Brenda George Recognized as November’s Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker
Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Makers
VIDEO: November's Fifth Third Bank Magic Maker
Every month the Magic and Fifth Third Bank selects a community member as the Orlando Magic “Magic Maker” presented by Fifth Third Bank for their dedication and significant contribution to the Orlando community. This month Brenda George will be recognized for her efforts in ending hunger in America, one family at a time through her organization Operation Caring Through Sharing (OCTS), which matches those more fortunate with those less fortunate.
George will be honored during halftime of the Boston Celtics game on Sunday, November 18.
As someone who has personally known homelessness, hunger and extreme poverty, George set out to eliminate those experiences for others in the Orlando community by founding OCTS.
In June of 2004, George started OCTS out of her home and has steadily grown the organization in its last three years. She has increased the number of families assisted each month to over 300 families, more than 5,625 meals, in and across Volusia County.
“The idea was simply to match a needy family with a willing sponsor in the sponsor’s own community, not across the country or around the world, but in the sponsor’s own proverbial backyard,” George said.
She has accomplished this great feat by involving the surrounding businesses and recruiting them as sponsors for families. When an organization requests to become a sponsor, they are matched with families in their community who are in need. Each sponsor is then asked to fill one box of food ($35 value) on a monthly basis for a one-year commitment, which OCTS then distributes to the sponsor’s family.
By providing a “suggested” monthly food list, OCTS is also able to help the needed families maintain a healthy and nutritious lifestyle, while at the same time help fight off the diseases caused by malnutrition.
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