Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Family Dinners
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. The family, the fun, the cooking, the food, and just enjoying all the things you are thankful for. Thanksgiving 2017 changed that for me forever, as I watched my best friend slip away. Thanksgiving 2017, was day 12 of 17 of at home hospice care for my Mommy. My dad and I watched the parade, ate cold leftovers family and friends brought, and tried to "enjoy" our last favorite holiday with our favorite girl. I am doing my best to not let that 1 terrible Thanksgiving define the 28 other wonderful ones I have had in my life.
The best way I know how to quell the pain and honor my mom, is to continue what we started several years ago. My mom and I would put a call out to friends and family, to donate some funds to help us provide Thanksgiving dinners to families, in need of a leg up that year.
Then we would put a call out on social media for anyone that may know of a family who otherwise would not have a Thanksgiving of their own. We then would use the donations to grocery shop for everything the families would need to cook their very own Thanksgiving meal at home with their loved ones, because let's face it, that's the best part of Thanksgiving! We would provide a Turkey, roasting pan, potatoes, stuffing, veggies, yams, gravy, rolls, pie and even treats for the family dog if they had one. After we shopped, we would assemble the meals and deliver them.
So, that is exactly what I have done the past 3 years since she has been gone, except on a much bigger scale! With the help of amazing friends and Family, we have raised enough money to help over 65 families have a Thanksgiving meals in 2018 and 2019! In 2021 we served over 125 families on the Treasure Coast by providing them Thanksgiving baskets!
I sincerely hope that these meals will bring the joy of Thanksgiving into family homes. I hope they enjoy every moment of Thanksgiving with their loved ones.
The smell of the turkey, the giggles of little ones or not so little ones,
the crazy stories uncle Bob tells, all of it!. I can only hope these meals are enjoyed by the receiving families half as much as it was by us bringing it to them.
The last week of October is when I typically put out the application for families to nominate themselves or someone they know. The first week of November, I call every single family personally and let them know that they will be receiving everything they need for Thanksgiving. This is my favorite part, some people don't have much to say, some cry, and all are incredibly grateful.
We LOVE our volunteers who help me shop, sort, assemble, and deliver the baskets of food. It is an amazing experience and encourage everyone to get involved!
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop
We can not do it without you.
This year we hope to provide Thanksgiving meals for 50 families, that may not otherwise have a meal cooked at home.
Coastal Hope at Your Door
CHAYD
Coastal Hope at Your Door is a community outreach program, encompassing what we have always done, but bringing it directly to the communities that need it most. Through partnerships with some amazing local businesses we have purchased an enclosed trailer that will be used to bring items of need directly to the communities that need it most. CHAYD will be out in the community weekly stocked with supplies for coastal families in need. Not only locally on the Treasure Coast, but also to areas of natural disaster when families are in desperate need of supplies and relief items.
We also will be partnering with The Humane Society of St. Lucie County to have pet food on the trailer, for furry family members. Please be sure to check out all of our sponsors by clicking on their logos below! Without each of them this project would not be possible!
Want to Help?
A donation of just $50 can provide so much for a family in need. With your donation, we can provide much needed hygiene items, clothes, food, toys and more delivered right to the family in needs door!
Coastal Hope at Your Door is made possible by
A Treasure Coast Christmas
Thanks to you!
This year, we were able to provide 10 Treasure Coast families with Christmas Trees and ornaments! Here is a peak at a few!
Coastal Hope At Your Door....
Another "WIN" for Coastal Hope!
Meet Ms. T!
Ms. T is a lovely lady who reached out to us a few weeks ago. Through talking to her, we learned that she is disabled with multiple health conditions. She does not have a car, so has been riding her bicycle to doctors appointments & the store. She had began to struggle with a regular bike and was in need of 3 wheel one. Her doctors also reccomended one to help with circulation in her legs... A generous donor came forward and made a donation for us to purchase her a regular 3 wheel bike. Soon after another wonderful supporter of ours come forward with this amazing recumbent bike!! She donated it to us in honor of her dear friend Cindy, who's bike it used to be. This bike new is incredibly expensive, and turns out it was beyond perfect for Ms. T!!!
With the original donation we were able to purchase new tires & tubes, have them installed, and also buy some much needed home supplies for Ms.T.
Thank you to all involved!!
What an awesome outcome!
Hurricane Sally Relief
Our most recent mission was Liberty Church in Foley AL. a community that was recently devastated by hurricane Sally.
