For 13 years, the Taft Neighborhood Center for Families has held a Back-to-School Health Fair at Orange County’s Taft Community Center in Orlando, Florida. The annual event helps neighborhood children and their families prepare for the upcoming academic year — offering free eye exams, immunizations, haircuts and more.
The Local Congregation of Orlando was invited to join the multiple organizations offering their time and resources for the community’s families. This is one of many events this year that the Taft Community Center has invited the INCGiving team in the region to participate in, due to its members’ consistent reputation for organization and unity.
“The Church of Christ stepped in and they provided lots of donations to the event,” said Rosie Brinson Love of Neighborhood Center for Families.
“They donated the time and staff to come and help us …They bagged and they stuffed back packs for our high schoolers. We are very grateful for the time that you all have given us and the services you have provided.”
Donated snacks and school supplies were gathered and prepared, ready to hand out to more than 500 children and their families.
“Since our Church is in this community, we fill in the gaps where they need people to help in this event,” said Patricia LeDoux Nobleza, coordinator for the Church of Christ INCGiving volunteers.
From cleaning, to welcoming, to ushering attendees and informing them of the available vendors and resources, the INCGiving team was willing to offer their services; not only physically, but also spiritually.
“We’re also hand-in-hand propagating our faith in showing how to be true Christians and showing them that there’s a true Church in our neighborhood.”
INC Giving volunteers took the opportunity to invite community members to their upcoming Evangelical Mission, while offering a recyclable incmedia.org gift bag with more information about the Church of Christ.
“We saw that the community needed us and we stepped in and we helped,” said Patricia LeDoux Nobleza.
“So, we were there as Christians, we were there as Iglesia Ni Cristo, and we’re here united.”
While the community prepares the bodies and minds of their children for the new academic year, the Church of Christ never forgets to develop one’s soul by teaching the youth the importance of community involvement.