On Sunday, April 8, 2012, First Baptist Church of Orlando and The Hope Church gathered together to
host Orlando’s largest Easter celebration at the Amway Center. Immediately following
the service, 700 members from both churches performed in the “Dance Your
Shoes Off!” event – a four-minute, specially-choreographed dance in celebration
of Jesus’ resurrection. When the music stopped, dancers stepped out of their
shoes, leaving them in donation to Love Orlando’s partnering nonprofit
organizations and local schools.
As of October 2011, 13 families have been placed in apartments in coordination with Concord Management Group’s New Moves Partnership Program. Love Orlando supplies furniture to the family and works with the family to get utilities connected. Volunteers from Love Orlando also help the family with the move-in. Concord Management Group generously works with families on the approval process and generously supplies the apartment. Families that are approved have already completed part of First Orlando’s The Road Home Program.
If you would like to donate furniture like dining tables and chairs, sofas, loveseats, beds, good-condition mattresses, etc., please contact Jane Bunch at 407-514-4433.
What is the Road Home Program?
The Road Home
Helping move families from homelessness to self-sustainability.
Families will gain access to the following services after joining The Road Home Program:
Low-rent housing through Concord Management Group/First Orlando
Ten bikes have been donated to homeless men and women to help provide them with transportation so they can get to work. Bikes were donated by Orange County Sheriff’s Department. If you would like to donate a bike, contact Jane Bunch at 407-‐514-‐4433.
Love Orlando donated a truck to Matthew’s Hope so that they can transport a trailer that houses a shower unit. This unique facility serves the homeless community in the Winter Garden area. Cleanliness is an essential element in order to gain employment.
Love Orlando purchased 1,100 backpacks and the people of First Orlando filled those 1,100 backpacks full of school supplies to give out to children in need across local schools in Orange County.
A mentoring family walks alongside a family as they participate in The Road Home to provide spiritual and emotional encouragement and support. It is a paid, professional case-worker that is responsible for assessing the family’s situation, assisting the family in developing a plan to move them to self-sustainability (The Road Home), and meet regularly with the family to manage progress and issues.
If you are interested in becoming a mentoring family, please contact Jane Bunch at 407-514-4433.
First Orlando went out Saturday, June 25 to serve others in our local community.
First Orlando engaged with families in need by feeding them, distributing groceries, and getting to know them. Gatherings happened across Central Florida at local parks, hotels, and community centers. The day was filled with bounce houses, grilling out, games, appearances by Stuff from the Orlando Magic, and more. Families that attended received a box of groceries, as well. Grocery boxes given away totaled over 80,000 meals. Families in the communities and hotels First Orlando visited were extremely gracious and thankful.
On Sunday June 12, 2011, Danny de Armas brought an update on Love Orlando to the congregation of First Baptist Orlando. He outlined the long term goal of moving hundreds of families to self sustainability.
On Sunday April 10, AMPD Student Ministry from First Baptist Orlando “Loved Orlando” at Lizzie Rogers park – a site less than two miles from the church. Ranging from 6th grade through college, 100 students provided games, a free meal, and a Easter egg hunt for the 100+ neighborhood children and their families who came out for the event. They also presented the Gospel, and at the end of the event distributed 100 filled Easter baskets to the children.
On Sunday, April 8, 2012, First Baptist Church of Orlando and The Hope Church gathered together to
