In the wee hours of Sunday morning, a rage-filled gunman shattered the Orlando gay community forever.
Orlando is a city of great diversity. Home to theme parks, convention centers, and night life, we welcome and entertain families, business people, vacationers, and party-seekers of all kinds.
Downtown, you'll find venues catering to country, rap, rock, and disco. You'll sample fantastic food in some quirky and unique places. You'll also find a thriving gay community sorely in need of support on this dark day.
Whatever your personal beliefs, there are people suffering. Wounded victims, many with multiple gunshot injuries, face a long and painful recovery from wounds both physical and emotional. Some may not survive. 49 grieving families are left with the awful task of burying loved ones. Pulse employees are suddenly unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. And non-profit organizations providing aid, comfort, and recovery services will soon be overwhelmed by need.
If you'd like to know more about the people killed, The Orlando Sentinel is keeping track as information becomes available.
Today is about love and support.
Here's what you need to know to give or get help.
How You Can Help
Fundraisers
One City, One Pulse Tees are available at the Downtown PourHouse, Underground Public House, and Dapper Duck in downtown Orlando, or you can order them online. All proceeds go to families of victims. Between tee shirt orders and employee donations, they have already raised $50,000 and expect to hit $100,000 by Friday.
Dapper Duck, Pourhouse, and Underground Public House staff
The Parliament House is hosting ongoing fundraisers to benefit displaced Pulse employees:
On Saturday, June 18th, Vox Audio will perform, and 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to victims and families. Buy tickets here.
On Saturday, June 25, the Parliament House will host a major concert event. Details are still shrouded in mystery, so check the website for details.
K92.3's Country Strong - Orlando's Night of Healing & Country Music! On Tuesday, June 21st, 2016 at CFE Arena (UCF) K92.3 invites you to come together as a country community and raise money for the victims and their families. With live performances from Tyler Farr, Maddie and Tae, Jerrod Niemann, Canaan Smith and Michael Ray... We will celebrate our freedoms, remember those we lost and together we will be stronger than ever before. Tickets are $20 plus tax, and Ticketmaster has waived its fees. Buy tickets here.
The Orlando Weekly has compiled another long list of resources....with less overlap than you might expect.
Cash Donations
Equality Florida, FL's LGBT civil rights organization has started a GoFundMe campaign to help the victims. From the page:
"Every penny raised will be distributed directly to the victims and their families. We are working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly."
The Center, in conjunction with MBA, Hope and Help, Two Spirit Health, Zebra Coalition, Rollins, and various other GLBT organizations throughout Central Florida, established the Pulse Tragedy Community Fund to raise money for victims and their families.
- Nonprofits that are supporting the victims and families
- The LGBTQ, Hispanic, faith and other affected communities
- Underlying causes of this tragic event
- Other needs we cannot anticipate until we face them
Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is the level one trauma centers just blocks from Pulse, where all the victims were taken. You can donate to ORMC here, or text "Orlando" to 20222 on your cell phone to donate $10 (the donation will be added to your bill).
Planting Peace, an LGBTQ nonprofit organization, has a CrowdRise fund for medical and burial costs.
Individual campaigns for family, funeral, and hospital expenses
Note: Scammers are already hard at work trying to exploit generous donors in the wake of the tragedy. This list contains only people who offered complete information about the victim, the person collecting money, and their connection to the victim. Please use your own best judgment when making any donation.
Volunteer
The City of Orlando and the Orlando Police Department welcome the help of volunteers to man emergency phone lines and provide other help. Start here to become a volunteer.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando is collecting names of people who can translate Spanish/English to answer help lines. The translators will be contacted by the City of Orlando. Scripts will be provided and and counselors will be there to guide translators in dealing with the situation.
Spanish speakers who are willing to translate are urged to email Info@HispanicChamber.net with their name, email, and phone number.
Blood Donations
Orlando's blood bank, OneBlood, is overwhelmed by the massive outpouring of support, but the need for more blood will continue. The greatest need is for O negative, O positive, and AB plasma. Please call ahead to schedule your donation. To find a donation center or Big Red Bus near you visit oneblood.org or call 1.888.9Donate.
Aid For Victims and Their Families
Physical Therapy for Survivors with Spinal Injuries
Project Walk Orlando, a non-profit organization, is volunteering their services to help victims with spinal injuries get back on their feet. Their physical therapy methods are designed to help people with back injuries recover to the best of their ability. Donations to ProjectWalkOrlando are always welcome.
Free Funeral Services
- Florida Hospital Church in downtown Orlando - 407-898-0451
- Northland Church in Longwood - Contact Sharon Ferreira: 407-949-7189 or sharon.ferreira@northlandchurch.net
- College Park United Methodist Church - 407-843-7197
- Metro Church in Winter Springs - 407-366-7714
- Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka - 407-869-0680
- Forest City Spanish Adventist Church in Altamonte Springs - 407-293-2971 (offers services in Spanish)
Free Burial Plot
Mayor Buddy Dyer has arranged to dedicate a section of historic Greenwood Cemetery to shooting casualties. Burial plots along Anderson Street will be free of charge. The city will also help cover burial costs.
Free Hotel Rooms
Local Realtor Christian West Howard is coordinating efforts to provide transportation and hotel rooms for the families of Pulse victims. For information or to offer help, email christian.a.westhoward@gmail.com
The Red Cross
A hotline has been setup for family members of the victims: 407.246.4357. People can also visit https://t.co/w4h5f08tdZ for the latest info.
— Red Cross Mid-FL (@RedCrossMidFL) June 13, 2016
Free Airfare to Victim Families
jetBlue is offering free flights to the families and partners of victims. You'll have to pay taxes, but the base cost of the flight is free.
American Airlines has donated 1 million airline miles to The Center for the immediate families of those affected. To use this service please call The Center at 407-228-8272 and ask for Jeff Buak.
Find a Support Group
At The Center, you can find support and volunteer opportunities, join groups, and book tickets to LGBT charity events. From their Facebook page:
"We are saddened and shocked at the tragedy that took place overnight at Pulse Nightclub. The Center is partnering with MBA, Hope and Help, Two Spirit Health, Zebra Coalition, Rollins, and various other GLBT organizations throughout Central Florida to coordinate an emergency hotline and grief counselors on site at The Center, located at 942 N Mills Avenue.
When news broke of the tragedy, all of the resources from every GLBT organization in Central Florida sprung into action to organize our response. We stand united to provide every resource to our friends and family in the wake of this senseless act.
The community can call the hotline at 407-228-1446 and counselors will be on site at The Center throughout the day and week."