Ormond Beach residents raise money for Food for Hope with lemonade stand

Ormond Beach Observer
Your Town

Residents Cami and Evelyn Kent put their lemonade-selling skills in Ormond Beach to good use for the fourth year in a row as they raised money for Food Brings Hope.

With the help of friends and family, the Kents raised $1,308 by selling lemonade and baked goods. The money will be used to help feed homeless and underprivileged children in Volusia County Schools.

United Way distributes more than $200,000 to local agencies for Hurricane Irma relief

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties has distributed $231,281 since September of last year to agencies in need of extra help since Hurricane Irma.

According to a press release, the latest organizations to receive relief funds were the Children’s Home Society of Florida, VIND, the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council and United Way’s 2-1-1 Free First Call for Help program. United Way has helped a total of 18 agencies. The funds have helped the programs with food, shelter, equipment, repairs and other hurricane assistance.

Heather Morgan, vice president of communication with the Children's Home Society of Florida serving Volusia, Flagler and Putnam County, said the $2,500 funds from United Way helped the organization make repairs to three of their group homes in Volusia: Brian's House, Destiny House and Sunshine House.

“Those funds helped tremendously," Morgan said. "As you can imagine, with Irma came a lot of damage, and so when it comes to making sure we’re providing that absolute best care for kids, safety is of importance.”

The hurricane relief funds were raised by the United Way Worldwide, United Way of Florida SunTrust Foundation, Parks Dermatology, Duke Energy, Publix Supermarkets Foundation, and individual donors. They will support the needs of over 19,000 individuals and families in Volusia and Flagler County.