In a dazzling and heartwarming display of community spirit, over 350 volunteers joined the Light Orlando team for an unforgettable service event at the UCF Downtown Campus.
Service Project
The service project commenced at 5:30 pm, with volunteers converging at the UCF Downtown Campus. The room buzzed with excitement and energy as volunteers, representing a mosaic of local organizations, worked collaboratively to assemble hygiene kits and Christmas stockings. To keep the energy high, local media personality Ramces Rouzard was there to Emcee with “In The Mirror” Entertainment and Film. News 6 Orlando was also on the scene, capturing the joy volunteers felt as they spent their Saturday night making a difference in their community.
In just under two hours, volunteers at the event were able to work together to assemble:
250 full size children’s Christmas Stockings
200 small children’s Christmas stockings
250 full size senior’s Christmas stockings
400 men’s hygiene kits
400 women’s hygiene kits
A Special thank you to Elevation Church for completing an additional 250 senior Christmas stockings during the event!
Most of these stockings went to The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program and will support children and seniors who will now have the chance to experience the joy of Christmas morning.
Of the event, Camille McCashland, one of our program officers for Light Orlando said, “I am just amazed at the number of people that came out tonight to help us. And I am so grateful that we live in a great city that people look for opportunities to get out and serve- and do it!” (News 6)
Community Christmas Concert In the Park
As the service project ended, volunteers gathered to walk across the street for a special treat- a Community Christmas Concert in the Park, featuring a dance party followed by The Band Ofi. While volunteers were excited to enjoy this free concert, it was not exclusive to just those who volunteered. All members of the central Florida community were invited to join!
As volunteers and locals entered Luminary Green Park in Downtown Orlando, they were greeted by large, festive holiday inflatables, local food trucks on site, and a dance party hosted by Ramces and “In the Mirror” entertainment, who had moved over from the event to get the party started.
Attendees were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the concert to donate. Light Orlando partnered with UCF’s Community Service Board President Alex Ruiz-Tagle and UCF student groups to fill local food pantries. Attendees also had the chance to learn more about different community outreach organizations and how they can get involved.
Throughout the night, a mix of locals and volunteers danced together on the lawn of Luminary Green park all with one goal- Delivering Hope, Together. In the true spirit of the season, this event showed that by helping others, we can create a brighter, more compassionate community.
Thank you to the Central Florida Community for helping us to Light Orlando this Holiday Season!
Thank you to all of the Organizations who joined us at the Light Orlando Stocking Stuffing Volunteer Event
Thank you to those organizations who shared how individuals can get involved in the community during the Light Orlando Community Christmas Concert in the Park :
• The Salvation Army - https://orlando.salvationarmyflorida.org/
• One Heart for Women and Children - https://oneheartorlando.org/
•Harbor House - https://www.harborhousefl.com/
• Hope Center - https://cfl-hope.org/programs-and-services/
• Eight Waves - https://www.eightwaves.org/
•Meet the Need - https://4rootsfarm.org/our-programs/meet-the-need/
• JustServe - https://www.justserve.org/
Thank you to Food Trucks in the City (https://foodtrucksinthecity.com) for arranging the featured food trucks at our event:
• One Way Coffee - https://www.onewaycoffeeusa.com/
• El Cubanito Subs - https://www.bestfoodtrucks.com/truck/el-cubanito-subs/menu
• The Real Maine Lobster - https://www.bestfoodtrucks.com/truck/the-real-maine-lobster/menu