Excerpt of a Commentary by Scott Maxwell
"It’s the time of year when many of us want to spread extra cheer. And since readers often ask for ideas, here are more than a dozen ways, all suggested by local charities and nonprofits, to help others in Central Florida. Some are small. Click a button to buy a $7 book for a child learning to read. Some are bigger. Help a mental health clinic replace laptops that were recently stolen. Some help veterans and crime victims. Others help kids and lonely seniors. Some charities need money. Others would just love your time.
Take a look through this year’s list and see what touches your heart this holiday season....
...Help families in Osceola. Rev. Mary Lee Downey and the Hope Partnership in Kissimmee (thehopepartnership.org) work tirelessly to help families who live and work along Osceola County’s tourism corridor. You can help by donating your time. (Volunteer on Monday mornings when the charity provides warm meals and employment help.) Or by donating money. (If you want to think big, $3,500 covers the full cost of helping a family transition from a cheap motel to permanent housing."
