Help Us Lift Lives Across Central Florida
United Against Poverty Orlando (UP Orlando) has been a pillar of support for our community, providing low-cost, nutritious foods through our Member Share Grocery Program (MSGP) for over two decades. Unfortunately, during Hurricane Ian, our outdated coolers and freezers were damaged beyond repair, severely limiting our ability to offer diverse and affordable food options to our community. This setback forced families into difficult decisions, choosing between essential expenses like food, utilities, and housing.
Thanks to your invaluable support and that of our partners, we successfully completed the installation of brand new freezers and coolers. This milestone ensures our community has access to a wide variety of nutritious products once again. The UP Orlando MSGP remains a lifeline for thousands in our community, alleviating their financial burdens. Your generosity enables us to provide crucial services that empower individuals and families not just to survive but to thrive.
As we enter the New Year and observe 'Poverty Awareness Month' this January, we express our gratitude for your commitment to supporting families in our community. Your investment offered hope and a second chance for Adrian. Adrian left the workforce in 2020 to aid his sick mother, who had no other option for a caretaker. Living in a hotel with no means of transportation and his mother getting sicker by the day, Adrian continued to spiral deeper and deeper into financial debt and depression. Unfortunately, Adrian’s mother passed away two years after her diagnosis. Left alone with nowhere to live, no source of income, and a pile of bills, Adrian was at his lowest. That’s when he discovered United Against Poverty.
He started to use our Member Share Grocery Program (MSGP) and soon learned about our Success Training Employment Program (STEP). He enrolled and began in the 51st STEP cohort. This is where he brushed up on all the skills that he would need to land a job and turn his life around. After extensive interview training and resume editing, Adrian found himself gaining the confidence to nail an interview. Shortly after he graduated from our STEP program, Adrian landed a job as a full-time night auditor for a high-end hotel in Orlando. He wrote, “The program really gave me some fundamental skills on how to revamp my resume and sharpen my interview skills. As long as you take it seriously and do the work, then the program will lift you off in the direction you want to go.”.
As we begin Poverty Awareness Month, we are reminded of the crucial need to stand together and support those in our community who are facing economic hardship. Your commitment to making a difference has been invaluable, and we invite you to join us once again in this crucial campaign to alleviate poverty's impact on families in our area.
Your donation during this campaign will directly contribute to providing essential resources and services to individuals and families experiencing financial distress. Your generosity will enable us to:
- Expand our low-cost grocery program, ensuring families have access to nutritious food at affordable prices, helping stretch their budgets, and alleviating hunger.
- Offer crisis care services to individuals facing sudden economic difficulties, ensuring they receive the support needed to stabilize their situations and regain financial footing.
- Provide job training and workforce development programs, empowering individuals with skills and opportunities for gainful employment and fostering long-term financial stability.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to building a stronger, more resilient community for all.
Warm regards,
Anjali Vaya
Executive Director
