10/14/2026
Over the past few weeks, Heart for Winter Haven and our community partners have been able to help house two families through our Caring Beyond the Classroom initiative at Winter Haven High School. While the outcome is something worth celebrating, it is important to recognize that it took a true community effort to make it happen.
With the support of Winter Haven High School and their wonderful staff, along with the dedicated Hearth Program, we were able to come alongside these families during a very difficult season of their lives.
Both families are single mothers with children who were facing the uncertainty of not having a safe and stable place to call home. These are hardworking parents who are doing their best to provide for their children, but because of circumstances and unexpected challenges, they simply did not have the financial resources needed to cover the extremely high costs associated with moving into a home.
One family had been staying in a motel, unsure whether they would have enough money to pay for another week. Another family was fleeing a domestic violence situation, doing everything possible to keep their children safe and find a fresh start.
These are the families we want to reach. These are the families we want to stand beside.
And housing is only part of the journey.
Through the generosity and support of our Polk County Sheriff’s Office partners, including Ruth, these families were also able to receive essential household items—from furniture to pots and pans—helping transform an empty house into a home.
This is what happens when a community comes together.
A school recognizes a need.
A program opens a door.
A partner says, “How can we help?”
A community provides the resources.
And together, we give a family something incredibly important: hope, stability, safety, and the opportunity to move forward.
We are deeply grateful to every person and organization that played a part in helping these families begin again.
It takes a village. And when that village is willing to work together, lives can be changed.
Our goal is to continue building a community where families do not have to face housing instability alone. Through collaboration, compassion, and a shared commitment to our community, we can continue making a difference—one family, one home, and one opportunity at a time. ❤️
- Ana Grajales; H4WH Care Manager
