Photos and Article by Chuck Seaver, SOUTH LAKE TABLET
The Well of Hope, 16605 Sunrise Lakes Boulevard, Clermont-Four Corners, held their 8th Annual Joy of Giving holiday food and toy giveaway on Saturday, December 17th.
One hundred-fifty families, with sixty children combined, registered for the event that provides families in the area with food packages complete with a ham or turkey and all of the holiday meal trimmings. The Four-Corners area of Lake County is a unique area for obtaining assistance as government grants and provisional funding to food banks is based on client residency. A one-mile area of the Four-Corners area encompasses four county jurisdictions to include Lake, Orange, Polk and Osceola Counties. South Lake County children received toy assistance this year from organizations such as Charities Across South Lake, while the remaining three county area of Four-Corners received minimal assistance from the respective county of residence. Well of Hope Founder Michael Hopewell has worked diligently to bring assistance to everyone in the area regardless of county residence. Although the assistance requires creative thinking to maneuver bureaucracy, Hopewell is committed to helping those in need as much as possible. Free clothes, furniture and household items were on hand at the celebration along with toys for families who had preregistered as out-of-county residents.
Much work ahead is needed to overcome obstacles that are an everyday way of life for many residents of the area says Hopewell. But in the meantime, partners such as Well of Hope Food Bank, New Water Church, We Care Child Care, Weichert Realty, Wal-Mart, Publix and the South Lake Food Providers continue to work together to help those that have found themselves in food emergencies with a helping hand.
Visit www.wellofhope-thriftstore.com for further information on ways to volunteer, donate or register for food assistance.
