Help Us, Help Them, Help Themselves in Orange County
Please consider a one time gift or become an on-going Community Partner with a monthly or quarterly donation.
Volunteer
How Can You Make a Difference as a Volunteer? Community members contribute in five main ways:
1) Tuesday & Thursday Ministries Services Day - Volunteers arrive at the Outreach Center by 7:45 a.m. for a brief prep meeting, then step into roles that meet the basic needs of those who come. Most stay until services end at 1:30 p.m.
2) Volunteers - Volunteers with specific skills, such as administrative support, computer skills, grant writing, financial counseling, and teaching life skills or Bible study classes, assist in various roles.
3) Group Service Projects - Student groups, church groups, corporate teams, or other gatherings partner with ministry leaders to plan service projects. Projects vary based on group size, age, time, and season.
4) Design a Project - Individuals and groups create impactful projects, such as item drives, crafting cards, preparing meals, or making snacks for Tuesday and Thursday services.
5) Prepare and Serve Meals - Teams take on one meal per service day, providing breakfast, lunch, or to-go dinners for 75+ guests. They can prepare or purchase the food and either deliver it or stay to serve.
Donate Food,
Feed Others
Support Matthew's Hope by donating food to help us provide for those in need across Orange County.
Single Serve Pantry Items Needed:
SPAM (Single Serve Cans)
Ramen Noodles (Single Packets)
Vegetables (Single Serve Cans)
Fruit & Fruit Cups (Single Serve)
Mac & Cheese (Single Serve)
Chili (Single Serve)
Hearty Broth Based Soups
Rice
Chicken & Vegetables
Pork & Beans
Beenie Weenies
Tuna in Water
Oat Meal (Instant Packets)
Snack Crackers (Cheese or PB)
Breakfast & Fruit Bars
Ensure Protein Drink
Shelf Stable Milk
Granola Bars (chewy & crunchy)
Gatorade Powder Singles
Coffee (Single Serve Instant)
Hygiene Items (all in Travel Size, please. We prefer no Hotel Size)
Comb/Hair Brush
Shampoo & Conditioner
Cotton Swabs
Razors – Male/Female
Shaving Cream
Toothbrush
Dental Floss
Denture Cleaner
Denture Cream
Lip Balm
Body Wash – Male/Female
Deodorant – Male/Female
Body Powder
Body/Hand Lotion, Toilet Paper, Tissues, Wet Wipes, Hand Sanitizer, Nail Clippers, Gold Bond Powder, Feminine Products
Clothing Items (Think, if I slept in my car with this on, what would I look like in the morning) Please No Dress Clothing.
Jeans (male and female - New or Gently Used)
Shorts (male and female - New or Gently Used)
Pull Over Shirts
Tee Shirts
Running Shoes
Work Boots (New or Gently Used)
Brand New Men's Boxer Briefs (all sizes)
Men's White Crew Socks (New)
Women's underwear (New)
Bras (Gently Used)
Belts
Ball Caps
Accessories
Other Items
Batteries of all sizes
Bicycles and Bike Parts and Accessories (Locks, Lights, Racks, etc.)
Tents (9x7)
Tarps
Sleeping Bags
Backpacks
Sunscreen
Neo-To-Go
Bug Repellant
Aldi,Publix, Target & Walmart Gift Cards
Duct Tape
Laundry Detergent (Prefer Pods)
Disposable Wares (plates, napkins, cups, plastic flatware, paper towels)
donations
Donations can be dropped off at Matthew’s Hope Ministries, 611 Business Park Blvd. #101, Winter Garden Florida, 34787 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Each week on Ministries Services Day, guests work with a "personal shopper" to select the hygiene and clothing items they need. Volunteers then fulfill these needs using donated items generously provided by the community in Brevard County and beyond.
Mobile Ministry Response Teams & Outreach Center Services
Meeting the Basic Needs of the "Structurally Challenged"
Each Tuesday and Thursday our staff and volunteers make sure all Guests receive new PPE, collect dirty laundry, and deliver fresh laundry. Our Mobile Pantry provides nonperishable foods, hygiene items and clothing needs. The Healthcare Team makes sure our guests get their medications, check temperatures, blood pressures, and dress wounds, etc. The team delivers warm prepared food prepared or food donated by our community partners and volunteers.
Some guests visit with staff members who assist them with various benefits, identification cards, or other services. Other guests and volunteers simply visit, play games, and share in fellowship with others.
Most importantly, every guest is shown the Love of Christ through the Call to Serve as detailed in the book of Matthew 25:35-40, from which the ministry derives its name. Each guest, in their own unique and special way, departs at the end of each Ministry Service Day better for having been present, and better prepared to "hide in plain sight" in our shared community.
Firm Foundation Preschool and Daycare
How Firm Foundation Preschool Combines Preschool and Daycare
Firm Foundation Preschool is committed to providing a high quality early learning environment with highly qualified early childhood professionals and Faith/Montessori-based curriculum supported by excellent learning materials.
We offer extended care during holiday breaks and summer camps for families needing year-round childcare. Our extended care and summer programs are available to current and former students, as well as elementary-aged children of Matthew’s Hope Moving Forward Program guests.
Firm Foundation Preschool provides a safe, Christ-centered, curriculum-rich environment where your child can reach their God-given potential while supporting your family’s needs.
Matthew’s Hope Hair & Nail Salon
Transformation and reclaiming one’s life starts with dignity! At Matthew’s Hope, this powerful change happens every single day. Sometimes, dignity begins with something as simple as a shower, a fresh haircut, or clean clothing. Our mission goes far beyond meeting basic human needs. We are dedicated to providing the tools, resources, and support necessary to help individuals move forward—towards independence, self-sustainability, and a better future.
This is more than just charity; it’s about restoring hope, building trust, and offering a hand up, not just a handout. Through education, job training, health services, and personalized care, we empower individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and regain control of their lives.
Want to be a part of this life-changing outreach that benefits not just individuals but the entire community? We need your time, talents, and treasures to help make a difference. Together, we can bring those who are homeless in plain sight and onto a path of lasting change. Join us in making an impact today!
Matthew's hope chest
The Matthew's Hope Chest Workshop is the primary work opportunity for guests of the ministry who desire more than their basic needs met on Outreach Services Days.
Guests are challenged to find and develop their woodworking skills. Guests also have the ability to demonstrate their work ethic, punctuality, reliability, ability to stay on task and maintain productivity, as well as their willingness to work in a team environment. All these traits and skills help determine a "structurally challenged" friend's eligibility for entering the "Working Full-Time" option of the Moving Forward Program. As well, a guest's work patterns determine their eligibility as a candidate for transitional housing.
Guests who work at the Hope Chest Workshop clock in and out and treat their time at the Hope Chest as if on the job. They follow a production schedule. They are held accountable to results. The ministry desires to replicate a true work environment in every aspect, thus preparing them for their future of independence and self-sustainability.
