This ministry is a growing ministry, which started with the simple goal of assisting families in Orlando with their financial emergencies and linking them with community resources.

Today, that goal has expanded to include assessing people's needs in more depth to provide a holistic and lasting solution.

The Ministry is mainly run by trained lay volunteer Resource Advocates.

Links

• St. Luke's Resource List
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Application form for assistance
• Online community assistance
• Poverty in Florida
• Volunteer opportunities
• Contact us

Referral & Iformation

St. Luke's has compiled a list of government, non-government agencies and churches which provide assistance for people who need them. Often, knowing where to go in time of need is the major challenge for people. This list is available for all who need it. We constantly update our list to give people up to date information.

Emergency Family Assistance

Through St. Luke's Family Assistance fund, our ministry provides limited financial assistance to people who are struggling to pay their bills. We give housing assistance a priority. To request assistance for yourself or on behalf of someone else, call Family Assistance hotline at (407) 876-4991 ext. 345 and leave a message (name, best telephone number to reach you, and what the need is). A Resource Advocate will return your call for more details. You can also e-mail us at familyassistance@st.lukes.org. There is a screening process and financial assistance is given based on qualification.

RETHINK MONEY - Budgeting Course

As a response to the current economic downturn, St. Luke's has been organizing Budgeting & Money Management workshops and one-to-one coaching for members of our congregation as well as the community. To better serve people in downtown area, we are partnering with Hurst Chapel AME. These workshops delve into the spiritual aspects of money management-particularly focusing on what's ‘enough' - and use practical recommendations on how to make budgeting and money management a life-style. For upcoming workshops, check out the Small Groups sign-up page.

iFOOD

iFOOD (Interfaith Food Outreach) is a consortium of religious organizations which came together to coordinate their food assistance programs to better serve struggling families in South West Orange County in Orlando. This collaboration brings together people from different faiths work around a common goal. The members are St. Luke's, Salem Lutheran Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Islamic Center of Orlando, Church of the Ascension, Jewish Family Services, St. Andrews "Imam Sykes organization". The group collects food, personal items, toys, clothes and grocery cards to be distributed by the Darden Restaurants Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul at Holy Family Catholic Church.

ACCESS

ACCESS (Automated Community Connection to Economic Self-sufficiency) is a program of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Through this program, people who qualify for government assistance to receive food stamp, cash assistance and Medicaid. Often, the complicated application process is intimidating and unmanageable to people. St. Luke's is looking into becoming an ACCESS site. To achieve this, we need volunteers who are interested in being trained to be ACCESS volunteers and guide people through the application and follow up processes. Contact us to sign up.