Inspired By '60 Minutes' Special, Americans Offer Help To Seminole County Children

A recent episode of "60 Minutes" explored the struggles of children in Seminole County Schools, where families are increasingly facing hunger and homelessness.

In the days following the show, the Families in Transition organization, profiled in the piece, has received an overwhelming outpouring of support, CBS News reports.

Supporters can make an online contribution to the Seminole County Schools' Families in Transition program.

WATCH:

Comments

[DanBeach]

04:35 PM on 04/18/2011

...they (The MSM) need to keep reporting on this...go to a different city every week...should keep them busy for 5 or 6 years...and of course we know FOX doesn't give a rats "A" about this issue

[DurableGood]

12:27 PM on 03/15/2011

America has voted their priorities, it seems: estate taxes went to ZERO in 2010, when for decades they hovered above 50%; highest tax rate now proposed by Republicans to drop PERMANENTLY to 29%, when it had been @ 70% or more for decades, as middle class tax rates have certainly not seen similar 50-75% drop; corporate taxes have never been lower.

Philosophy of Governance: Starve the Beast (even discounting the inconsistency in failure to see WE are the beast), and blame the beast when it can no longer function.

Where does it stop GOP? Do we get Westboro Baptist Church, the 'Church' of Scientology, or Crystal Cathedral to administer to the poor and sick, since their tax free status and mission on earth might suggest a calling to do so?

Do we continue to provide $4bil subsidy to the corm ethanol agri-business in one year, while allowing this to happen?

Where does it stop GOP? Or will we have to make it stop at the ballot box?

[fortressfountain]

03:25 PM on 03/14/2011

I think this is shameful and where is our national leadership?

[Comment Betch]

06:45 PM on 03/13/2011

Our national priorities are a shameful mess.

[tedsingingfox]

06:16 PM on 03/13/2011

I'm so glad to hear this. I saw that segment and it was heart-wrenching. I vote that we stop giving billionaires tax breaks when nearly 1 in 4 American kids is facing hunger and homelessness, but that's only my opinion.

[jambi77]

12:23 AM on 03/13/2011

the lack on comments here show where most Americans hearts lay....

[themainpoint]

10:11 PM on 03/12/2011

Good for sixty minutes for covering this.

As for CBS spokesperson: "we should point out that this is not just a problem in your area, but across the country"

That's great. Glad you think you can find a second to fit this important information in between all the diversions and spin and distractions? Glad you can take a minute to fit in this catastrophe, that was so helped along by massive fraud that went UNREPORTED until it was too late and melted down millions of jobs?

[raker]

11:37 AM on 03/12/2011

How encouraging that people are moved to show generosity and compassion for these unfortunate people. How discouraging that it takes a TV story to awaken compassion in people, that they don't see the connection between the rise of the teabaggers and the rise in poverty and misery in America.

[Patchdee]

01:45 AM on 03/12/2011

And this is in Florida where the Governor just took $1.6Billion away from the schools and gave it as a Tax break to the big Corporations. SHAME ! SHAME ! SHAME !

[Risa Wight]

01:27 PM on 03/11/2011

The highest concentration of these high school students is at Celebration High School, and the numbers are expected to triple by August, according to Homeless Education Liaison for Osceola School District, Meredith Griffin. “In Osceola County, where a school uniform is required, these children tend to blend in with everyone else, which is ideal. We want to keep it that way. The school district can only provide each of these children with two shirts, but when laundry facilities are not present, two is not enough. Our goal is to make sure each child has five shirts, a belt and two pairs of pants,” said Celebration resident Risa Wight, who is spearheading the effort.

The Celebration Foundation is raising money and collecting uniforms so that these children can continue to look like their peers. In addition, the group is working on a food drive, and working with Orlando-based Clean The World to provide personal hygiene products to the most needy children. “The fellow students at Celebration High School have been wonderful. They have donated so much clothing of their own - gently used uniforms they have outgrown or don’t wear, and the student Interact Club has formed a clothing closet where anyone in need can get clothing, soap, shampoos and more,” commented Risa Wight. “This is another example where the town has really pulled together. The residents of Celebration are turning this sad plight into a success story.”
Contact:
The Celebration Foundation
407-566-1234
[e-mail]

[maxfax]

10:53 PM on 03/10/2011

God bless the people who are offering to help.  But seriously, that we have children in 2011 in the state of Florida needing this much help, is outrageous, shameful, and down right bordering on immoral while billionaires enjoy tax breaks and oil companies (and other corporations) earn obscene amounts of profits while also enjoying government subsidies.  Shame shame shame.. 

[greentexan]

03:01 PM on 03/11/2011

Our priorities have been screwed up for a long time....Which is weird to me...seems like individually, we all want to do the right thing...but collectively...it doesn't happen.

[maxfax]

09:50 AM on 03/12/2011

We can all do something individually, but it has little impact since the problem is too huge to deal with on an individual basis.  But government has the power, but the corporations' CEOs are running government, because it's become unpopular to help the poor, the nation (not me) celebrate helping the rich and powerful.  That's conservatism.

[snapshot1940]

05:36 PM on 03/10/2011

I wanna take all those kids home with me and spoil the he// out of them. What a statement on our country! There are still good people out there.

[maxfax]

10:55 PM on 03/10/2011

Meantime the CEOs of banks and oil companies are having no trouble sleeping at night in their homes and warm beds.  And billionaires are eating just fine

[greentexan]

03:01 PM on 03/11/2011

And buying their third and fourth vacation homes...