Bithlo Outreach: Neighbors 15 Miles East of Orlando
In May 2016, iPrevail joined River Run Church and United Global Outreach for a service day in Bithlo, a community 15 miles east of Orlando that has dealt with contaminated water for years.
Where the need is close to home
Bithlo sits about 15 miles east of the University of Central Florida, but it has dealt with water contamination, poverty, and unemployment for decades. iPrevail joined River Run Church and United Global Outreach there in May 2016 and met two families with young children on that first visit.
A clothing drive that moved fast
In May 2017, a single NextDoor post asking for clothing and food turned into 30 bags of donations in five days. Jean Green sorted everything into gift baskets for specific families, and two local teenagers earning community service hours delivered them. Partner United Global Outreach has since built Transformation Village in Bithlo as a base for longer-term community recovery.
15
miles from Orlando to Bithlo
30
bags of clothes and food collected in five days, 2017
2
families with young children met on iPrevail’s first visit, 2016
Volunteers met a longtime Bithlo resident on that first visit. She had little herself, but she shared her own food with neighbors whenever she had extra. She reminded the team that Bithlo was never a community waiting to be saved. It already knew how to take care of its own.
iPrevail volunteers, Bithlo, 2016
Bithlo could use iPrevail’s neighbors again
iPrevail is reconnecting with Bithlo’s partner churches to see where the next clothing or food drive is needed.
Keep neighbors close
In five days in 2017, a single online post turned into 30 bags of food and clothing for Bithlo families. Your gift keeps that kind of response ready.