March 31st, 2024 Distribution
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Thank you to all who came out to our Homeless Distribution today! REACH was incredibly successful in delivering supplies and hundreds of sandwiches to those in need. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity! Go REACH!
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Doctor Phillips HS Helping the Homeless Reflection - December 3rd
When REACH had asked for a couple of members to volunteer their high schools to make sandwiches for its Helping the Homeless Initiative, I was initially skeptical about whether I could handle such a task. However, after seeing the impact of the September initiative, I decided to volunteer my school to help with the upcoming December initiative. Unfortunately, while preparing for the sandwich-making event to be held at my school, I ran into some unexpected problems.
The first major obstacle I faced was the few people who had signed up to help make sandwiches. Eventually, I realized the underlying issue was that the event didn’t count for community service hours. To fix this, I rushed to get a proposal signed by my counselor, who fortunately did so with little hesitation. While continuing to prepare, I had the spontaneous idea to make uplifting cards to go along with the sandwiches. Although cards may seem trivial, receiving a card can mean a lot to someone. Seeing that another person took the time and effort to make a card can be extremely heartwarming. This simple act of kindness can go a long way, especially for a homeless person. With this in mind, I made it my mission to get more people involved and contacted a few organizations at my school who gladly shared it with their members. As a result, many people signed up for the event and within 4 days, the number of volunteers grew from 2 people to around 30. However, with more people came a second problem: a lack of available space. To address this, I had my club sponsor reach out to the teacher next door, who agreed to let us borrow some desks. Just when I thought things were finally going smoothly, another problem surfaced: a shortage of art supplies. Upon realizing this, I asked my AP US History teacher for permission to borrow hers, and thankfully, she said yes! With all three problems solved, my preparation was complete, and it was finally time for the event to take place at school.
I still recall being incredibly nervous as it was my first time being in charge of a large group. As people entered the classroom, my heart beat faster and as the room got louder, my heart beat even faster. At that point, I knew I had to get everyone's attention, and the only way to do so was to project my voice. Although this was uncomfortable at first, doing so allowed me to command attention and assign jobs. Through this entire process, I came to realize the power of collaboration. Without the help of my counselor, club sponsor, teachers, and 30 fellow students, we wouldn’t have been able to make 100 sandwiches and cards. Despite encountering many difficulties, I don’t regret volunteering to take on this task. This experience taught me how to be a leader and gave me a newfound confidence in my abilities. Considering all of this, I encourage others to challenge themselves too, as pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will only cause you to grow.
The first major obstacle I faced was the few people who had signed up to help make sandwiches. Eventually, I realized the underlying issue was that the event didn’t count for community service hours. To fix this, I rushed to get a proposal signed by my counselor, who fortunately did so with little hesitation. While continuing to prepare, I had the spontaneous idea to make uplifting cards to go along with the sandwiches. Although cards may seem trivial, receiving a card can mean a lot to someone. Seeing that another person took the time and effort to make a card can be extremely heartwarming. This simple act of kindness can go a long way, especially for a homeless person. With this in mind, I made it my mission to get more people involved and contacted a few organizations at my school who gladly shared it with their members. As a result, many people signed up for the event and within 4 days, the number of volunteers grew from 2 people to around 30. However, with more people came a second problem: a lack of available space. To address this, I had my club sponsor reach out to the teacher next door, who agreed to let us borrow some desks. Just when I thought things were finally going smoothly, another problem surfaced: a shortage of art supplies. Upon realizing this, I asked my AP US History teacher for permission to borrow hers, and thankfully, she said yes! With all three problems solved, my preparation was complete, and it was finally time for the event to take place at school.
I still recall being incredibly nervous as it was my first time being in charge of a large group. As people entered the classroom, my heart beat faster and as the room got louder, my heart beat even faster. At that point, I knew I had to get everyone's attention, and the only way to do so was to project my voice. Although this was uncomfortable at first, doing so allowed me to command attention and assign jobs. Through this entire process, I came to realize the power of collaboration. Without the help of my counselor, club sponsor, teachers, and 30 fellow students, we wouldn’t have been able to make 100 sandwiches and cards. Despite encountering many difficulties, I don’t regret volunteering to take on this task. This experience taught me how to be a leader and gave me a newfound confidence in my abilities. Considering all of this, I encourage others to challenge themselves too, as pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will only cause you to grow.
