With the weather slowly getting cooler and the seasons changing, giving back to organizations that reach out to those in need plays a vital role in creating positive change.
ECHO Outreach Ministries is one of many examples of hope, working tirelessly to transform lives, strengthen communities and provide a sense of belonging to those often overlooked. This non-profit organization, founded in 1981 by Toni Tran, has become a symbol of community-driven care, making a significant difference in the lives of those it touches.
“She wanted to be able to transform and make a difference in people going through these struggles and get them on a path where they are stable, prosperous, and moving back up,” said Executive Director Freddy Branham.
Branham has been with ECHO Outreach Ministries for eight years, and coming from the business world he had to learn social work. He also had a compassionate calling to follow in Tran’s footsteps.
The term ECHO was created to encourage individuals who have received love and benefits from the Lord to share or “ECHO” love and blessings with those in need, according to ECHO Outreach Ministries. ECHO is a Christian-based organization that thrives in giving back to those in need.
The organization provides a comprehensive approach to assisting people in regaining their footing in life by operating a wide range of programs and services to confront these issues immediately.
It offers programs such as Emergency Resources, Family Services, Housing Assistance and The Furniture Bank of Tallahassee. Each program is designed differently to help one’s needs.
The Emergency Resources section is for people suffering from poverty, homelessness or other problems. They give food, clothes, diapers, seasonal products, referrals to other agencies, furniture, housewares, SNAP, Medicaid, and any other support someone may require.
Family Services is for families in crisis who require aid and support on their journey to self-sufficiency. Housing Assistance is supported by the Big Bend Continuum of Care, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. They also cover up to one month of rent and utilities for households in Leon, Wakulla and Gadsden counties.
Finally, ECHO provides free, gently used furniture to families or people suffering from a flood or fire, previously homeless clients moving into their homes, veterans on a quick re-housing program, and others. They are also Leon County’s sole free furniture provider.
Look at their website for more details about each program.
ECHO also accepts donations from individuals, churches and anybody else willing to assist in giving back to the community. Their success is owed not just to the devotion of its employees and volunteers but also to the intense feeling of community it has established.
“There are so many different ways to classify people who are in need. Typically, they are people in need, not needy people. We try to focus on lifting people and understand that they are individuals that just so happen to be going through whatever it is,” said Branham.
This organization has become a light of hope and compassion by addressing the urgent needs of people in crisis and giving means for long-term self-sufficiency. Echo Outreach Ministries reminds us that we can all create a brighter, more inclusive future by being kind, supportive and collaborative.