New Beginnings of Central Florida has launched a new Community Outreach Program to partner with local churches, businesses, and community organizations for the benefit of the area’s needy and homeless. Sharing teamwork with partnered special events, education, volunteering and fundraising opportunities, New Beginnings is expanding its services.
Women in Mission of the Clermont Living Hope Church has created a proactive community of active women who work to develop a creative, supportive fellowship while expanding concepts of their mission through participation in the ministries of their church.
New Beginnings Community Outreach Director Jeremy Elliott and Program Coordinator Jenny Hightower recently made a special presentation at a recent Women in Mission breakfast meeting. They presented the heartwarming story and video about how Steve and Linda Smith first started this ministry here in South Lake. Eliott noted, “For the past 17 years, New Beginnings has had a mission to provide a haven where the homeless and needy can begin the healing process while starting to rebuilding their lives. This new collaboration with WIM is an amazing beginning for our new community outreach program with Living Hope Church. Their name says it all. These wonderful women have joined hands to serve the Lord.”
The New Beginnings team shared how to get involved with the newly relaunched Food Pantry Program, so every family has food to eat, especially the children. They shared how their Thrift Store provides 85% of the funding for their programs, staff, and projects. They noted New Beginnings offers volunteer opportunities for individuals and teams in their Thrift Stores. They invited everyone to attend and participate in their numerous fun special events like the annual fall Golf Tournament and the November 15, 2024 Gala Event fundraiser. The groundbreaking for the new Groveland affordable housing project, the Woodwind’s apartments and other transitional housing opportunities were discussed. The progress on rebuilding the New Beginnings Village with a Furniture Barn and more housing was announced.
Jenny Hightower added, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to help others. The WIM group at the Living Hope Church is the embodiment of that principle.” Elliott added, “I have a biblical view. We can all be enlightened by reading the scriptures together. Most importantly, we are all ambassadors here to help each other.”
Both Elliott and Hightower shared the stories of how they were once homeless, broken, and desperate before New Beginnings took them in, shared counseling, education, jobs, transitional safe affordable housing, and the promise of a new future.
Women in Mission Co-Chairs Marguerite Overs and Betty Johnson organized this event to host the New Beginnings fellowship. Johnson noted, “We are very happy with our new relationship and partnership for Women in Mission with New Beginnings.” Owens noted, “We are extremely excited to learn from them, as we expand our community services. We strive to make our community better aware of how to best help the needy. We feel it is our responsibility to reach out to support these people, find a safe place to live.” Johnson adds, “Our WIM purpose remains to help each other with programs, education, communications, and events.” The Women in Mission made a generous donation to New Beginnings before this first joint event finished.
Churches, organizations, and businesses are invited to participate in the New Beginnings Community Outreach Programs. New Beginnings of Central Florida, a 501-C3 non-profit organization, invites donors, sponsors, and volunteers to join their mission of empowering individuals toward self-sufficiency. For more information, please contact 352-404-6946 or visit their Thrift Store at 415 Citrus Tower Boulevard in Clermont, FL 34711. Visit their website at www.nbcfl.org and follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NewBeginningsofCentralFlorida/