Joann (Doctor Phillips HS)
Hagerty HS Distribution Reflection - December 3rd
On December 3rd, we had the Helping the Homeless Initiative at Lake Eola. In the morning, 20 volunteers helped sort the donated supplies into bags, containing toothbrushes, water, sandwiches, etc. Winter Park, Doctor Phillips, and University High School each made around 100 sandwiches, resulting in around 300 sandwiches in total. After sorting, we drove to Lake Eola to hand everything out. We also had a few miscellaneous items, such as blankets, coats, wipes, and extra sandwiches. This was my second time participating, and our group went around the library while the other group passed supplies along the lake. Although it was really hot that day, I was glad we were able to hand out all of our bags despite there not being as many people to hand things out compared to the last distribution. Through this event, we were able to help out people struggling with homelessness, and I’m sure REACH would be continuing to do these distributions. I’ll definitely be looking forward to helping out in the next one!
Charitey (Hagerty HS)
Charitey (Hagerty HS)
December 3rd, 2023 Distribution
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On Sunday, December 3rd, REACH had our winter Helping the Homeless Initiative distribution at Lake Eola! Many officers came to help organize and sort all the donations recieved. Special shout out to Dr. Phillips High School, Winter Park High School, University High School, Freedom Highschool, and Timber Creek Highschool for donations and sandwiches! Thank you to everyone that came out to help with the distribution and organization process!
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September 10th, 2023 Distribution
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On Sunday, September 10th, REACH had our 1st Helping the Homeless Initiative distribution at Lake Eola of the 2023 to 2024 term! Officers came out to organzie all of the donations we recieved. Shout out to Lake Nona High School, Bishop Moore High School, and University High School for making over 100 sanwiches! Thank you to everyone that came out to help with the organization and distribution at Lake Eola.
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Olympia HS Distribution Reflection
This being our second time collecting and distributing for the Helping the Homeless initiative, the process was way more straightforward and clean. Making sandwiches and packing all the supply bags was way more efficient and looking back, the entire experience was not only fun to prepare, but it was also pretty eye-opening about our current homelessness situation. Compared to our first distribution, there were a lot fewer people at Lake Eola, which led us to start giving out supplies at other nearby spots. The most important takeaway from this for me is that those who are homeless don't fall under the stereotype that was usually associated with the word. No longer are the homeless “beggers” and their situation is their own fault. The distributions really show that the homeless are no different than us, who often face unfortunate problems and situations out of their control. Many times, it is the people who have more that are more greedy. Looking at the picture in its entirety, every human has a life and consciousness, and our lifetimes are something we should live out to the fullest because we cannot know for certain that there will be another time. Although some might say to stick with your own ambitions, from what I have seen so far, I believe it is best to set aside our own selfish goals and help others out to ensure that another human being can also regain their gasp on the path to have the same life that many of us take for granted.
Alvin Li (Olympia HS)
Alvin Li (Olympia HS)
Lake Nona HS Distribution Reflection
For the October Helping the Homeless initiative, Lake Nona High school helped make 150 sandwiches that were to be distributed to the homeless at Lake Eola. We had around 20 high schoolers volunteer to help with assembling all of the sandwiches. The sandwiches were either chicken and cheese or turkey and cheese, and these choices helped us respect the differing dietary restrictions of many of the homeless to whom we were distributing to. Assembling the sandwiches was a great activity in which the volunteers all got to work together as a team as well as contribute to the great cause of feeding the homeless.
On October 23rd, 2022, after assembling the sandwiches a couple days prior, we gathered with the other schools associated with REACH at Lake Eola. We started organizing the sandwiches and other non-perishables we decided to donate. These supplies consisted of anything from items such as deodorant to toilet paper. After we were finished organizing, we split into two large groups and started walking around trying to distribute as many sandwiches and supplies as possible. Along the way, we got to listen in on many stories of the service of the people whom we handed out sandwiches to. One of which was from an elderly lady, she told us that she ate only one meal a day. Even then she offered to help us hand out sandwiches to other people who needed it more than her. For us this was a very touching experience as we got to hear out their personal experiences and how they ended up in their current situations. It put into perspective how lucky we were as kids who were born into a generation where we could indulge in many privileges and opportunities that the older generations didn’t have in their younger years.
Vandana Manchikanti (Lake Nona HS)
Richard Tang (Lake Nona HS)
Matthew Nguyen (Lake Nona HS)
On October 23rd, 2022, after assembling the sandwiches a couple days prior, we gathered with the other schools associated with REACH at Lake Eola. We started organizing the sandwiches and other non-perishables we decided to donate. These supplies consisted of anything from items such as deodorant to toilet paper. After we were finished organizing, we split into two large groups and started walking around trying to distribute as many sandwiches and supplies as possible. Along the way, we got to listen in on many stories of the service of the people whom we handed out sandwiches to. One of which was from an elderly lady, she told us that she ate only one meal a day. Even then she offered to help us hand out sandwiches to other people who needed it more than her. For us this was a very touching experience as we got to hear out their personal experiences and how they ended up in their current situations. It put into perspective how lucky we were as kids who were born into a generation where we could indulge in many privileges and opportunities that the older generations didn’t have in their younger years.
