Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph and Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida President/ CEO Brent A. Trotter kicked-off a six week long supply drive today at the Tax Collector’s West Colonial office. The supply drive will benefit local families served by the Coalition. Donation boxes and supply needs lists are located at the greeter station in each of the Tax Collector’s seven offices across Orange County.
Residents may drop off supplies during regular business hours. For a list of office locations and hours of operation, visit www.octaxcol.cbmstage.com.
“Homelessness impacts people from all walks of life in Orange County,” Tax Collector Scott Randolph said. “Even as our local economy improves and tax revenues increase, many families have a difficult time getting by. I encourage everyone who can to donate to their fellow residents in need.”
Trotter, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida President/ CEO, said the Coalition is most in need of diapers of any size, baby wipes, deodorant, new men’s and women’s underwear, hand soap and hand sanitizer. For the complete immediate needs list, visit www.centralfloridahomeless.org.
“We are very grateful to Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph and his staff in all seven offices,” said Coalition for the Homeless President/CEO Brent A. Trotter. “More than 600 of our neighbors in need call the Coalition ‘home’ each night Over 150 are children, with an average age of seven years old. Donations from the community of these much-needed items truly help us transform their lives.”
Founded in 1987, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida is the region’s largest provider of homeless services. The Coalition provides children’s services; shelter; nutritious meals; and a variety of education, life-skills and job-skills training programs.
Experts estimate that as many as 44,000 family members experience some type of homelessness in Central Florida during a year. A 2015 study by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness found that one out of every 17 Central Florida children spent part of the year homeless.