S.T.A.R.S. Moves into Year-Round Location!!! 

After six years of schlepping things from place to place, S.T.A.R.S. finally moved into a permanent "home" and held their Grand Opening on April 30, 2009!

You may know "space 106" at the West Oaks Mall better as the dollar store (which closed in January, 2009). Now S.T.A.R.S. has a place for meetings, accepting donations, sorting donated supplies, packing supplies and backpacks and much more!  We'll even be working on our nap-time blankets for Pre-K children in our new space!

So, please stop by and see what's new for S.T.A.R.S. at our new Volunteer Center. We are not open the same hours as the Mall, so please call for times and dates. Generally, we are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am till 4pm.

S.T.A.R.S. is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve as a clearinghouse to initiate and coordinate community efforts to provide backpacks and basic school supplies to economically challenged students attending public schools in Orange County.   In 2003 we started with 2037 students in 7 schools, ...in 2008 we offered supplies to 13,515 students in 46 schools. Our goal for August, 2009 was around 14,000 students attending 50 local public schools. Our final tally was 52 schools and 14,152 sets of supplies and backpacks!!! This August will, once again, find us working with 52+ schools.

We hope you can stop by for a few minutes to see what our community has been able to accomplish for our local children.

....OUR 2010 DONORS... (to date)
Platinum Sponsors
St. Pauls Presbyterian Church in Ocoee
Walt Disney World Cast Members and VoluntEARS

Gold Sponsors
The Bond Foundation

Silver Sponsors
Hal & Linda McIntyre
Johnny Damon Foundation
KPMG
Oakland Presbyterian Church
Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church
Pincale/American Management Services Company
Universal Studios Orlando

Bronze Sponsors
Amy's Magic Keepers at Amy's Hallmark-West Oaks Mall
Bright Future Electric
Carpenters & Lathers LU 1765
City of Ocoee Community Quarterly Grant
Citrus Elementary School PTA
David Wheeler
Donna & Ben Mesker
Dwight & Patty Sayer
Gotha Middle School PTSA
Lake Apopka Natural Gas District
Manheim Orlando
Metro Planning/Legacy Financial--Til Sowdon
Mixner & Company
Ocoee Elementary School PTA
Ocoee Lion's Foundaiton, Inc.
Publix Super Markets Charities Inc.
Spring Lake Elementary School PTO
St. Luke's United Methodist Women
West Orange Junior Service League
Windermere Pool Services

...Special Thanks to...
General Growth Properties/West Oaks Mall
Jonathan Hubbell, West Oaks Mall General Manager
Alarie Deisgn Associates, Inc.
Derek Blakeslee
Randy June
Stoneybrook West Self-Storage
Blair Johnson, Esq.
Chick-fil-A at Hunt Club, Kirkman Shoppes, West Oaks Mall, Ocoee and Winter Garden
International Minute Press of Orlando
Mark Anthony, Bread of Life Fellowship, Inc.
Walt Disney World Community Relations Staff
Walt Disney World VoluntEARS
Walt Disney World Cast Members
Red Sky Media
Orange County Public Schools
West Orange Chamber of Commerce Staff
Stina D'Uva, President, West Orange Chamber of Commerce
Darden Quilters
Bernie Durgin
Sue Taylor
Phylis Robinson
Erline Phillips
Anne Marshall
Pat Locke
Lin McIntyre
Linda Kearns
Beth Otts & Crystal Riewarts
S.T.A.R.S. Board of Directors
S.T.A.R.S. Volunteers

Our 2010 Donation Stations....
S.T.A.R.S. Volunteer Center @ West Oaks Mall
Chick-fil-A Restaurants at Hunt Club, Kirkman Shoppes, West Oaks Mall, Ocoee & Winter Garden Village
Great American Cookies at West Oaks Mall
The Offices of Dr. William K. Fravel
St. Pauls Presbyterian Church in Ocoee
West Orange Chamber of Commerce

S.T.A.R.S. Named Recipient of GOBEA
S.T.A.R.S. was presented with the Greater Orlando Business Ethics Award by Tilden Sowdon, President-Elect of the Central Florida Society of Financial Service Professionals. There were 33 nominees for the 2007 awards, in four categories--small, mid-size, large and nonprofit companies. Only two organizations were honored--A Gift For Teaching and S.T.A.R.S.--both in the nonprofit category.

