RISE Community Solutions

Last Friday, our community came together at our third RISE & Shine Morning of Action to talk about the homelessness experience here in Central Florida. We are so grateful to our partners at Homeless Services Network of Central Florida for sharing their knowledge about accessing services, and couldn't be prouder of our very own teammate, Bethany Audette, for bravely telling her story. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared resources, and supported families served by the Pine Hills Community Center with Thanksgiving food donations! If you'd like to hear more from Bethany and learn more about our approach to working with families experiencing homelessness, check out this news segment from our friends at WFTV: https://lnkd.in/ePzmsAyB

We are still looking for generous community partners to help us make the holidays joyful for the 300 children and teens we serve. Can you help? Amazon released early Black Friday deals, and we found a few of our most wished for items on sale. You can shop our wish list here: https://bit.ly/4fdv35v THANK YOU for your support!

Ready to do some good this holiday season? Please consider giving, or hosting a gift drive. The kids we serve have experienced a recent crisis - homelessness, a mental health need, and/or sexual abuse. Help them end their year with the gift of joy! ??

We are looking for partners to help bring joy to 300 children and teens in Central Florida, and we need your help! Here are a few creative ways to organize toy and gift card collections that will truly make a difference this holiday season. Please email [email protected] to get all of the materials you need, like flyers and a donation box. You can also shop our wish list at any time to have gifts delivered directly to our office: https://bit.ly/40eBEZ7

It's estimated that over 70% of Americans are feeling more stressed than usual because of the election. If you're struggling with anxiety today, please know that you're not alone! Here are a few tips to help you cope this week. Be sure to take time to check in with yourself and practice self-care, because your #MentalHealthMatters!

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month, and we want to talk about it! Please join us on November 15 at the Pine Hills Community Center to learn more about what it's like to navigate homelessness in our community with our partners at Homeless Services Network of Central Florida. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Yzwvs7

Happy November! This month, we're excited to celebrate Theresa's third anniversary with the Pathways to Home team, Law's second anniversary with Public Allies Central Florida, and Nicole's first anniversary with Children's Advocacy Center Osceola. These three teammates bring so much knowledge, expertise, and passion to their work, and we're so lucky to have them!

Last week, several of our CAC Osceola Advocates, Johnny and Katiria, attended the 14th Annual Children's Advocacy Center's Conference, where they connected with other CAC professionals and discussed ways to keep kids safe. Thank you to the Howard Phillips Center for organizing this impactful event! We're already looking forward to next year's conference. #childabuseprevention #chidrensadvocacycenters

We believe in supporting families in whatever way they need it most. For families experiencing housing instability or another crisis, holiday gifts can feel like a luxury parents wish to provide for their children but may not be able to afford. Fortunately, with help from caring partners like you, 300 children and teens in our community will receive toys and gift cards for the holidays! We truly can't do this without you! In order to reach our goal of serving 300 children and teens, we need to collect over 1,000 toys and gift cards by December 16. There are several ways to support: Host a toy collection at your business, church, school, or neighborhood. To learn more or to get started, please email Morgan Clement at [email protected]. Shop our Amazon wish list and have gifts shipped directly to our office ahead of our gift distribution: https://bit.ly/40eBEZ7 Donate online at www.RISEcs.org/holiday-joy and we will shop for you, based on our biggest needs/gaps. Your generosity will provide Central Florida families with happy holiday memories, parents with peace, and children with joy. THANK YOU!

October 10 is #WorldMentalHealthDay, and many people in our Central Florida community and across the state are experiencing higher levels of anxiety because of #HurricaneMilton. Here are some of our favorite tips following a storm (which can be applied to most traumatic events) - what did we miss? How are you taking care of yourself today? Help is available! If you or a loved one find yourself struggling today and would like to talk to a crisis counselor, please call or text the Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990. If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm at any time, call or text the Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988.