A positive response
Coronavirus concerns prompt acts of kindness in Central Florida
There are more and more documented cases of coronavirus as each day passes, and the death toll continues to rise. Toilet paper and hand soap are scarce. Many businesses have been forced to close, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.
But a few Central Floridians and local organizations are a shining light during these unpredictable times, performing acts of kindness. Here are a few of their stories.
Working with Orange County Public Schools worth of food to the Central Brevard Sharing Center, which provides emergency assistance to those in need.
Trinity Church has acquired about 2,000 rolls of toilet paper, which they will distribute to families in need at 2 p.m. on March 26 at a drive-through event at the church (875 Elkcam Blvd. in Deltona).
“As the church, we must help people not only spiritually, but even their basic needs like toilet paper,” said James Jones, the church’s pastor, in an email.
New Horizons Service Dogs’ pup Cloud was supposed to go to training classes with her future owner who has disabilities, but the coronavirus caused a delay. Linda Rutherford stepped up to foster Cloud at her home in Longwood until classes resume, and in the meantime, Rutherford is reinforcing training by asking Cloud to perform tasks on command (from opening the refrigerator to fetching the remote) so that the pooch doesn’t get rusty.
Faith Assembly of God in Orlando is paying up to $100,000 in essential bills for their congregation to help those currently unemployed or working reduced hours because of COVID-19, according to a press release. In the Facebook video (tune in at 2:23), the church’s senior pastor Carl Stephens announces the church’s initiative and how others can contribute.
“We are sending out teams into neighborhoods — if you need help, if you’re a senior citizen, you’re someone that’s a single mom, you need help as far as someone to pick up groceries or take you to the doctor or go pick up medicine … we’re trying, at this point, to be the church,” said Stephens in the video.
Central Florida residents Christy Tweddle, Christy Cain and Karen Brown purchased gift certificates at Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria for locals in need of food. Let the server know when you order (one sandwich and drink per person) that you’d like to utilize their gift certificates and the restaurant will deduct your purchase from the total until there’s nothing left.
Residents of Lake Nona’s Laureate Park neighborhood devised the “Chalk Your Walk Challenge” to share joy with their fellow neighbors by decorating their portion of the sidewalk with doodles, designs, obstacle courses and encouraging messages.
“This effort to share joy, while also practicing social distancing, not only gives families an outdoor activity that everyone can get involved in, but provides residents with a sense of encouragement, solidarity, and community,” said Karlee Kunkle of Lake Nona, who noted that participants are sharing their contributions with the hashtag #LNchalkwalk on social media.
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partnered with Jump Ministries Global Church on three initiatives.
First, they’ve created a feeding center for children ages 18 and younger, who will be able to come to the center daily to get a graband-go breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. Breakfast can be picked up 8-11 a.m. and lunch 12:30-3 p.m. at Jump Global Ministries Church (2550 W. Colonial Drive, suite 300, in Orlando).
A second initiative allows families to come on Fridays to pick up a week’s worth of nonperishables, from oatmeal to instant rice. Boxes can be picked up at Jump Global Ministries Church.
For families of government works not receiving pay and living in extended stay hotels, they’ll drop off breakfast and lunch meals as well as the boxed perishables.
“We’re just trying to do whatever we can to make sure we are thinking about the least of these in our community … those that cannot get what they need in this time, and we just want to be that helping hand,” said the Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac, who is partnering with both organizations on these initiatives, in a video.
Hinckley’s Fancy Meats announced on Twitter that they were giving away free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to those in need, no questions asked, starting March 19. The sammies can be picked up from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily at their shop or at Skyebird’s service window, both in East End Market (3201 Corrine Drive in Orlando).
A local 7-eleven store (3400 S. Conway Road in Orlando) is providing free lunches — a slice of pizza, banana and fountain drink — to all students ages 18 and younger from 11 a.m.noon Monday-Friday.