Panama City nonprofit collecting clothes and toys for the needy

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·3 min read

PANAMA CITY — A local nonprofit is continuing its effort to give needy families and individuals a better holiday each year.

Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry provides meals for those in need year-round. The project also collects clothes and toys during the holidays to give to the homeless community and families each year.

Machell Akins of Panama City started the outreach project four years ago when she would serve free meals to the needy on the last Saturday of each month. Akins said she’s blessed with the opportunity to be able to change lives each holiday and plans to sponsor about 40 families this year.

“At least 20 years ago, God had given me a vision that I’d be serving the homeless one day, and it was four years ago when I decided to begin it,” Akins said. “I’ve always had a heart for helping people in whatever way I can.”

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Each Christmas season, Akins accepts donations for items people might be in need of during the holidays and gifts them before serving a Christmas meal.

Items fill the drop boxes from the Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry donation drive at the UPS Store on 23rd Street.
Items fill the drop boxes from the Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry donation drive at the UPS Store on 23rd Street.

Earlier this year, she launched a summer drive called “Christmas in July,” in which she collected school supplies and toiletry items to fill backpacks to give to local students and the homeless community. She also accepted Christmas wish lists from families and individuals during the drive to help those who need assistance with Christmas gifts.

Akins' goal is to change as many lives as possible each year, but she said she needs community support in order to do so.

“I’m asking the community to look into their hearts and do anything they can to help,” Akins said. “If they don't do anything throughout the year, then this is the time to give back. These people really need help, and we should do everything we can to help them."

There are four drop boxes, two for clothes and two for toys, at the UPS Store, 653 W. 23rd St. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 15 but strongly encouraged to be made by Dec. 13 to give time to prepare for distributions on Dec. 17.

Items fill the drop boxes from the Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry donation drive at the UPS Store on 23rd Street.
Items fill the drop boxes from the Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry donation drive at the UPS Store on 23rd Street.

Project Helping Our Homeless and Hungry is asking for the following:

FOR HOMELESS: 

  • Blankets, coats, tents, sleeping bags, packs of socks, T-shirts and packs of underwear.

ITEMS ON GIRLS WISHLIST:

  • Toy tablet; L.O.L doll, L.O.L doll house; toy phone, flashlight; teddy bear; shoes (size 4); jeans (size 16); Chuck Taylor converse (size 7 1/2) and art supplies.

ITEMS ON BOYS WISHLIST:

  • Toy phone; toy tablet; Elmo toy, Paw Patrol toy, Mickey Mouse toy, tricycle, race car, chess set, MP3 player, football, over-the-door basketball game, basketball, UNO cards and portable DVD player.

Akins will be serving Christmas meals Dec. 17 at the Marie Motel, 545 Magnolia Ave., starting at 1 p.m., where she will also distribute the donated items and toys on a first come, first served basis.

The holiday meal includes honey and brown sugar glazed ham, rotisserie chicken, green bean casserole, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, coconut creme pie and pineapple sherbert.

For any organization or individual wishing to get involved, contact Akins at 850-730-9304.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City organization holds donation drive to benefit the homeless