Serving Food at Matthew’s Hope

Whenever we serve at Matthew’s Hope we get a chance to meet people who are volunteering their time as well as some of the homeless that are working to earn points while going through the rehabilitation program. Today was no different, but it was definitely unique.

Our group served food in 2 different locations today. One at the garden where a large group of high school students from Tampa came to Matthew’s Hope to spend their spring break doing whatever was needed to help out.

The second location was at the transitional housing area where people were working to prepare the homes for use. There, an organization known as The Dawn Brancheau Foundation had donated and was installing a playground for the area.

Meet the Crew from The Dawn Brancheau Foundation

Dawn’s foundation is the organization started by the family of Dawn Brancheau, the SeaWorld trainer who tragically lost her life on February 24, 2010.

Our family’s move to Florida was during the time Dawn lost her life, and I remember the sadness I felt when I heard the story. SeaWorld had always been my favorite theme park growing up and still is to this day.

I had the chance to meet Dawn’s sister, Debbie, and Dawns best friend Lindsey while we were there. Within minutes of meeting them, our group found an immediate connection (like the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon) and everyone’s world immediately shrank.