By Kiara Velez, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
Last Sunday, November 24th, I had the privilege of volunteering at Just Like Momma's Thanksgiving Dinner, a local Soul Food family restaurant on Fifth Street in Apopka. Momma's hosted a Thanksgiving event to feed needy families and the homeless community.
Hosted by local volunteers and supported by several Apopka-based organizations, the event highlighted the ongoing efforts to address the needs of the homeless community and the deep sense of responsibility that has taken root among residents. Volunteers slapped on gloves and smiles, served hot dinner and dessert, and offered donated clothing and essentials to those in need.
Local volunteer organizations such as HOPE Ministry, Beehive Lodge 779, and Grace Street Church sponsored this year's event.
It even offered onsite blood pressure checks by Dr. Tamilia Fair with Fair Lifesavers, a heartwarming example of how Apopka's residents continue showing care and support for the homeless community.
Last year, volunteer efforts for their Thanksgiving Dinner reached over 120 people served in one evening. In response to last year's attendance, volunteer foundations in the community to support the needy donated an abundance of food.
I got to help out by serving at the dessert table, cutting apple pies, and handing out pumpkin cake to those who stopped by. I got to see firsthand some of Apopka's struggling community and how in need they were for a hot meal and basic essential items.
It was a very thankful evening that impacted me and those struggling who felt the residents' compassion.
One of the sponsors was HOPE of Apopka, a local organization focused on giving to needy families by providing food and clothing.
Kelly Eichner is a volunteer with them and explained how the organization started at First United Methodist Church and began by serving under a bridge in 2018. Initially, the group served meals every Sunday evening to homeless individuals in the park, but they were kicked out and are now serving near an abandoned gas station.
Over time, HOPE of Apopka has evolved into a larger grassroots effort to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in Apopka. Eichner recalls how the group had to adapt after being asked to stop serving meals in the park due to city regulations.
"We feed the homeless every Sunday at 5:30 pm across from Miller's Ale House. We were kicked out of the park and told we had to be licensed by the City of Apopka and Orange County Parks and Rec.," said Eichner.
She told The Apopka Voice how local city officials have responded to her since then.
"(Apopka Mayor) Bryan Nelson, every time I see him he says 'I'm doing something', but this is six years now, we've been doing this since 2018..they just need to do something for these people, now the thing is since (Gov. Ron) Desantis passed that order, a lot of them are getting arrested".
What Eichner is referring to is the no-camping Florida Law passed by Governor Ron DeSantis at the beginning of October, which prohibits homeless individuals from sleeping or camping in public places.
"If you're homeless, a dinner at Just Like Momma's can encourage you to do better for yourself," Eichner said.
Dr. Phyllis Olmstead is an Apopka resident and has also worked with HOPE of Apopka since 2018, and feels strongly about Apopka's response to the homeless community.
"You can go to the arrest records on The Apopka Voice and from the city and see where they were arrested and look at all the addresses that say 'Main Street, Main Street, Main Street', and the reason is because of this camping law," said Olmstead. "(HOPE of Apopka) Is just a grassroots effort, not a foundation, it's a community trying to help people."
Despite the collaborative community help and positive efforts, challenges remain. Olmstead has long advocated for the city to open the COBB Building, a vacant facility, as a temporary shelter for cold nights.
"Why not open it up during the winter months to give people a warm place to stay instead of locking them up?" she asks.
However, despite years of advocacy, the City has yet to take action.
The homelessness issue in Apopka isn't going away anytime soon, but there is hope with continued community support and collaboration. Olmstead and Eichner stress that tackling homelessness requires a holistic approach—more than just providing meals but addressing the root causes, such as affordable housing, mental health care, and addiction recovery programs.
"Homelessness isn't just a problem for the homeless," Olmstead says. "It's a community issue, and we all have a role to play in solving it."
As the holiday season approaches, events like the Thanksgiving dinner at Just Like Momma's remind us that while the challenges of homelessness are significant, the power of community can offer hope and change. With continued effort, Apopka can become a place where no one is left behind.
*****
On December 22nd at 5:30p, Just Like Momma's will host a Christmas Dinner to stretch out another helping hand to feed the homeless community and those in need.
Located on 44 East 5th Street in Apopka 32726, they will serve lasagna dinner with clothing, blood pressure checks, and hygiene distribution available.
For more information, contact Just Like Momma's Restaurant at (407)-703-3288
