A quilt Phylis Samuels made to celebrate her son’s law enforcement service now carries his gratitude to Seminole County Fire Station 13 in Apopka. Following her death, Steve Samuels presented the quilt to firefighters at her memorial service, honoring their care for his mother and their commitment to the community.

Matthew’s Hope already serves people experiencing homelessness in Apopka four days a week through mobile outreach and transportation to Winter Garden. Founder Scott Billue hopes to expand that presence with a local service center and access to a sleeper bus, but funding, property, and partnership arrangements remain unresolved.

The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is collecting donations to stock local food pantries, and Orange County hopes to expand its impact after winning last year’s competition. Residents can donate sealed, unexpired peanut butter at participating Extension offices during October, with collections continuing into November in some counties.

More than 30 Apopka firefighters joined Sunday’s Tunnel to Towers run in New York City despite travel delays and stormy conditions. Former Fire Chief Chuck Carnesale called the group “relentless” in its commitment to honoring those lost on September 11.

The Florida Blue Foundation is awarding $3.1 million to eight community-based initiatives addressing food insecurity across the state. The programs will serve students, farmworkers, uninsured residents, people experiencing homelessness, and rural communities.

The Rotary Club of Apopka will assemble 100 rescue backpacks for children and adults recovered from human trafficking situations across Central Florida. The community service project begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 at First Methodist Church of Apopka.

Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta presented Pastor James R. Doggette Sr. with the Key to the City as Doggette concluded a decade of leadership at Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church. Doggette will return to Oakwood University in Alabama after 44 years of pastoral ministry and academic service.

After being challenged to exclude and denounce members of the LGBTQ+ community, Matthew’s Hope founder Scott Billue reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to serving everyone without discrimination. He believes that Christian faith is demonstrated not through judgment, but through unconditional compassion and a willingness to do difficult work.

Rapid population growth in cities such as Charlotte, Austin, and Phoenix has brought new investment but also intensified housing costs, displacement, and homelessness. Tiny house villages are emerging as one community-based response, increasing nationally from 34 in 2019 to 123 in 2024.

An Apopka homeowner who spent three years living with Hurricane Ian damage has returned to a fully renovated, wheelchair-accessible home through the Orange County Recovers program. The federally funded program continues to accept applications from Orange County homeowners with unresolved damage from Hurricanes Ian and Milton.

Hope CommUnity Center is asking the Apopka community for donations as supplies at its emergency food pantry begin to run low. Residents can purchase needed items through an Amazon Wish List, deliver food to the center or contribute financially.

Sister Monica Gail Grimes, a founding force behind Hope CommUnity Center and the Farmworker Association of Florida, has died at the age of 88. Her decades of service transformed countless lives in Apopka and across Central Florida through a legacy of justice, compassion and community leadership.

The 2650 Foundation is inviting the community to participate in its third annual 15 Days of Hope campaign, honoring the life and legacy of fallen Apopka firefighter Austin Duran. The 15-day initiative includes tribute events, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, and community gatherings that support first responders and firefighter training.

Homelessness doesn't eliminate basic human needs, including the need for restroom access. In this commentary, Matthew's Hope founder Scott Billue believes that communities should focus on practical solutions that preserve both public spaces and human dignity.

The City of Apopka and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10147 will host their annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25, at the Veterans Memorial at Edgewood/Greenwood Cemetery. The ceremony will feature guest speaker David Schoejis, followed by a public gathering and meal at the VFW Post 10147/Apopka Community Center.

Matthew's Hope is working to dispel common misconceptions about homelessness, arguing that many stereotypes fail to reflect the realities people face. Executive Director Scott Billue says solutions centered on training, shelter, and support are more effective than punishment or stigma.

Orlando Magic great Nick Anderson will serve as the keynote speaker at the Apopka Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on May 7. The annual event gathers the community for reflection, prayer, and fellowship on the National Day of Prayer.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida continues its mission of education and remembrance with support from Orange County’s Cultural Tourism Grant Program. The funding will help expand access to exhibits and programs that promote empathy, reflection and understanding.

Apopka’s Renewal Church has opened its new location at 4407 W. Orange Blossom Trail in partnership with Rolling Hills Community Church. The move expands ministries, including a growing children’s program, while bringing new life to the shared campus.