SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – More than a hundred volunteers came together Saturday to pack meals for families in need across our area. It was an event hosted by Heart of Florida United Way.
One by one, volunteers spent their morning getting results at the U.S. Hunger location in Seminole County.
For 7-year-old Brock Atwood, it was a family affair.
“I want to help people who don’t have food get food to eat,” Atwood said.
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He and his family joined dozens of volunteers as part of the Heart of Florida United Way “Share the Love” campaign where they assembled thousands of jambalaya meal kits for people in need.
Brock’s grandma, who has been volunteering with United Way for more than 25 years, wanted her family to take part Saturday, too.
“It’s just an important thing to do as a family and to teach the next generation to give back,” Wendy Kownslar said. “Just being able to give back. Those of us who are blessed and have time and talent to give to others that they will learn that they can do that too.”
In all, they packed about 10,000 meals for people in need here across Central Florida.
“These meals are going to be distributed to partners within the community — for example, Meals on Wheels, Coalition for the homeless who I know just suffered a fire (...) so they’re in need of some extra help and supplies,” said Senior Vice President of Heart of Florida United Way Ashley Blasewitz, who knows the impact.
“Nearly 50 percent of Central Floridians are on the brink of financial instability, so not able to make ends meet,” Blasewitz said.
It’s in part why she wanted her 8-year-old son to volunteer, too.
“Everybody’s circumstances aren’t the same, so making sure they’re exposed to different cultures and different life experiences,” Blasewitz said.
Learn more about Heart of Florida United Way by visiting its website.
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