So we’ve made in through Thanksgiving Thursday, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday … and many of you are still clacking away online on Cyber Monday.
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a global movement starting in 2012 encouraging people to empower those in their own communities and give to those with a clear need. It continues to grow, and an estimated $400 million was donated last year, with industry giants like Facebook and Paypal matching up to $7 million in donations.
There are a number of outlets in Osceola County that provide to others what they cannot provide for themselves for whatever reason, and they rely on the community’s help year round to provide that service.
This is a partial but helpful list of those organizations that do incredible work in their community, with contact information to make it possible or easier to donate time or treasure and make a positive difference in Osceola County:
Osceola Council on Aging: Dedicated to providing a wide array of services and programs to enable independence and self-sufficiency for seniors, disabled adults, the disadvantaged and families in poverty. (407-846-8532)
Community Hope Center: Works to impact low-income, poverty level families and individuals living in and around Osceola County, with emphasis on assisting those living homeless or in motels and hotels along the U.S. 192 corridor. (321-677-0245)
Help Now of Osceola County: Provides safety, empowerment and healing for survivors of domestic violence, including temporary safe shelter for those who are in danger and experience fear of abuse, and advocacy for them and their children. (407-847-3260)
Central Florida Animal Reserve: The Central Florida Animal Reserve (CFAR) is a big cat and wildlife sanctuary housing lions, tigers, leopards, and cougars and are building a platform to address the challenges of big cats in the future, and provide value to society today.
This non-profit facility serves big cats that would otherwise not have a home.(321-637-0110)
Children’s Advocacy Center: Provides services to children and non-offending family members that are victims of child sexual and physical abuse, and to restore a feeling of safety within victims. (407-742-1545)
St. Cloud Community Pantry: A local initiative that strives to reduce community hunger by providing food to local residents in need. (407-892-7070)
Give Kids the World: A nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides week-long, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. Community partners provide children and their families accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more. (407-396-1114).
Education Foundation Osceola County: A partnership between the School district and private sector designed to bolster the efforts of teachers and school administrators in creating quality education. (407-870-4855)
Community Vision: A community planning and visioning organization whose mission is “to bring people and resources together to achieve (Osceola County’s) vision.” (407-933-0870)
Florida Guardian ad Litem Program: A group of county-based dedicated volunteers, professional program staff and attorneys, appointed by the Court system to advocate for the best interests of children removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
