Holiday help

A Community With A Heart board member looks over a case during a meeting in Ocala on Nov. 17, 2022. This year’s campaign is underway. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

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Posted December 17, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

Just before the holidays last year, Christine, a single mom in south Marion County was facing hardships as best she could.

“I was at my lowest. Single mom; my three kids, my sisters three kids. One with medical problems requiring constant medical care and lots of time off work for me. I got behind in bills and had nowhere to turn for Christmas for the kids. Community With A Heart stepped in. They caught me up on my rent and electricity that was due and blessed us for Christmas,” Christine shared.

The annual Community With A Heart, or CWAH, campaign is designed to help local people recover from challenges.

“The program’s philosophy from the beginning has been to offer a hand up, not a handout. It helps individuals who are generally able to provide for themselves but have encountered an unexpected major life event that has caused a temporary financial setback,” said CWAH board chair Monica Bryant, the Family Violence Prevention Coordinator for the Marion County Children’s Alliance.

Over time, the program grew from an Ocala Star-Banner initiative into a community-wide effort. It is now administered by a volunteer board of directors, whose members review all applications for assistance.

Jason Halstead, executive director of Brother’s Keeper, an outreach of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, is on the CWAH board and presented Christine’s case last year.

“Brother’s Keeper is so pleased to be part of Community With A Heart. There are many people in need and Community With A Heart is uniquely positioned to provide special assistance that other agencies don’t typically provide. Our goal is to help solve problems and stabilize families, especially throughout the holiday season,” Halstead said.

The annual drive relies on donations from members of the community and businesses, and all of the money is used to help people in Marion County. Individuals can only apply and receive assistance once in a three-year period.

“CWAH operates with no administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all donations go directly to help Marion County residents. Instead of giving money directly to individuals, the program pays vendors directly for needed services. This may include rent, utilities, car repairs or other basic necessities to help families get back on their feet,” Bryant explained.

The CWAH holiday campaign, which runs from early November to mid-January, has helped hundreds of local families and has collected nearly $1.9 million throughout its history.

Member agencies

Marion County Children’s Alliance, Brother’s Keeper, Interfaith Emergency Services, Marion County Public Schools, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida Inc., Ocala Housing Authority, Isaiah Foundation, Central Florida Community Action Agency, Marion County Community Services, Habitat for Humanity, North Florida Veterans Health System and Cleve Butler and James Jackson, community-at-large members.

How to apply for help

Individuals seeking help can go to communitywithaheart.org and complete the pre-application or contact one of the member agencies listed above for a referral. Applicants must agree to a home visit, present recent documentation of the need and demonstrate self-sustainability.

How to donate

Go to ocalafoundation.org/community-foundation-funds/community-with-a-heart/ or checks can be made payable to CWAH and mailed to P.O. Box 1777, Ocala, FL 34478. Donations are tax deductible.

For questions or information, e-mail [email protected], call a member agency or go to fb.com/profile.php?id=100075921828652 to send a message. Allow 24 to 48 hours to receive a response.