Homelessness affects thousands in the Big Bend. Here's how you can help

Ana Goñi-Lessan and Christopher Cann, Tallahassee Democrat
·5 min read
A hand-painted Little Sunshine Pantry placed by Project Annie in Frenchtown. The pantry is typically filled weekly with nonperishable food items.
A hand-painted Little Sunshine Pantry placed by Project Annie in Frenchtown. The pantry is typically filled weekly with nonperishable food items.

With thousands in the Big Bend region struggling with homelessness, there are many ways to help.

 

By donating food or funds, your generosity could mean a family can afford dinner or a roof over their heads for another night. As the holiday season ramps up, consider donating or volunteering with a community organization that helps families get back on their feet.

Below is a list of local groups and organizations helping people battling housing insecurity:

FIT Shoppe

The FIT Shoppe is a part Leon County Schools' Families in Transition program. Families can get new and gently-used clothes and toiletries. To donate, call Michael Hightower at the school district at 850-487-7226 or hightowerm@leonschools.net.

Big Bend Homeless Coalition

The Big Bend Homeless Coalition houses the HOPE Community center – the only shelter that takes complete families – and takes financial contributions here: http://www.bigbendhc.org/. The organization also asks for volunteers to help with clean-up days and food distribution. BBHC is also currently asking for doormats for its veteran housing. To donate items, email volunteer@bigbendhc.org or call 850-339-6316.

Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO)

ECHO takes all kinds of donations. Currently the organization is accepting food (canned and boxed foods and snack items), hygiene items, diapers, formula, household items, clothing and furniture. The full list of items is online: https://echotlh.org/what-we-need/. For financial contributions, visit: https://echotlh.org/give/.

A 5-PART SERIES

Kearney Center

The Kearney Center, the principal homeless shelter for adults run by local philanthropist Rick Kearney, accepts food, clothes for men and women, shoes, toiletries and household linens like towels, sheets and pillows. The center also accepts financial contributions at https://kearneycenter.org/donate/. For more information, call 850-792-9000.

Good Samaritan Network

The thrift store accepts donations of almost everything: clothing, household appliances, musical instruments, lawn care equipment, televisions, furniture and even boats, cars and homes. The food pantry takes donations of boxed and canned foods, toiletries, laundry and cleaning supplies, office supplies and paper products.

The organization also serves Chelsea House, a faith-based residential program for women and single mom families, which currently needs shower curtains, Swiffer mops and brooms.

Items can be dropped off at 2706 N. Monroe St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To ensure they are distributed to Chelsea House, please give the items directly to the Ladies' Office and not a regular donation processing area. For large donations, call 850-297-1113 ext. 2 for pickup.

For more information, visit https://www.gsncares.org/volunteer-donation-opportunities/.

Little Sunshine Pantries

Little Sunshine Pantries has food pantries across the city. They take donations of food and hygiene items. Please no cans unless they are pop-top. To donate, to buy items on the organization's Amazon Wishlist or to view a map of pantries, visit the nonprofit's website,  https://www.littlesunshinepantries.com/.

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Tallahassee Urban League

The Tallahassee Urban League provides food, clothing and rental assistance to families. The nonprofit takes perishable and non-perishable food items and clothes. While their rental relocation program ended in August, the Urban League is still seeking money to help pay for hotel vouchers for homeless families. Funds can also go to helping pay for utilities and rent. The best and fastest ways to donate, including money, is to visit 923 Old Bainbridge Road and see the receptionist. For more information, call 850-222-6111.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities takes food donations for its food pantry and hygiene items for new moms and babies. Those can be dropped off at 1380 Blountstown Hwy. The organization also will take monetary donations to distribute for rent and utilities. Donate here: https://ccnwfl.org/legacygiving/. You do not have to be Catholic to receive help.

Capital City Youth Services

Capital City Youth Services provides guidance, shelter and support to youth and families in the Big Bend area. CCYS uses eTapestry for online donations at https://www.ccys.org/. If you would like to mail in a donation, make your check payable to CCYS and mail to: 2407 Roberts Ave. Tallahassee, FL 32310. For questions about donations, contact Justin Barfield at justin.barfield@ccys.org or 850-251-0174.

Food Not Bombs

Food Not Bombs is a local grassroots mutual aid organization focused on providing free plant-based food to people in Tallahassee and Leon County facing food insecurity. They accept donations of canned goods, non-perishable foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as tax-deductible donations through Open Collective Foundation, https://opencollective.com/tallahassee-food-not-bombs. They hold a weekly vegan/vegetarian mealshare every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at E. Peck Greene Park, behind the LeRoy Collins Leon County Main Public Library. They serve fresh, healthy food and offer water, coffee and regularly have an assortment of hygiene products and clothing for anyone in need. They also offer limited deliveries of groceries and other essential products by request. For more information, email foodnotbombstally@gmail.com

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What programs are we missing? We know this list only scratches the surface. Send us your name, address and phone number to news@tallahassee.com and we'll add your organization and activities to our running list online.

 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How to donate, support homeless families in Tallahassee, Leon County