Anointed Community Services Annual International (ACSI) Pancake Breakfast and Gift Explosion is an annual event that brings together businesses, nonprofit organizations, families and the City of Groveland to show the homeless and needy that a united community nurishes and thrives.
This year, ACSI invited three nonprofit organizations to showcase their services to the families in Groveland. Approximately 200 people attended the holiday event, and about 75% were from Groveland. Other people came from Mascotte, Stuckey, Clermont and even Leesburg and Bushnell. About 20 businesses donated including Cherry Lake Farm, Montverde Academy, Dave Littiken Plumbing, Krispy’s Chicken, IHOP, Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, Groveland Police Department, Council members of Groveland, Dina Sweat, Mike Smith, Mike Raznik.
The children participating were ages 7-11. Some kids wanted hoverboards and received them! Some needed clothes because many came from homeless families or a single parent family. “One older man is single and raising his 4 grandchildren. Many of the children would not have had Christmas if it wasn’t for the event”, said Linda Cowles, President and CEO of Anointed Community Services International.
Cowles described one of the highlights of the event. “A fun portion of the event was the Grinch! Councilmember Dina Sweat brought the outfit for one of our volunteers to wear and this was a huge hit for the kids. Everyone wanted photos with the Grinch”.ACSI has served about 700 people at the Elese Tomlin Community Center from the time it opened on June 11, 2018. On a weekly basis, it serves 25 youth, ages 6-15, in the After School Program. It also serves 125 single women with training and benefits; and 25 seniors and developmentally disabled adults every Thursday with free lunch and fellowship.
“Anointed Community Services International has a mentoring program called Boys 2 Men that helps us mentor our young boys ages 6-15 and we invited Smart Start Learning Cafe to present their program which will be bringing their tutoring service to the children in Groveland and Heidi’s Academy a ballet and dance academy will be bringing their service to children in Groveland”, said Cowles.
ACSI is a 501c3 non-profit community-based organization that provides needed services to economically and technologically disadvantaged women and youth from ages 6 to 24 who are living in homeless or in low-income situations, as well as, veterans, seniors and developmentally disabled adults. The organization offers solutions needed to thrive – at home, at school and at work. It addresses poverty, which is the biggest obstacle to life’s achievements.
Poverty (mentally and socially) is our true 21st-century problem. ACSI believes that the best way to combat the underlying structures of poverty is through education. We invite you to visit our website for more details and to contact us. www.anointedcs.org