The Central Florida Society of Financial Service Professionals, in cooperation with the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, sponsors the Business Ethics Award program to honor companies that demonstrate a firm commitment to ethical practices in their everyday operations, philosophies and in response to crises and challenges.

OCPS P.I.E. Awards at SeaWorld...
Orange County Publlic Schools held "Our Priceless Treasures," their annual Recognition Event for Partenrs In Education (PIE), at SeaWorld on May 4, 2007. S.T.A.R.S. was nominated for an Outstanding Partner in Education Award by Orlo Vista Elementary School. They wrote: "S.T.A.R.S. of West Orange believes that 'everyone needs the right tools at work--especially our students.' Since 2002, the organization has organized community support for donations of school supplies for more than 30 schools. At the beginning of the school year, the S.T.A.R.S.' volunteers stuff backpacks with paper, pencils and pens. They then deliver enough of these vital tools to supply every student who enters Orlo Vista."

S.T.A.R.S. is able to provide for every student at Orlo Vista as a result of a partnership with St. Pauls Presbyterian Church in Ocoee. The congregation donates money to purchase the supplies, plans a packing day to put everything together and assists on the first day of school with distribution.

S.T.A.R.S. received a letter from Orange County Public Schools Community Resources stating, "Orange County Public Schools is proud to recognize your organization as an example of a partnership that is making a positive difference for education in Central Florida." The letter invited them to the awards ceremony at SeaWorld Adventure Park, Orlando on Friday, May 4, 2007. S.T.A.R.S. was nominated by Orlo Vista Elementary School for the 2006-2007 School Year.

S.T.A.R.S. is Recognized by Orange County Public Schools
In June, 2005, Orange County Public Schools presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Joe & Chesta Hembrooke and S.T.A.R.S. "...in recognition of your outstanding support of schools by supplying students with backpacks and school supplies." The photo to the right shows Lori Hager (Tildenville Elementary School), Dr. Jennifer Reeves (West Learning Community Superintendent), Chesta Hembrooke, Jim Martin (OCPS School Board Member), Dr. Patricia Ramsey-Baney (Principal, Whispering Oak Elementary School), Barbara Robertson (S.T.A.R.S. Secretary, Tildenville ES), Ronald Blocker (OCPS Superintendent of Schools) and Joe Hembrooke. Dr. Ramsey-Baney introduced the Hembrookes and the S.T.A.R.S. program. The certificate was presented by Mr. Martin.

S.T.A.R.S. featured on "Today's Family" TV Show
Chesta Hembrooke (center) is photographed on the set of the TV show  "Today's Family" with hosts Rita Christie and Ken Mikesell. The  show, which airs on TV52 and TV45 in Central Florida,, is about the challenges that  face our families today--our home families, our church families and  our community as a whole. "Today's Family" seeks to inform its  viewers on how to have better health and home life, better churches  and spiritual lives and better communities through increased social  awareness and involvement. The tie-in with the S.T.A.R.S. program  is a natural. S.T.A.R.S. provides backpacks and basic school  supplies so students are prepared to learn on the first day of  school and that creates better communities.

S.T.A.R.S. Partners with YTB Travel
Turn your Vacations into Donations!!! If you already use the internet to book your travel, hotels, arilines, etc.,
try SupportSTARStravel and S.T.A.R.S. will receive a portion of the commission earned on your vacation!
...Your travel matters! You can also order flowers, set up a honeymoon registry, arrange tee times or golf vacations and more!!!

For information on S.T.A.R.S. of West Orange, Inc.
contact Chesta Hembrooke at 407-292-3559.

In the Press:

http://www.wotimes.com/articles/2004/06/29/community/ocoee/scissors.txt http://www.wotimes.com/articles/2004/06/29/news/business/business01.txt
http://www.southwestorlandobulletin.com/directorytext.asp?id=497 http://www.wotimes.com/articles/2004/05/05/news/business/business01.txt
http://www.wochamber.com/ematters_april04.pdf