Osceola County is stepping up to support more than 250 people that were displaced due to a hotel fire.

  • 47 families, 178 individuals in need
  • Volunteers like Mark Sheppard lending a hand
  • Dozens of families now living in hotels
  • Want to donate? Click here

So far, 47 families and 178 individuals are still in need, according to the Osceola Council on Aging. Each family has been assessed by case managers with the help of the county, the Hope Center and the Red Cross. Moving forward, they're looking at re-housing plans for the next seven days.

The Red Cross is helping clear out bag after bag of toiletries, clothes and toys at Kissimmee Middle School. The bags are on their way to the Osceola Council on Aging, where victims of the Dec. 23 Unno Hotel fire are temporarily staying.

Some of these donations made it there thanks to people like Mark Sheppard. "I just do it out of the kindness of my heart, trying to help other people," he said.

For the past three days Sheppard has been standing at the Walmart in St. Cloud collecting items.

Sheppard writes on one of Osceola County's community Facebook pages to set up pick up or drop off locations and times. He then makes the trip to Kissimmee to deliver the donations collected.

"It's all worth it, every last little minute," he said.

Sheppard is disabled, he suffers from seizures and in the past month and a half he's had three strokes. "It's not about me. It's not about my health. It's about giving to people that are in need. It's giving to other people," he said.

Out of the 80 hotel units that were evacuated, 30 of them were destroyed, and families may soon be able to return to the unaffected units.

"So those families, the 30, have to find somewhere else to go," said Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Steve Thompson. "But it's possible the other 50 could return. It's just a matter of when code enforcement does a final inspection and says it's safe to return."


Fire erupted at the Unno Boutique Hotel on U.S. 192 (Sky 13)

Sheppard is happy to hear organizations like the Hope Center and the Osceola Council on Aging are making a plan toward permanent housing for each individual family.

"Everybody comes together. They fight for each other," Sheppard said.

Due to the community's outpour, the shelter is at capacity when it comes to material things. For those who still want to help, they are encouraged to donate money through the county's official website.

So far, $3,000 has been collected in gift cards and $18,000 in cash through the county's website.

For info on donating, click here to visit Osceola County's PayPal.

Meanwhile, dozens of families displaced after the fire are now living in hotels. Thanks to community support and donations, those families were able to go to those hotels on Monday night after spending the holiday weekend in a shelter.

The Pacheco family went to a hotel that doesn't allow pets, so on Monday night they had to hand their Yorkies over to animal services, who will care for the dogs for now.
 
"I know it's for the best," said Josh Pacheco. "I know my kids will have a place to lay their head at and I know the dogs will be taken care of, so it's just a step in the process that we've got to take."
 
The families will have their hotels for one week while community leaders work to find them permanent housing.