THIS PROPERTY SHALL BE MAINTAINED BY AN ESTABLISHED HOA OR DEVELOPER

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certification of need, such as two estimates from a certified car repair shop, if they are requesting help to get their car fixed.

“The board reviews case by case and votes on who receives support. It has to be a majority vote,” Bryant said. “And no money goes to the person; it goes to the landlord, or the car repair shop, or whatever.”

There is a cap of assistance at $1,200 and approved applicants may not apply again for five years.

Often, local businesses, churches, and volunteers donate their services to stretch the giving even further, such as in the case of Jeanna and Marcus Brewington, who received help through the program last year. Both of their cars were not working and with nine children it was difficult getting the children to school and work doing Door Dash to earn extra income. CWAH assisted the family with getting one of the cars fixed and a private donor read about the family’s situation and donated money to repair the second car.

While the campaign is often seen as being holiday-related, it is in effect year-round, when it helps, for example, provide funds for gas cards, electric assistance or emergency shelter in a motel or hotel.

“CWAH is a remedy for the gaps that our local nonprofits can’t fill. All of the assistance goes for those needs that are outside of the normal services available in our community,” said Karla Grimsley-Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, one of the county’s largest social services agencies, who serves on the CWAH board. “For the families that receive assistance, it’s often their only hope.”

How to help CWAH:

To support the Community With A Heart campaign, make a donation online at ocalafoundation.org/ community-foundation-funds/ community-with-a-heart/ or mail a check to CWAH Fund, P.O. Box 1777, Ocala, FL 34478. Donations are tax deductible and go directly to help residents in Marion County.

How to apply for CWAH assistance:

To seek help from Community With a Heart, contact one of the following agencies for a referral to the program to receive assistance: Marion County Children’s Alliance, Brother’s Keeper, Interfaith Emergency Services, Marion County School Social Services, Salvation Army Ocala/Marion County, Community Legal Services of MidFlorida Inc., Ocala Housing Authority, Isaiah Foundation, Central Florida Community Action Agency, Marion County Community Services, Habitat for Humanity and Cleve Butler and James Jackson, who are Communityat- Large members.

Ongoing needs for CWAH:

• Marion County Children’s Alliance:

Funds for emergency shelter in motel/hotel for victims and survivors of domestic violence, gas cards and new, unwrapped toys or gift cards for youth 12 to 18 years old. (352) 438-5993. • Brother’s Keeper: Gas cards, bus passes, non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys for children ages 1-12. (352) 622-3846. • Salvation Army Ocala/Marion

County: Towels, twin-size sheets, blankets, bus passes and canned food items. (352) 732-8326. • Interfaith Emergency Services:

Towels, gloves, bus passes, new underwear and non-perishable food items (352) 629-8868.

Monica Bryant, the chair of the Community With A Heart board, speaks during a meeting at the Emergency Operations Center at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Karla Grimsley-Greenway, the CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, during a Community With A Heart board meeting at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Food bank merger announced

First Step Food Bank, Inc. of Ocala will merge with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, the region’s largest hunger relief network, is set to expand into Marion County by merging with First Step Food Bank, Inc., based in Ocala, which has served the community since 1992.

First Step Food Bank works in partnership with 48 food pantries in Marion County, includ-ing soup kitchens and a children’s backpack program. The organization’s goal is to eradicate hunger locally.

According to a news release from Second Harvest, “Converting to branch operations not only strengthens the current infrastructure but expands marketing and fundraising support. This merging of the two organizations will lead to increased food availability, resulting in a reduction of the current food gap, which has grown throughout the county and nation over the past few years. According to Feeding America, 47,350 people in Marion County experience food insecurity at some point during the year.”

Second Harvest’s new Marion branch, which will continue to operate out of First Step’s campus at 4045 NE 36th Ave. in Ocala, will provide additional support for food-insecure resi-dents while increasing local revenue to fund hunger relief and prevention initiatives. In addition, Second Harvest plans to make a variety of secondary hunger relief programs available to Marion County citizens. Initiatives for hunger relief, such as Kids Café and the Summer Food Service Program, which have been successful in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Brevard counties, will be introduced over time, the release notes.

“Our board of directors carefully examined the Second Harvest merger offer in conjunc-tion with a Feeding America study recommending the same,” said Stewart Robinson, with First Step Food Bank. “The board unanimously agreed that the merger would better meet the wide-spread, expanding food insecurity needs in Marion County.”

“Our goal is to join the established network of local partners to assist in their efforts of providing solutions to hunger in Marion County. Not only will this new branch expand access to fresh, nutritious meals for our neighbors, it will continue to build on the many years of dedicated hunger relief work by First Step Food Bank,” said Derrick Chubbs, with Second Harvest, in the announcement.

In addition to Mercy Drive and Mercy Kitchen warehouses in Orlando, Second Harvest operates branches in Volusia and Brevard counties. To learn more, visit feedhopenow.org.

First Step Food Bank is not open to the public but gives tours upon request. The ware-house schedules daily pickups for local food pantries. Food and monetary donations are always welcome. Visit firststepfoodbank.org to make a donation online or mail a check to First Step Food Bank, Inc., PO Box 4774, Ocala, FL 34478.

Concert for Good is back for a second year

Two local teenagers hope to raise money for local charities with a concert.

Organizers of the Concert for Good, brothers Caleb and Luke Lombardo, have announced a second show for Dec. 27 at the downtown historic Marion Theater at 8 p.m.

Caleb Lombardo, who is 17 years of age and sings and plays the piano for the band shares, “We hold the concert the week between Christmas and New Years to encourage the spirit of generosity that comes with the holiday season to continue. That’s why our tagline is ‘’tis always the season’. It’s also a time when we can get the band back together. We are involved in different church’s music ministries, and we go to different schools – a few of us are still in high school, others are in college, and one is a teacher. It is a busy time of year, so Luke and I really appreciate that this group of young people makes time to pull this event together. It is such a cool night for so many reasons.”

When asked what his favorite part of the concert was last year, Luke, 14 years of age, who also emcees the event says, “My favorite part of the concert last year was the mission moment. After the representatives from the nonprofits spoke about their organizations to the audience, we prayed the ‘Our Father’ together as one big family – it was and is ‘for good’ and ‘for God’. The first concert raised nearly $8,000 for the nonprofits and our goal is to double that this year.” As for the music at the event, he goes onto say, “It’s awesome. This is a talented group of singers and musicians and they all have roots here in Ocala. Our set list is really strong again this year – it’s going to be so ‘good’!”

The brothers have chosen two local nonprofits, the Brother’s Keepers Mission and the Marion County Children’s Alliance Mission, as the beneficiaries of the concert.

Tickets range from $20 (for students) to $30 (for adults) and can be purchased at www.concertforgood. com. There are “sponsored” tickets available thanks to concert sponsors who have donated tickets to be given away to those who could use help attending the concert. There are also group ticket options available. For information on acquiring tickets, email concertforgood@gmal.com.

File photo: Luke Lombardo, left, emcees while Adam Pryor, right, listens as students and a teacher perform for people during A Concert For Good at the Marion Theatre in Ocala on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.