The Love in Action event hosted by Tracy Echols and sponsored by Dennis Realty Cares was an astounding success, raising both awareness and desperately needed dollars to help fund The Life Center of Hernando, a home for homeless moms and their children, and Fostering Hope, a support organization for foster children and their families. The event culminated in Spring Hill on September 15, 2022, with nearly 70 attendees! Bravera Behavioral Health and ToyoDoc stepped up to become Top Shelf Sponsors and were accompanied by numerous supportive community members and local businesses who graciously donated creative basket arrangements for the raffle. Lunch for the event was provided by Marzella’s Catering and dessert was provided by Weeki Wachee Candy Co. From the amazing food and dessert to the generous donations and community support, we are truly appreciative and thankful to be part of such a wonderful community! The organizations that were the spotlight of this event do amazing things! We want to share just a little bit about each of them and hope that you will join us, in joining with them, to continue making a difference in our communities. The Life Center of Hernando The purpose of The Life Center (TLC) is to keep moms from having to go back to unsafe conditions due to needing a roof over their heads. TLC is committed to making a difference in the lives of young single mothers and their infant children by providing a safe haven and empowering these young women with tools for success. After working with TLC, we have seen firsthand that the need continues! Currently, the Life Center houses 7 moms and 13 children with a waiting list that is growing. The services offered are intended to help moms get on their feet and ultimately transition out on their own, utilizing the skills they have learned during their stay. The in-house transitional program can run up to two years, with an optional third year as needed. As part of the program, residents receive help in many areas including assistance with meeting educational requirements, completing paperwork for their children, and obtaining child support. Life Center of Hernando knows that education is crucial to personal improvement and offers numerous classes to help with teaching parenting skills intended to create a better future for both mother and child. Mothers are able to stay in the program until they are stable, which could be as little as two weeks to two months, or up to two years. As you can imagine, the day-to-day needs never end and increase as new moms enter the program. While monetary donations are always needed there are more ways to help! The facility needs new floors, a replacement trailer, volunteers, and more rooms/beds for displaced moms and their children. We hope that you will consider helping as you feel lead and are able, and we encourage you to find out more on their website.   Fostering Hope of Florida Fostering Hope Florida is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to foster children and foster families in the Tampa Bay area. At Fostering Hope, they know that foster children often come from difficult backgrounds and need a lot of nurturing, support, and love. To address these needs, Fostering Hope provides homes, called Hope Houses, in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties and rely on donations to provide foster families with the necessary items to maintain an enriched family life. If you’re a parent, then you know firsthand that the need for family does not simply stop when a child transitions to adolescence or becomes an adult. Young people need a reassuring voice and support through all of life’s trials. That support could be in the form of having a mom or dad at their wedding, present when their child is born, graduating from school, and all of the other important milestones in life. Whether an infant, a teenager, or a young child, there is a need for support and that support could be you! Here is some information from Fostering Hope regarding the services they provide as well as the impact you can have in a child’s life. Currently, there are not enough homes in Hernando County to support the significant need for foster children, especially sibling groups. If you have extra space in your home, consider providing room for a teen or a sibling group in your home. Sign up to be emergency responders who take in children when there is an emergent need until the children can be placed into a permanent foster home. This will keep them from being moved so many times within the first 30 days. Some children can be moved up to SEVEN times before they are placed. Can you imagine anything more disruptive and upsetting than being separated from your family, from your siblings, AND moved 6-7 times before you find a spot that MIGHT keep you? How stressful. We invite you to meet Ke'Onda Johnson and learn about her story. While adoption may not be feasible for everyone there are many other ways that you can help! At Fostering Hope their motto is “If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, you can sponsor. If you can’t sponsor, you can volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, you can donate. DONATE If you can’t donate, educate. Please consider helping this life changing organization and JOIN THE VILLAGE! Now that you’ve learned a little about each of these very necessary charity groups you may be asking how you can help NOW! Both organizations have an ongoing need for the following items: • Diapers - Size 5, 6, 7 • Pull-ups • Socks • Underwear (all sizes) • Baby wipes • Deodorant • Toddler toothbrushes (0-2 and 2-5 years old) • Children’s toothpaste • Hygiene items • Gift cards We will gladly accept these items at any of our offices. If you would like more information on how to get involved, please reach out to Tracy Echols. Thank you for your continued support and helping us make the Dennis Difference!