- October 29, 2024
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In collaboration with the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties hosted a nonprofit "Lunch & Learn" on July 24, which highlighted HELP Southeast Volusia, a dedicated fund for the New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oakhill areas that has provided more than $100,000 in grants to nonprofits in these communities.
Previous recipients were in attendance to be recognized and it was announced that this year, almost $40,000 in new grant funding would be made available through the program.
An anonymous donor created HELP Southeast Volusia, which is focused on providing financial support to initiatives in these communities that address the needs of at-risk children, or are to helping to break the cycle of poverty for homeless and economically disadvantaged students enrolled in the public school system.
“Every day, we witness individuals and families struggling to get by," said Courtney Edgcomb, president and CEO of the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties. "It is because of the generosity of donors in our community that we can address some of these needs. Thanks to HELP Southeast Volusia, we can better serve the residents of Southeast Volusia and create a thriving community."
Bev Johnson, CEO and president of Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida was a panelist at the event and described how HELP Southeast Volusia had provided them with funds for mobile autism screening.
“The funds from this grant help us identify, diagnose, and treat children who would otherwise have fallen through the cracks," she said.
Since 2021, $108,954 has been distributed to 12 nonprofit agencies serving Southeast Volusia County. These agencies include Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools, Halifax Health Hospice, Gifts of Love Food Bank, Help a Diabetic Child, Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, Easter Seals Northeast Central Florida, Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Good for Girls Initiative, The Hub on Canal, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Avenue of Excellence Early Education Center, and Church Parish Nurse Ministries.
Programs funded include a wide range of services such as food banks, diabetic supplies for children, books for youth, autism screenings, period products for schools, and art classes for children.
