Feature Story & Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Charity Across South Lake is now actively working to bring our entire community together to share complimentary backpacks full of school supplies for next fall. Their first goal was to help 1000 children. Their new goal is to award at least 2500 backpacks, each filled with $100 worth of valuable school supplies for needy families and children across South Lake County. From notebooks, paper, crayons, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, scissors and much more, this generous program will support families across Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, Groveland and Mascotte across South Lake with this first annual collaborative community project. Every South Lake School will receive at least 100 backpacks.
Sponsors & Donations Needed: Charity Across South Lake is looking for businesses, families and organizations to help sponsor a series of backpacks that will be worth at least $50,000. A mere $20 donation will help purchase the discounted wholesale cost of a single backpack. They are hopeful everyone will soon step forward to sponsor at least one backpack. Visit: www.AcrossSouthLake.org for a list of drop-off locations to make a school supply donation. Cash donations can be made at Seacoast Bank under the newly established Charity Across South Lake Fund.
First Participating Sponsors and Organizations! Some worthy businesses and organizations have already stepped forward to sponsor larger donations of at least 100 to 300+ backpacks each. The local Clermont & South Lake Kiwanis Clubs; Clermont, Groveland & Mascotte Police Departments; Clermont Christian Men in Action, the South Lake Chamber of Commerce; The South Lake Republican Club; South Lake & Clermont Moose Lodges; South Lake Elks; South Lake Junior Women’s Club; Clermont Compassion; The Fraternal of Eagles; Read to Sydney; South Lake Business Leaders; Texas Roadhouse; Home Depot; Chick-fil-a; various South Lake Non-Profit Think Tank members and Buffalo Wild Wings have all jumped on board to support this important new project. With help from $200 to $2000 sponsors, more help is still needed!
Urgent Timing Needed! Clermont Office Depot has graciously stepped forward to help purchase the entire set of school supplies and backpacks at wholesale cost, with orders which need to be made ASAP and no later than mid-May. Clermont Office Depot Operations Manager Paul Miller noted, “We are very proud to support this project to do our part to help needy families and children. We always do our best to make donations to South Lake County Schools as well as to always offer teacher discounts!”
Charity Across South Lake Team: Led by Renee Lowe as the Back-to-School Supply Drive organizer from Kiwanis, she has plenty of volunteer help. The Back-to-School Supply Committee is supported with help from Michelle Michnoff as President from Seacoast Bank, Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson, Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway, Glenn Holcomb as IT Director, Denise Kalman-Smith as Treasurer, Jessica Whitehouse as Secretary and more. With more than 25 years of work by charitably helping our community, Renee is the Vice-President of the committee with the fortunate flexibility from her day job with Roe Family Chiropractic and Wellness.
Charity Across South Lake got started last year with the endless challenges from COVID-19 for needy families. While working with the sponsorships of the Clermont Christian Men in Action and the Clermont Police Department, they also worked with other organizations to participate in their 14th Annual Christmas Eve Party last December to give out plenty of toys to less fortunate children. While the annual December Battle of Badges charity basketball game fundraiser got postponed in 2020 due to COVID, they hope to bring it back this coming year. Plans are already in the works for their 15th annual Christmas Toy Party give-away.
For Donations, Sponsorships & More Information: No family or child needs to apply for a free school supply back pack. Schools are defining their lists, knowing which families and children need the most help. Don’t wait! Visit their website at: www.AcrossSouthLake.org to see all the benefits available to sponsors and families. You will be able to download the QR Code that makes it simple to participate as well as to make your donation pledge. Visit and Like them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CharityAcrossSouthLake.
