By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Two Osceola County charitable organizations were recipients of grants June 21  from the Heart of Florida United Way as part of their dedication to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties.

The Osceola County Council on Aging received a $272,313 grant and Help Now Osceola received a $112,603 grant for their nutrition and homelessness programs thanks to funding from the Heart of Florida United Way’s Alleviating Hunger and Homelessness Cabinet.

Help Now Osceola received funding from both the cabinet, which totaled $85,670 for domestic violence prevention and an additional $26,933 through donor designations, which allows a donor to specify which organization they want their donation to be made to, HFUW spokeswoman Michele Plant said.

“In this recession, this is probably the first time everyone knows someone who was affected and it changed the mentality,” said Michael E. Lewellen, vice president of marketing and communications for HFUW. “What we’ve learned is it can happen to anyone anytime. You don’t know when difficult times may come your way.”

The grant was presented during the worldwide United Way Day of Action volunteer event, which raised awareness for the organizations who need volunteer manpower on a daily basis as well as the focus on alleviating hunger and homelessness in the community.

“The purpose of the day is for them (HFUW) to see our nutritional programs because part of the funding we receive from the United Way helps those programs,” said Beverly Hoagland, executive director of the Council on Aging.

Hoagland knows all too well the number of Osceola County families hit hard by the economy downturn, both seniors and young couples with children alike.

The agency prepares 2,000 meals daily to be served at their 12 locations as well as to be delivered to seniors at home via Meals on Wheels. They serve 200 meals a day at their main location on Generation Point in Kissimmee.

Additionally, the council’s 18 different food pantries located around the county serve 900-1,000 household each week, Kathy Arft, dietary director said, adding 44,000 households were served through the Council food pantries in 2011.

The large senior population who attend the council’s programs daily at their main facility benefited the most Thursday when volunteers from Walt Disney World, Target, Bank of America, Tupperware and individual residents served food and played games.

Jennifer Gaddy, leader for Disney’s Volunteer Services, had eight VoluntEARS supervising a round of hot potato with a beach ball, participating in limbo and salsa dancing with the seniors.

“We don’t always get down this way but we have so many cast members who live in Kissimmee and we wanted to be supportive to all areas,” Gaddy said, adding agencies like the Council on Aging holds a special place in her heart. “My grandmother (benefitted) from Meals on Wheels so this just made sense.”

Target volunteers were manning the massive grill donated by the Kissimmee Utility Authority, which loans the grill to charitable organizations free of charge for events such as this, Arft said.

Hoagland said she was pleased with the outcome of volunteers and clients, many of whom eat their only balanced meal of the day from the agency.

For most of them, it’s nutrition. It’s helping them stay on budget,” Hoagland said on why so many seniors come to the facility daily. “Not only do they have a nutritional need but they have a social need as well. A lot of them would be home alone.

“People don’t understand you can die from loneliness. It’s hard for them to come the first time not knowing anyone,” she said. “Oftentimes, we have to sit and talk with them to make them feel more comfortable about coming.”