How You Can Help During COVID-19

Are you looking for a way to give back or support those on the front lines during these challenging times? Or perhaps you need direction on how to continue to support our amazing non-profits as they continue to serve our most vulnerable populations? We have compiled a list of non-profits and other organizations that are looking for particular types of aid, as well as other suggestions on ways you can give back.

Purchase Gift Cards for Local Businesses and Restaurants
Visit your favorite local, independently owned establishments (or, if possible, go online) and purchase a gift card directly from the business. This will help their bottom line in the short term and give you a fun evening out or exciting purchase to look forward to at a later date!

Orlando Health Homemade Mask Donations
Orlando Health is closely monitoring and managing supply levels .To diversify resources, and to allow a more comfortable mask option for non-clinical situations, they are now accepting homemade masks. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not consider the homemade masks a substitute for surgical masks or N-95 respirators, cloth masks may slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus in people who may not yet know they have COVID-19. Donation specifics can be found here. 

AdventHealth Give Back Resources
Help doctors, nurses, and others on the front lines with some suggestions form our friends
at AdventHealth here:  AdventHealth COVID-19 Donation Hubs

Community Hope Center
The Community Hope Center is looking for donations on their website hope192.com, and donations of the of the following items can be made via Amazon Smile:

• Non-perishable foods for their pantry
• Soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, and tissues
• cleaning supplies (large and small garbage bags and other waste disposal supplies)
• re-sealable zip-top plastic bags
• disinfectant (bleach, Lysol, other household disinfectants)
• Monetary gifts to help us secure hygiene stations at the CHC

Education Foundation of Osceola County
The Education Foundation has started an online COVID-19 Giving Campaign to help raise funds for laptops, school supplies, hygiene, food and clothing.  Donate here.

Osceola County Council on Aging
The Osceola Council on Aging has need for donations for their food pantry.

Help Now of Osceola County
Help Now of Osceola, Inc. will remain open and ready to assist during the coronavirus period of isolation. Their crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day at 407-847-8562.

Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber Livestream on Community Resources and Assistance During COVID-19
On April 8, Reverend Mary Downey with the Community Hope Center joined us for our Wednesday livestream. She spoke about federal and community resources and assistance, but also gave an update on the work of local nonprofits such as hers as they aid the most vulnerable populations during this tricky time, and work to meet a growing need resulting from economic turmoil. You can view that livestream on our Facebook, YouTube, or right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DGQqS5_ls

The Kissimmee Chamber says “Thank You”
Our Chamber Area Council Boards of Directors have been saying “thank you” to all of our frontline responders, workers, deliverers, and teachers. We will roll out these videos on our Facebook page, and they will also be available on our YouTube Channel. If you are doing something to shine a light on god in our community, or just to say thanks, let us know about it!