Academy students and Ms. Elliot pose with H.O.P.E. Team members Nancy Martinez and Don Bright.
December 8, 2008
One of the Service Learning Academy's favorite long time partners, the Health Care Center for the Homeless, has been in operation since 1994. The HCCH provides free medical, dental, and vision care to the uninsured and homeless. Area physicians, dentists, and nurses volunteer their time at the HCCH to give back to the community.
The non-profit also runs an 11-bed Tuberculosis (TB ) Clinic for the homeless, and runs a pediatrics clinic. The HCCH has a three person H.O.P.E. Team (Homeless Outreach Partnership Effort) that reaches out to the homeless of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County who live on the streets and in the woods.
Every school year the TCHS Service Learning Council sponsors the SOCK Hop, dance and event that educates students on homelessness in Orange County. They also broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on Wolf TV to break stereotypes regarding homelessness. All year the students collect can goods, sleeping bags, blankets, hygiene products, canned goods, jackets and other clothes to give to the Heath Care Center for the Homeless to distribute to their clients. Other agencies take clothing and items but sell them to the homeless and needy, but the HCCH gives everything away.
Students in the the 2nd period Volunteer Public Service class and Mrs. Elliot's English class turned over thirty bags and boxes to HOPE Team members Nancy Martinez and Don Bright. The Service Learning Council wants to thank all of the teachers and classes who donated items for the homeless.
Former Service Learning Council officer, Brad Turley, who graduated from TCHS in 2006 sent two huge boxes of clothing and toys for the HCCH. Brad is a role model, and is still serving the community. He spent his Thanksgiving Day serving the homeless and needy at the Salvation Army.
