HELP Southeast Volusia Fund's Impact Continues Transforming Lives

The Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties are proud to share the HELP Southeast Volusia Fund continues to positively impact the Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill communities with nearly $150,000 in grants distributed.

Seeing the challenges in the community, an anonymous donor created HELP Southeast Volusia which is focused on providing financial support to initiatives in these communities that address the needs of at-risk children, helping to break the cycle of poverty for homeless and economically disadvantaged students enrolled in the public-school system.

Recently, one of the funded non-profits, Help A Diabetic Child, received the following request for assistance for an elementary student from his school nurse.

“I am a school nurse at an elementary school and need help with one of our students who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes {T10},” the nurse said. “I hope you can help. This student has not been in school due to not having his insulin and diabetes medical supplies. His family is currently considered homeless and they do not have health insurance. The mother is applying for Medicaid for her child but this process can take several weeks if not months for approval. If Help A Diabetic Child (HADC) can help this child while they wait for insurance approval, he can come back to school and attend classes.”

HADC worked with the school nurse and the family was able to get an endocrinology appointment for this student within a few days. This child was seen by a doctor and received the prescriptions he needed for his insulin and diabetes medical supplies. From the grant funds received, HADC covered the cost of his doctor's visit (endocrinology) and prescriptions so he was able to go back to school.

Since 2021, $146,651 has been distributed to 16 non-profit agencies serving Southeast Volusia County. These agencies include Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools, Halifax Health Hospice, Gifts of Love Food Bank, Help a Diabetic Child, Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, Easter Seals Northeast Central Florida, Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Good for Girls Initiative, The Hub on Canal, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Avenue of Excellence Early Education Center, Church Parish Nurse Ministries, No Longer Fatherless, Cudas Unhooked, Smyrna Cares and In This Corner. Programs funded include a wide range of services such as food banks, diabetic supplies for children, books for youth, autism screenings, period products for schools and art classes for children.

To learn more about how you can help grow HELP Southeast Volusia or how the Community Foundation can support your organization, contact Jason Stewart at jstewart@uwvfc.org . Make a long-lasting impact in Southeast Volusia County and DONATE TODAY.