The Salvation Army has a thrift store in Ocala. They offer household goods and clothing to the impoverished and homeless. Call for more information.

Ocala Thrift Store
110 NW 10th Street
Ocala, Florida 34475
352.732.7058

Belleview Thrift Store
6740 SE 110th Street (SR 25)
Belleview, Florida 34420
352.347.6113

Belleview Thrift Store
6740 SE 110th Street (SR 25)
Belleview, Florida 34420
352.347.6113

The Homeless Resource Center provides for male and female a range of services and resources.

• A message center and assistance with filing disabilities claims through the Social Security Administration and Veterans Administration
• Case management
• Clothing vouchers
• Daily storage for personal items of those who do not live in the shelter
• Daytime sleeping accommodations for those who work at night
• Laundry and shower facilities for the homeless who stay in the dormitories
• Personal hygiene items
• Referrals to other agencies for help not readily available through The Salvation Army
• VA counseling

Through collaboration with other agencies, they are able to provide additional services, such as:

• Online connection with CLM Workforce Connection
• Weekly HIV testing
• Weekly mental health counseling

Call for more information.

This service is designed to help families attempting to keep their homes, jobs and livelihoods. Family Services help with food, clothing, and furniture. If you qualify, help in paying a utility bill may be given when funds are available. Call for more information.

For the homeless and victims of tragedies, The Center of Hope provides a critical safety net for them. Emergency shelter is available for men, women, and children. There are 42 beds in the men’s dorm and 19 in the women’s dorm. They offer three rooms for short term occupancy for families with children. Call for more information.

The Interfaith Emergency Shelter helps single women, women with children, and families that are homeless. In the womens shelter, the ladies share rooms and bathroom facilities. The living area, kitchen and laundry rooms also provide common areas. Residents are required to do daily chores and attend devotions. They are meant to do this Monday through Friday each morning with the staff. At 8:30 AM each morning during the week, residents leave for the day to go work or search for a job.

In the family shelter, married couples and children have a room and bathroom to themselves. They share a common kitchen area. Also on property is the Learning Center. Residents attend bible study, parenting, budgeting and other life-skill classes.

Call for more information.

Food 4 Kids is a “backpack program” for hungry children in Marion County. Guidance counselors at the schools provide each child’s name to them, including the number of siblings in the household. Volunteers pack durable, rolling backpacks full of food for each household. The volunteer delivers the backpacks directly to the school, tagged for each child. The child takes the backpack home on Friday afternoon and returns them to school on Monday morning. Then, the volunteers pick up the backpacks at the school and the process starts all over again.

Backpacks include:

• Canned meat
• Canned pasta
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Juice boxes
• Macaroni & cheese
• Non-candy snacks
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Pop tarts
• Pudding & fruit cups
• Shelf-stable milk
• Snack bars
• Soup

Call for more information.

Interfaith provides work boots to Marion County Residents. Those in need require a letter from the employer stating the need. A valid Marion County ID and social security card is also required. This must be brought in to the main office and undergo the “intake” process. Call for more information.

There are currently two eye glass programs:

Prescription Glasses

A client that needs glasses must have an employment letter from their employer stating the need to have glasses to perform the job. Or, for Children in Marion County. When children need glasses for school, they must have a letter from their school of attendance stating the need. They must also have a parent letter, proper ID, and social security cards for both parent and child.

Reading Glasses

Reading glasses are given away at the office. They have a small reading chart to determine the strength needed for each client.

Call for more information.