.

Agencies should simply inform potential donors (and their local churches, schools and businesses) that the more donations made to them - from March 1st to April 30th– the more of the Feinstein money they will get! Many agencies featuring this in their mailings and telephone solicitations in past years have increased their donations two or three times their usual returns!

Only donations or pledges received from March 1st to April 30th, from use of the Feinstein challenge, should be counted. These donations can include cash, checks and food items (valued at $1.00 per item or pound) or pledges, as long as they were obtained ONLY from use of our challenge.

Participating agencies should send in the enclosed reporting sheet, showing how much they raised from March 1st to April 30th, 2010 from use of our challenge, with copies of any publicity they received about it and their mailing piece(s) featuring our challenge, plus a copy of their federal tax-exemption (501C3) or proof of affiliation with a tax-exempt organization – all sent by regular mail in one envelope postmarked May 1st to May 12th, 2010 only, to: The Feinstein Foundation, 37 Alhambra Circle, Cranston, RI 02905. Nothing else is required. Please keep a record of what you raised from our challenge, and from whom, should verification be requested!

Our million dollars will be divided proportionately among all agencies complying with the above, with a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $40,000 to any one agency. Checks will be mailed by August 1st, 2010.

Feinstein’s past 12 annual $1 million challenges to fight hunger have raised a record $1 Billion for over 2000 agencies nationwide. Agencies should tell their donors that their donation toward this campaign makes them partners in the most successful effort to fight hunger of all times. That is something to take pride in!

A full report of the results of this 2010 Challenge will be posted on our website in July.

With an opportunity like this, why not take time today to donate to Helping Others Make the Effort and get double the bang for your buck in March and April. Click here to donate now!

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Community Presbyterian Hosts Yard Sale

HOME is so excited to receive $2503.06 from Community Presbyterian Church's Ohana group. The small group raised the funds by participating in Celebration's Community Wide Yard Sale and gave the proceeds of their sale to HOME. According to the group this is the most they have raised from the sale. Their donation will sponsor a family for three months!

Thank you so much to Community Press for all their hard work, in fact, in just a few weeks members of the group will be back on campus for their annual garden party with the HOME families! Sphere: Related Content

Attention Coupon Cutters!

Do you like to cut coupons? Want to support HOME at the same time? Now there is an easy way to do both! Just head on over to Commonkindness.com get yourself an account and search "Helping Others Make the Effort" in the charity box and click to support us. You may also be able to find HOME by going to our profile listed here on Common Kindness. Then you can go to the coupon page and clip as many coupons as you want, and the proceeds go back to HOME.

It's a great way for you to save money, and for HOME to receive a little in return! Happy Bargain Hunting! Sphere: Related Content

Holiday Musical Extravaganza Show— Proceeds will benefit homeless families in Central Florida

As the holidays quickly approach each one of us often look in our hearts and reach out to those in our area who are in need. With the help of Cabaret Espresso Productions you can do just that AND have fun while doing it!

On Friday, December 11, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., the Peace United Methodist Church of Hunters Creek, 13502 Town Loop Blvd., Orlando, FL 32837 will host a "Holiday Musical Extravaganza Show" as a fundraising effort for Helping Others Make the Effort (HOME).

HOME is a nonprofit organization working to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and lifeskills to homeless women and their children. There are over 900 homeless school-aged children in Osceola County alone, who are living out of cars, motel rooms or even on the street, HOME delivers services to these families to give them safe housing, life-skills classes, and the tools they need to get back on their feet.

Cabaret Espresso Productions, with their talented professional ensemble of singers and instrumentalists, will be performing this wonderful Holiday Show with popular Christmas songs ... beloved Christmas carols from around the world and a joyful "Boston Pops" style Christmas carol sing-along for the whole family. Santa Claus will, of course, be there; and taking center stage will be our hilarious British Comedian, Larry Larkin, of the London Music Hall and BBC Television.

All tickets can be purchased on the day of the event between 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Peace UMC or by calling 407-932-0943. Please make plans to join us this holiday season! Sphere: Related Content

Osceola Council on Aging -- Golf Tournament!

For more information please call 407-846-8532 or E-Mail info@ Oscecolagenerations.org Sphere: Related Content

Give Kids Safe Shelter Golf Tournament

Give Kids Safe Shelter is sponsoring a Golf Tournament and HOME is one of the beneficiaries!

If you like to golf and are looking for a great way to support HOME simply participate in the tournament and HOME will receive part of the proceeds. If you sign up saying that HOME encouraged you to join, even more $$$ are donated to help homeless families in Osceola County!

Hurry, the deadline to register is soon!

________________________

If you are interested in participating on HOME's behalf please contact mdowney@osceolahome.org for registration forms, the event is Sept. 19!