Vandana Manchikanti (Lake Nona HS)
Richard Tang (Lake Nona HS)
Matthew Nguyen (Lake Nona HS)
The Duality of Wealth and Poverty
Lake Eola, located in the heart of Orlando, is known for its picturesque scenery, vibrant nightlife, and diverse community. However, as one travels just a few blocks away from the bustling streets surrounding the lake, the reality of poverty and wealth inequality in the city becomes evident. On the one hand, Lake Eola is surrounded by high-rise condos, luxury apartments, and upscale restaurants, portraying the wealth of the city. On the other hand, just a few blocks away, one can find poverty-stricken neighborhoods where residents struggle to make ends meet many of which have been forced out of their homes which has resulted in a massive homeless population. This stark contrast is a reminder of the wealth gap that exists not just in Orlando but in cities across the world. Poverty in Orlando affects a significant portion of its population, with nearly one in five residents living below the poverty line. This can lead to a lack of access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. The effects of poverty can also lead to negative outcomes, such as high crime rates, poor health, and limited educational opportunities.
On the other hand, the wealth in Orlando is a result of the city's thriving tourism industry, which attracts millions of visitors every year. The city's economy benefits greatly from the influx of tourists, leading to job growth and a rise in the standard of living for many residents. However, this wealth is not evenly distributed, as the majority of the benefits go to those who are already wealthy, widening the wealth gap even further. The duality of wealth and poverty in Lake Eola, Orlando reflects the larger societal issue of wealth inequality. While the city may appear prosperous on the surface, it is important to recognize the struggles faced by many of its residents and work towards creating a more equitable society for all.
This appearance of prosperity creates false familiarity of wealth to not only those outside Orlando but also its residents and many overlook the true underlying problems. Thus it is the role of those living above this poverty line to recognize these injustices and act upon them with not only exposure but also activism. The Helping the Homeless initiative achieves this feat by allowing the new generation of students living in Central Florida to connect and better understand the issues and act. Even with these actions, there is much more that can be done and this can be done through activism and collaboration with larger organizations. This experience has opened my eyes to such a significant unseen issue in my own community and I look forward to the future of helping our community.
Jason Hu (Hagerty HS)
On the other hand, the wealth in Orlando is a result of the city's thriving tourism industry, which attracts millions of visitors every year. The city's economy benefits greatly from the influx of tourists, leading to job growth and a rise in the standard of living for many residents. However, this wealth is not evenly distributed, as the majority of the benefits go to those who are already wealthy, widening the wealth gap even further. The duality of wealth and poverty in Lake Eola, Orlando reflects the larger societal issue of wealth inequality. While the city may appear prosperous on the surface, it is important to recognize the struggles faced by many of its residents and work towards creating a more equitable society for all.
This appearance of prosperity creates false familiarity of wealth to not only those outside Orlando but also its residents and many overlook the true underlying problems. Thus it is the role of those living above this poverty line to recognize these injustices and act upon them with not only exposure but also activism. The Helping the Homeless initiative achieves this feat by allowing the new generation of students living in Central Florida to connect and better understand the issues and act. Even with these actions, there is much more that can be done and this can be done through activism and collaboration with larger organizations. This experience has opened my eyes to such a significant unseen issue in my own community and I look forward to the future of helping our community.
Jason Hu (Hagerty HS)
April 2nd, 2023 Distribution
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On Saturday, April 2nd, REACH had its 3rd Helping the Homeless Initiative distribution! Shout out to Lake Nona High School and Bishop Moore High School for making over 100 sandwiches! Thank you to everyone who came out to help with this distribution and to Mike's Church for the donation of bread.
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January 8th, 2023 Distribution
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On Sunday, January 8th, REACH had its 2nd Helping the Homeless Initiative distribution! We distributed sandwiches, snacks, hygiene products, blankets, etc. Thank you to all of our volunteers who came out to support the Orlando community!
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January 7th, 2023 Distribution Preparation
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On January 7th, 2023, after Winter REACH Out, our officers made sandwiches and bags with hygiene supplies to be distributed at Lake Eola on January 8th!
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October 23rd,2022 Distribution
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On Sunday, October 23rd, 2022 REACH officers and Synchrony Financial volunteers distributed sandwiches, hygiene products, and clothing to the homeless in Lake Eola.
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Helping The Homeless Initiative Partnership with Synchrony Financial
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REACH recently launched its new initiative, Helping The Homeless, in partnership with Synchrony Financial, to help feed the homeless population in Orlando. We ask you to donate bread, zipped bags, ham, cheese or pre-packed sandwiches to the address listed on the flyer by September 27th. Please email [email protected] with any questions!
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