With the help of Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation, DayMaker Charters
Charlie Conigliaro, Capt. Ian Wichers, and YOUR DONATIONS we were able to put together a load of 29 brand new mattresses, non-perishable goods, water, tarps, hygiene items, and with other generous donations we were able to add other much needed supplies from Harbor Freight.
This Coastal Family never ceases to amaze me when called upon!!
Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts!
Hurricane Laura Relief
Our first delivery of the morning, was a
SEAL ALL ROOF KIT to a disabled elderly couple, whose son reached out to us for help with their roof that has been leaking since the storm. They were unable to come to the door, but have someone coming to apply the kit asap!
Our next stop was a sweet lady and her amazing girls who were able to smile, despite loosing nearly everything they own.
We were able to bring them Kickee blankets, pillows, big blankets, some legos, chalk, slime, and candy for the kiddos!
We were also able to provide her with a SEAL ALL roof kit, for her friend who is a nurse in a neighboring town. She has not been able to get anyone to tarp her roof yet! So a Seal All kit will be very helpful for her!
She also shared with us that there are no plans for school as of yet.. Their first day back was supposed to be that Monday, the storm hit. Due to still being out of power, and no internet, virtual school is not even an option at this time.
Our next stop was Ms. Macy.. She takes care of her 24 year old disabled granddaughter full time. Her roof has been leaking since the storm, and she now has mold.
She cried when I told her the Seal ALL roof kit would seal her roof for 20 years!!
We were able to set her up with some cleaning supplies, a roof kit, Kickee blanket for the little, wipes and a few other essentials, thanks to ALL OF YOU!!!
Next was another Seal ALL roof kit for homeowners, who had been busy assisting with supply and food distribution since the storm.. They had not yet made time to tend to their own roof / home, damaged by Laura . We were able to set them up with a roof kit, cleaning supplies, gloves, ect.
Our last delivery of the day was to the sweetest woman, named Tanya, who takes care of her non-verbal autistic grand son full time. She is also disabled and uses a walker.. They were in need of some hygiene items for Thomas and some cleaning supplies. They were out of power for 2 weeks and it JUST came back on!! It was an emotional meeting for sure... She was so grateful it was unbelievable. I complimented her beautiful succulent's as I was leaving and she said PLEASE take some!! I will cherish them forever!!
Every person we met last weekend had a fighting spirit. They all were incredibly thankful and determined to rise up after this downfall. You can find photos of all of this in the gallery below.
Hurricane Laura Relief
About Us
Fort Pierce Fire
In the early morning hours of February 1st, there was a horrific fire in a trailer park in Fort Pierce last night.
7 families were impacted and lost SO MUCH. The lives a mother and her beautiful baby girl were also lost that night.
We set out on a mission to help the impacted families with immediate needs.
Our Coastal Family Never Fails
Donations rolled in from our coastal families all over the treasure coast! Clothes, toiletries, blankets, pillows, furniture, toys, shoes, food, and so much more came in and were able to be distributed to the families impacted.
Smiles
Bringing smiles to children who lost most of their belongings in result of the fire...
Making a Difference
Little Summer's family opened their home to 4 of the fire victims from their neighborhood. In the mist of helping the fire victims, we were able to help Summer and her family have a brighter tomorrow also!
#coastalhope
Hurricane Ida
After an incredible response from our community, our Coastal Hope Volunteer Team was able to spend 9 days based out of Living Word Church in Schriever, LA. We were able to bring water from Water Wagon, SEAL ALL ROOF KIT s, pet food from The Humane Society of St. Lucie County , and an entire trailer load of supplies, from FL to LA.
Immediately our team was able to mobilize further south into areas that were absolutely devastated and set up mobile distribution sites. Over 9 days they were able to serve thousands of people, by distributing essential supplies such as food, water, hygiene items, diapers, wipes, generators, cleaning supplies and more. After our initial load was distributed, Living Word Church was able to act as our supply house. Each night the team was able to make the long drive back north to LWC, for a hot meal, safe place to sleep, and to reload with supplies to distribute. NONE of this mission would have been possible with out the folks at LWC, our volunteers, donors, and supporters!
Later in the week an incredible load of supplies, made possible by Charlie's Towing of Vero Beach & Ariel Seafoods, arrived in Schriever to be distributed to the families in the most need. It was truly an amazing effort!
In addition to all of this we were able to work along side some other amazing teams. The folks at Fuelrelieffund.org distributed 34,000 gallons of fuel to people in need, and food trucks showed up from all around to cook for the victims of this disaster.
Our efforts in the Gulf are ongoing and we will return soon with more relief supplies!
If you would like to help in any way please reach out ASAP!