Last Updated on October 28, 2023
One Heart for Women & Children is a nonprofit organization based in Orlando, Florida. The organization focuses on providing essential needs to individuals who are homeless or are in times of transition.
Essentials include food, clothing, personal hygiene items, household items, school supplies, and whatever is currently a need in the community.
In addition to providing access to essential items, One Heart offers educational and preventative services, covering subjects such as life skills and drug & alcohol abuse prevention.
One Heart played a pivotal role during the pandemic—the One Heart team of volunteers stepped in without skipping a beat.
Whenever there is a community demand, you can count on the One Heart Team to provide a helping hand.
Meet Stephanie Bowman, the CEO of One Heart for Women & Children
As mentioned, One Heart for Women & Children is an organization that provides resources to people in need throughout Central Florida.
100% of donations benefit the organization, which has become primarily a food pantry based on current community needs. They also do outreach services and run a terrific thrift store.
The nonprofit was founded by Stephanie Bowman, the CEO of One Heart for Women & Children. She battled addiction and her daughters temporarily went into foster care. She ended up homeless after scarcely escaping domestic violence.
An ‘act of kindness’ changed her life, leading her to treatment and a clean & sober life one day at a time. At the early stages of her healing journey, she committed to ensuring no one ever felt alone and lost as she had once experienced.
NOTE: Authentic Florida’s Melanie Lentz-Janney met Stephanie in 1999 when she made this verbal commitment and has been following her incredible journey ever since.
“There are people who have good intentions but never do the work. Very few people take action to make their dreams a reality,” said Melanie.
“Stephanie took her hardships and channeled them into a life of service to others. Watching her give back daily for over 20 years on such a huge scale has been beyond inspirational. She’s an amazing human.”
What One Heart Does
When it comes to helping the local community, One Heart does a lot! The organization runs a food pantry, does outreach services, offers homeless support, and much more.
The food pantry is One Heart’s leading service. They collect and distribute donations from grocery stores, farms, and individuals.
Though based in College Park, One Heart performs outreach services to assist people outside their immediate community.
This includes visiting other neighborhoods to distribute essential items and coordinate a monthly mobile food drive.
One Heart collects items for homeless support, which they distribute at their location and outreach events.
Their support reaches people all over Central Florida, focusing primarily on Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
One Heart for Women & Children Thrift Store
On Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm, One Heart operates a thrift store at their location. The thrift store sells gently used items at affordable prices.
Items found in the thrift store include clothing, toys, furniture, and other household goods.
Due to their partnerships with grocery stores, farms, and individual donors, every dollar spent in the thrift store feeds one person for TWELVE meals!
Donations are accepted for the thrift store and can be dropped off during donation drop-off hours at 2040 N. Rio Grande Ave. Orlando, FL 32804.
How to Support One Heart
There are many ways to support One Heart for Women & Children, including donating items to their food pantry and thrift store, volunteering, and making monetary contributions.
Check out the different options in more detail below.
Donate to the Food Pantry
Non-perishable, non-expired, non-breakable items can be dropped off at One Heart during donation drop-off hours.
Some of the most needed food pantry items:
- Canned goods – fruits, vegetables, spaghetti sauce, beans, meat, soup
- Grains – rice, pasta, oatmeal, crackers
- Nutritional drinks
- Baby food
Donate Essential Items for Homeless Support
One Heart collects a variety of essential items to distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness or who are in times of transition.
Anyone can make an impact by donating some of the organization’s most needed items.
Some of the most needed essential items:
- New socks, undershirts, and underwear
- Travel-size toiletries – toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo
- Feminine hygiene products
- Blankets
- Clothing
- Diapers
Donate Items to the Thrift Store
One Heart’s thrift store runs on items that are received as donations.
Next time you declutter your home, consider dropping off unwanted items gladly accepted at the nonprofit.
Some accepted thrift store items:
- Gently used clothing
- Household furniture, home décor, and artwork in good condition
- Books, games, and toys
- Small appliances and kitchen items
- Bicycles
- Strollers, car seats, and cribs
Become a Volunteer
One Heart welcomes volunteers without whom they would be unable to do all they do.
Call the organization or complete a volunteer form online if you are interested in volunteering.
Some tasks volunteers assist with:
- Sorting recently received thrift store donations
- Sorting food pantry donations
- Community outreach events
- Picking up donations
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations are crucial to maintaining all the services that One Heart offers.
The nonprofit accepts donations on its website and by mail along with a donation form.
More Information on One Heart for Women & Children
One Heart for Women & Children operating hours:
- Donation drop-off: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm.
- Food pantry: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12 pm to 4 pm.
- Thrift store: Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm.
Phone: 321-299-4594
Address: 2040 N Rio Grande Ave, Orlando, FL 32804
For more information on One Heart for Women & Children, please visit the official One Heart for Women & Children website.
To find the latest information on the nonprofit’s ongoing needs and events, please visit the official One Heart for Women & Children Facebook page.