The Community Food & Outreach Center received confirmation that they would be receiving $1.545 million in funding in order to fulfill the nonprofit organization’s vision to help hungry, homeless and struggling families in the greater Orlando area.
Commissioner Patty Sheehan said, “I am delighted that the Community Food & Outreach Center has been awarded a $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant. This District 4 facility is in a central location that will serve hundreds of needy families for years to come.”
The organization will receive $1.045 million in combined funding through two grants via HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which is administered by the City of Orlando and Orange County, and $500,000 from an anonymous central Florida foundation.
As a result, Community Food & Outreach Center is planning to finalize the purchase of its 150 W. Michigan Street campus, located in downtown Orlando, with the CDBG funding. The $500,000 gift is designated for renovations of the campus that includes a 54,000 sq. ft. building. Community Food & Outreach Center will continue fundraising efforts to renovate the campus, which will include an expansion of services and of collaborative partnerships.
Initially, expanded services will address healthcare, mental health counseling and domestic violence needs, in partnership with local charities including Health Care Center for Homeless, The Harbor House, The Grove Counseling Center and others. Long-term, the vision is to renovate the entire campus to house up to 30 nonprofit agency partners, allowing the collaborative group to serve an estimated 1,000 families per day.
It is expected that total cost for the acquisition of the property, renovations of the campus and funding an endowment to cover operating costs, will total approximately $5.3 million.
“I’m very proud of our communities (Orange County and the City of Orlando) rallying around this program, and it’s mission to assist those most vulnerable in our community” stated Donna Wyche, Manager of Orange County’s Department of Mental Health and Homeless. “It’s become a central hub of service delivery, giving a “hand up” to those in need!”
“This is a huge day for the poor and the needy in Central Florida,” explained Scott George, Co-Founder of the Community Food & Outreach Center. “We see so many in need in this community every single day; and to know that these families and children will have a place of refuge to go for help during these challenging times is amazing when you think of the impact that this will have on our community and for generations to come.”
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