Celebrating 15 Years of Hope Learn about local nonprofit One Heart for Women and Children history and get involved in your community. By Tarre Beach
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n late 1998, Stephanie Bowman of Orlando was a homeless addict, foraging for food in dumpsters with her two young daughters. Not too long afterwards, Bowman found herself in a state-funded treatment facility and her girls in foster care. This turning point, though painful, was the beginning of a journey that did more than just get Bowman clean, sober, and reunited with her children. It eventually inspired her to help other Central Florida residents, who are experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, and may be battling alcoholism or drug addiction.
One Woman’s Story, A Community’s Success
Bowman, who was featured in People magazine’s first-ever Kindness Issue and was on The Kelly Clarkson Show before the pandemic, tries mightily to keep the focus on the nonprofit she founded, One Heart for Women and Children (often shortened just to One Heart), not her own personal story. For Bowman, it’s the nonprofits’ donors, partners, volunteers, and the community’s successes that really matter. However, she acknowledges that if someone finds inspiration or relatability to her own
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story, she’s OK with it. Just like One Heart, her goal is to bring people help and hope.
ing a drug and/or alcohol treatment program, mental health services and other support.
15 Years of Service
We Are One
This year, One Heart celebrates 15 years of supporting community members. (Officially, One Heart for Women and Children received its IRS tax-exempt 501(3)c status in 2011.) In the beginning the group held a Christmas party for children of women in alcohol and drug treatment. That first Christmas party included 54 children, last year 1,612 children celebrated Christmas together at the annual party. From those humble beginnings, One Heart has grown to include a food pantry, a thrift shop, and a monthly hot meal (which was suspended during the pandemic but will be coming back in June, check OneHeartOrlando.org for more information). According to Bowman, One Heart’s mission is not just to be a supplier of food and clothes, but rather a valuable resource for those needing transitional support. That includes among other things educational help, access to life skills and parenting courses, as well as assistance with find-
Although One Heart first focused on helping women and children, it has assisted many men as well. One Heart’s transparency promise states that it will never discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. Melvin Pierson, a recent resident of Orlando, was not turned away when he came to One Heart in need of some help. He says he feels blessed and respected by everyone at One Heart. Bowman stresses that One Heart is a place for everyone to feel welcome no matter their circumstances. “When people walk in, we want them to feel just like anyone else: whether they had a shower that day or haven’t had a shower in a month; whether they walked there or drove a fancy car. We want every single person who walks through the doors to feel the same, which is to feel hope and to feel loved,” she says.
