By Brendan O'Connor
For those of you who haven't heard, there is some really impressive work being done out in Winter Garden. Led by Pastor Scott, and an army of volunteers, Matthew's Hope is doing some great work. Having primarily focused on people living in camps on the peripheries of Winter Garden, they've seen a massive shift in the demographics of people using their services in the past 3 years.
Almost half of the homeless population coming to them for help are mothers and their children. They are often holding jobs, but are living out of hotels, cars, and friend's sofas.
I was really impressed by their smoothe on-boarding procedures, that they've clearly improved on over the years since opening. You arrive, draw a number, and wait to be served, just like at the bank or the cutting counter at Joanns Fabrics (but faster). Then you sit with a volunteer who will take down your personal information, and see if you've used their services before. Pastor Scott informed us how they help people with their ID and Green Cards since you have to have a permanent residence to get either.
Once you're checked in, you have access to a shower, a meal, and a goody bag filled with necessities like sanitary napkins, fresh socks and underwear, batteries, or even a bike light. We were told how people used to be ticketed by the police if you were riding at night without a light, and if you're pulled over twice for the same offense you could go to jail. They worked with the local police force and now the officers keep extra bike lights in their patrol vehicles to hand out if you're caught sans-lamp. Very cool.
People have a chance to work for a series of "points" to buy things from the pantry. They pay minimum wage for jobs on-site like processing other people, doing laundry, washing cars, or working in their gorgeously massive community garden/farm (which has a new blueberry patch addition).
What other great organizations are out there working to transform our world?
Free Bike Lights for the Homeless so they don't get pulled over by the Police.