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School Supply Drive for August

It is almost time for back to school! Can you believe it? HOME families often look at this time with worry because there are so many items they need to get their kids back in school! The kids need new uniforms if they have outgrown last years, they need notebooks and binders, and they need pencils and pens!

That's where you can help! HOME is hosting a school supply drive for our families in our resident, scattered site, and HOMELite program. We are partnering with area churches as well, so if you can't make it to the HOME campus to drop off your donation, you can stop by The Vine Church located at 1003 S John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34741 or Community Presbyterian Church located at 511 Celebration Ave Kissimmee, FL.

Here is the list:

Supply List for K-8

• 1 - book bag or back pack
• (full size, no wheels)
• 8 - boxes of 24 pack Crayola Crayons
• 6 - folders with prongs
• (2 red, 1 blue, 1 purple, 1 yellow,
• 2 green plastic)
• 4 - composition notebooks
• 1 - large box of tissues
• 1 - pack of 24 #2 pencils
• 1 - bottle liquid hand soap
• 2 - 4oz bottles Elmer's Glue (white)
• 1 - pair Fiskars scissors
• 1 - Package 500 sheet copy paper
• 1 - plastic supply box
• 1 - large pink eraser
• 1 small blanket or small sheet, for rest/nap time
• 2 - packages of loose leaf paper (wide ruled)
• 4 - packages of #2 pencils
• 2 - boxes of tissues
• 3 - packages of white copy paper
• 1 - dry erase marker
• 1 - box of colored pencils
• 1 - pencil sharpener, with cover
• 1 - supply box (must fit in desk)
• 1 - package of construction paper
• 2 – highlighters
• 2 – small black dry erase markers
• 1 - small pencil box
• 1 - dozen blue or black pens
• 1 - notebook with dividers and lined paper
• 3 - packs of Post-it Notes
• 1 full change of clothes (in a Ziploc bag) (Kindergarten)
• 1 box of large markers
• 1 1-subject spiral notebook
• packs of wide ruled lined paper
• Gift Cards for School Uniforms

Supply List for 9-12

• 3 ring binder
• Spiral notebook
• Blue or Black pen
• Pencil
• Notebook paper
• Red or Green pen
• A packet of graph paper
• Scientific calculator
• Protractor
• Flash Drive (optional)
• Dividers
• Hand sanitizer
• 1 Ruler – metric and standard
• 3x5 index cards
• Roll of scotch tape
• 1‐3 Ring binder, 1 ½”
• Scissors
• Gift Cards for School Uniforms

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Food Donations Drop-Off Point

We have a new location that you can drop off your BOXED food for HOME. Discount Tires in Orlando has a donation box. So if you can't make it out to the HOME campus, feel free to drop items at Discount Tires! To view our current food needs click here.

Discount Tire

8107 S John Young Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 226-3276‎

discounttire.com Sphere: Related Content

Save on Gas Cards for Families!

A great way to help families at HOME is by donating gas and grocery gift cards. These cards are needed so families can get gas to go to work, buy groceries for their families, medicine from the pharmacy, and other family needs.

Publix has a great deal today only! If you purchase a $50 gas (Shell or BP) gift card today, you can get $10 off! Just click the giftcard and it will take you to a link with the coupon!
Please help a family and help HOME break the cycle of homelessness in Osceola County! Sphere: Related Content

A Very Merry UnBirthday!

HOME is having our very own Unbirthday Party for the kids in our residential and scatter site programs! Each child is looking forward to receiving a birthday present, cake, cookies, and fun and games! The party is planned for July 18 at 10-12 on Saturday morning!

But, don't be like Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, and just sit back and watch! Join in on the fun! HOME has several needs that you can help with and make this the best Unbirthday party ever!

Items Needed:
3 Bounce Houses (if anyone knows a company that would like to donate these for a couple of hours!)

2 Large Sheet Cakes

60 Gifts of $15-25 each (Please call for an assigned child)

100 paper plates

100 plastic cups

10 Blue plastic "party" table clothes

2 large packages of napkins

2 (32 oz) Pink Lemonade mix containers

3 One Gallon Pitchers

3 Gallon Containers Ice Cream

25 $10-25 monetary gifts to cover other expenses

We are asking that all donations be in by Friday, July 9, so we can make sure that we have everything we need to have a GREAT Unbirthday party. If you would like to help please contact Mary Downey at mdowney@osceolahome.org or call 407-433-1248.

Happy Unbirthday to you ... AND YOU!



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Honor Your Mother & Help Break the Cycle of Homelessness!

Just a reminder that Mother's day is a few days away. Have you honored your mother yet? Well, HOME is doing a special Mother's Day fundraiser!

