Get help from Love INC Heart of Florida, including for people in Central FL.
Love INC Heart of Florida is a long-standing faith-based network of churches and volunteers that serves low-income households across Marion County and central FL. The charity, and its partners, provide practical help for people facing a crisis. There is free food or hygiene supplies, money to pay for housing, transportation and free daily essentials. Its office in Summerfield works closely with dozens of congregations, local agencies and community organizations and learn more below on the Love INC Heart of Florida programs and their contact information below.
Operating a call center, or Clearinghouse, volunteers will direct clients to the local church based program that best meets their needs. There are over 30 partner churches in the network. The organization follows the national Love INC model, but the Heart of Florida affiliate has built several distinctive approaches that make it more than a basic referral line. Its emphasis on long-term case involvement, volunteer mentoring, household stability planning and coordinated church resources has made it one of the more active regional affiliates in Florida.
Holistic case management from Love INC staff
An area where this affiliate stands out is household budgeting and stability coaching. Love INC Heart of Florida encourages callers to take part in its mentoring process when they are dealing with repeated crises such as ongoing utility shutoff warnings, chronic late rent, medical debt or repeated job layoffs or challenges. So they can assign clients to social workers to tackle challenges around employment or maybe debt reduction, and this be also be done through Life Skills classes and other services.
Mentors are trained church volunteers who meet regularly with families to build a long-term plan that includes budgeting, referrals to county public-assistance programs, and help filling out forms. The staff also help people by contacting utility companies, provide guidance on negotiating bills and referrals to job-training programs. This long-term stability model is more intensive than what many smaller Love INC affiliates offer because the Summerfield based group has invested heavily in volunteer training and partnership agreements with local churches.
There is also a Life Skills Ministry on site and at local churches. This is the tool used for self-sufficiency, and clients may receive access to GED classes or other support. Another key focus is on employment.
The Clearinghouse will also have information on free government job training programs in Florida. As those options, while outside of the “Love Network”, can be very beneficial. They can help clients either find a new job, or acquire better skills that can hopefully lead to higher wages and/or career opportunities.
Get help with housing
Housing assistance takes several forms. While Love INC Heart of Florida does not directly itself pay rent or offer large grants, the clearinghouse coordinates with churches that occasionally provide limited emergency support based on need, available funding and pastoral discretion. In most cases, the affiliate helps households navigate Marion County programs such rent relief or utility assistance programs, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlist at the Ocala Housing Authority and other local nonprofit resources.
When a family is moving into new housing after homelessness, the affiliate focuses on supplying the basic household items needed to live safely in the new unit. Free furniture may be offered from churches, including low cost items from thrift stores. There may be items such as small kitchen appliances, cookware, utensils, beds and more. Almost all of the items will be donated, so they are limited. Other basic goods, furniture and items may be clothes, beds, mattresses, blankets, and pillows. Find other free furniture banks for household goods.
Free items, vouchers, basic needs from Love INC in the Heart of Florida
A number of free food pantries are located across Marion and Lake County Florida, and Love Inc of the Heart of Florida can refer people to these sites. There may be canned goods, such as pasta, fruits, and other items. Many of the pantries will even provide hot meals, including at Christmas.
- Anyone that is facing hunger should call the Clearinghouse. Instead of running a large centralized pantry, the affiliate directs callers to the church or pantry nearest to their home and helps coordinate delivery when someone is unable to pick up boxes in person. Volunteers prioritize seniors, people with disabilities and individuals without access to a vehicle.
Often combined with the pantry service is a clothing closets. Churches may offer both at the same time, and these will be part of the Gap Ministry program provided by the charity. Clothing and personal care support is handled through partner congregations that run small clothing closets and hygiene-supply ministries. After a clearinghouse intake, Love INC workers match the household with whichever church most closely fits the family’s needs and location. Volunteers are needed at these centers, and donations are appreciated too, so please give back if you can.
New moms or parents can get free baby supplies as well, and this can range from diapers to formula. In partnership with the Gap furniture ministry referred above, there may also be cribs passed out in the Heart of Florida as well as items such as strollers. The Love Inc. diaper ministry is another resource for low income families, including single parents from Florida.
Love Inc. Transportation services for jobs or emergency medical needs
When someone needs to get to a job or interview in Lake or Marion County, Love Inc of the Heart of Florida can provide free local transportation from a volunteer. There may even be occasional gasoline vouchers or minor car repairs done by a mechanic in the region - all this is in addition to a free ride for a needed appointment.
This is mainly due to the fact that Marion County FL has limited public transit outside of Ocala, the affiliate also collaborates with churches that offer limited transportation assistance for medical appointments, job interviews and social-service visits. These rides are usually volunteer-based and must be scheduled in advance, but they fill an important regional gap that many other charities cannot cover. There will also need to be proof, such as a doctor’s note, or record of a job interview.
Love Inc. Clearinghouse phone number
Another important feature of the Summerfield affiliate is its strong relationship with small churches in rural communities, with the list of churches and more information about LOVE on the website (https://loveincflorida.org/about-church-connection/) Many of these congregations lack the administrative capacity to manage large assistance programs on their own. By using the Love INC clearinghouse, they can participate in coordinated charitable work without duplicating services or missing urgent needs in their neighborhoods.
For more information, the Clearinghouse needs to be called. Love Inc of the Heart of Florida is located at 15797 South Highway 441, Summerfield, Florida 34491, however dial the number for referrals and other support. The main number is 352-245-8774.
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