January 25, 2025

Another two charitable organizations that we partner with are Hope Partnership Gifts and Christian Service Center. Each of these organizations provide vital services to the homeless. Although Orlando is often identified as part of “The Magic Kingdom” in 2024, there were 1,094 unsheltered people in the greater Orlando area an increase of 587 from the previous year. And this number does not include families, who would rather sleep in their car than be separated. The Collage Companies USA, the company my brother Brian founded, spearheaded an initiative to convert local motels for shelters for families but the need still remains great.

Here is something you can do in your own community.

Did you know that most shelters nationwide do not open until the temperature is below 25 degrees—which, of course, is still 7 degrees below freezing. Twenty-Five degrees is draconian to me. We know from science that even temperatures below just 40 degrees that people can experience hypothermia and put lives at risk. There have already been numerous reports of frostbites in our medical clinics nationwide that has resulted in amputation of limbs for some patients.

Mylar Thermal Blankets provide lightweight ways to keep warm and dry and can be purchased on Amazon for less than $1.00 each.

My go to brand is the CXYARY 30 pack emergency thermal blanket. The compact pouch makes it easy to keep in your car and at $0.87 each you can directly help 30 people in your community for $25.99. The thermal blankets also help keep items dry as many homeless people live in wooded areas or under overpasses which are damp. I am a pragmatic person. I know none of us can single handedly stop homelessness, but I do believe we can all do our share to help.

The hard truth be told, I was not always generous toward people in need. In Orlando, like many cities around the country you will find people with cardboard signs standing at intersections. As a health care professional, I rarely gave any money because I was convinced that the money would be used for drugs or alcohol. I was confidently expressing that rational to my wife one day when she dropped me dead in my tracks with four simple words “You don’t know that”. She was right. I didn’t. She was looking for a way to help; I was wondering where the money was going. Who would you judge as having the more generous heart?

I decided to turn over a new leaf and went to the bank and got a strapped bundle of $5.00 dollar bills. (There are 100 bills in a wrap-$5.00 x 100=$500.00 dollars)

If you decided to do the same, you could keep the bills securely in your glove compartment or console and have the money readily available to help someone in need.

I cannot tell you far those $5.00 dollar bills go to help someone in need. You won’t be avoiding looking at that person at the intersection but rather looking for a way to help them.

Perhaps it is because of the cold weather that has hit normally hot Florida but seeing the people at the intersections while I sat in my warm car made their dire situation more pronounced for me to give. More importantly, those $5.00 dollar bills have gone a long way in helping me change my heart.

Thanks for travelling with us.