Give to HOME and we will e-mail you a printable card to give to your mother (or in honor of your mother) stating that YOU honored your mother by helping homeless Moms and their kids!

We are partnering with Facebook Causes to do this great fundraiser.

Click here to honor your Mother on her special day! Sphere: Related Content

Holiday Survival Kits

Helping Others Make the Effort was amazed at the outpouring of love from the community during the holiday season. Several churches, organizations, county groups, and individuals worked together to provide gifts for the families for HOME.

Each group was asked to provide a brand new outfit, shoes, board game, favorite toy, and gift card for each child! This opportunity saw each child receiving not one new outfit but two or three! We were able to give the Moms giftcards and even some groups bought gifts just for the Moms to have!

The board, staff, and residents of HOME would like to thank ALL of you who were so willing to take time away from your own holiday shopping to do for others in your community. Please enjoy the photos, and we look forward to next year's Holiday Survival Kit Campaign to be even more successful!

Special Thanks to:
Celebration Presbyterian Church
Jean Styles, Valerie Brown, Maria Berry & Friends
Trinity Lutheran Church
Osceola County Stormwater Section
First United Methodist Church
First Christian Church
The Vine Church
And all others who gave this holiday season! Sphere: Related Content

Helping Others Make the Effort raises $8,100 with Abuelo's Grand Opening

The past week has been filled with lots of fun and food at the Grand Opening of Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant at the Loop-West. Helping Others Make the Effort was honored to be the beneficiary of all the proceeds from the pre-training activities and got to enjoy some great food in the process.

The project began in October when Michael Codner, Abuelo's Proprietor, began researching which nonprofit Abuelo's would like to work with during the grand opening. Codner and the restaurant's manager, Kim, visited the HOME campus and after receiving a tour decided to sponsor HOME in their upcoming opening.

The HOME staff spent Wednesday Dec. 3 - Saturday Dec. 6 at Abuelo's telling the story of Helping Others Make the Effort to all who visited the information table and through handouts that each table received when they were seated. The handouts explained that by spending just $25 at Abuelo's on drinks and desserts one family could be sponsored for a full day.

Saturday night was HOME night at Abuelo's and it was packed with board members, volunteers, and friends enjoying the great desserts and drinks knowing that all the proceeds would go back to a great cause.

Abuelo's invited Helping Others Make the Effort to the ribbon cutting on Monday and presented Cara Eule, Executive Director, with a check for $7,500. With the donations from the information table HOME broke Abuelo's grand opening record by raising $8,100. This amount is almost enough to house a family in HOME's transitional housing program for an entire year!

Helping Others Make the Effort wishes to thank Abuelo's for choosing HOME, the Aubelo's wait staff for all their hard work, and especially all those who enjoyed a delicious dessert or drinks on behalf of HOME.

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Xtreme Motorsports Upcoming Event

We are pleased to once again announce a fun event from our friends over at Xtreme Motorsports. Please visit their website for even more information.

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Walk a Mile in My Shoes

WHAT A WALK!

Almost 150 walkers, HOME residents, volunteers, board members and staff all were on hand Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 for Helping Others Make the Effort's first annual "Walk a Mile in My Shoes." An opportunity for those in the community to come together to break the cycle of homelessness in
Osceola County.

We began our day at Great Outdoor Days with staff at the site at 8 a.m. Cara Eule, Executive Director of HOME and Mary Downey, Development Associate, mapped out the course by driving around Osceola Heritage Park about 20 times before making our decision (and confusing every parking attendant along the way!) The rest of the HOME staff arrived at 11 a.m. to help field registrations and HOME residents and storytellers — Lynn, Layka, Kiana, Jacquie and Betty showed up at noon to began decorating shirts with walkers and telling their story. Many volunteers and board members showed up during this time to also lend a hand!

When registration began at 1 p.m. it was a madhouse, but in a great fun sort of way (so maybe more like a funhouse!) We had limited space and tons of walkers, but were able to get tee shirts and goodie bags to walkers and everyone lined up by 2 p.m.

We began with a few photos and then we were off! After 7 minutes we realized that 1 mile only takes about 14 minutes for our incredibly in shape crew, so we altered our path and ended back up at the HOME tent at 2:35 for cookies and water. After a small wait, we were given our chance on stage and board member Gregg Hostetler gave a wonderful speech about homelessness in Osceola County.

We hope that you had as much fun at "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" as we did and we can't wait for next year! It's going to be even bigger and better!

Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors!
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Pouring While It's Pouring

The HOME Staff works hard (and has a lot of fun) to raise money for the homeless of Osceola County. At the recent Ameratrail event staff members Mary and Stephanie helped raise over $5oo for our great nonprofit!
Join us at the next event when all beer sales go to benefit Helping Others Make the Effort! Sphere: Related Content