Four Decades of Sharing

by Chip Colandreo

The Magic Jacket

Of all the ways The Sharing Center has helped those in crisis over the past 40 years, this is among the simplest, but it perfectly captures the essence of what has become Seminole County’s most essential social services hub...

A day or two before Christmas in the late ‘90s, The Sharing Center’s founder and original CEO Angie Romagosa was about to shut the office down for the holidays. She and her team had just finished giving away nearly everything that wasn’t nailed down so families in need would have food, clothing, and simple Christmas gifts to make sure they could enjoy what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

Just as Angie was about to lock the door, a mother showed up with her young son. They had literally just left an abusive situation at home. They had nowhere to go, no idea what to do, and the mother certainly didn’t have anything for her son to open on Christmas Day. Angie and the staff dropped everything to help them, quickly giving them some essential food and supplies and making arrangements for the pair to take shelter at SafeHouse of Seminole. With the most immediate needs met, Angie asked the mom if there was anything else they could do to help – any way they could salvage Christmas for the traumatized young boy. The mom’s response was heartbreaking, but also frustratingly specific. All he wants in the world, she said, is an Orlando Magic jacket... kids size 12.

That wasn’t going to happen, but Angie was determined to find something for the boy. She dashed into The Sharing Center’s expansive thrift store on a mission to find anything with an Orlando Magic logo on it. A ball, a shirt, a hat. Anything would do at this increasingly late hour. The thrift store, however, was well-picked-over after the holiday rush. Angie finally gave up and began walking back to the mom empty-handed.

At that moment, someone knocked on The Sharing Center’s door with a worn cardboard box of things to donate. A common occurrence, though at an uncommon day and time. Angie took the box, thanked the donor, and set the box on the floor. She and the team would sort the donations after Christmas. It was late, and Angie was tired and crestfallen.

“I took a few steps, but something made me turn around,” Angie recalls. “I figured I’d just peek in the box to see what was there.”

She opened the lid. Among a jumble of shirts and pants was an Orlando Magic jacket... kids size 12.

“It was a tiny miracle,” says Angie. “One of so many that have been happening at The Sharing Center every day for 40 years.”

Past, Present, and Future

Take the tiny miracle of the Magic jacket and apply it to food from The Sharing Center’s pantry – the largest food pantry in Seminole County.

“When the federal government paused SNAP benefits last fall, the response from the community was incredible,” says Tekoa Pouerie, who became only the third CEO in The Sharing Center’s 40-year history in mid-2025. “Demand at the pantry doubled immediately, but the flood of donations kept our shelves from going bare.”

The Sharing Center’s Oasis drop-in center for the homeless is another tiny miracle. There, neighbors facing homelessness can take a shower, wash their clothes, and connect with case managers and mental-health professionals who can get them on a path to stability. 

Those same case managers work tirelessly every day to help individuals and families facing financial crisis find relief, whether it be rent assistance, essential food and supplies, or other services – each bit of aid a tiny miracle of its own.

“The need is growing every single day,” says Tekoa. “We’re rising to meet the challenge, and we can’t do it without the donors, supporters, and volunteers who believe in our mission. Together, we’ve made incredible strides in the last year, and we have many big goals on the horizon.

“Every day, we’re helping people all across our community in ways big and small,” Tekoa continues, highlighting The Sharing Center’s off-site food distributions in collaboration with local churches and even an Orange County-based food pantry stocked in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. “A bag of food can change the trajectory of someone’s life. So can a mental-health counseling session. So can affordable back-to-school clothes from our thrift store. So can a workforce training class. So can a shower and a haircut for a homeless neighbor. They’re all tiny miracles, and together, the impact is unlimited.”

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Identifying and pursuing The Sharing Center’s big goals has been the task of Michelle Smith, who is about to finish a three-year stint as chairman of The Sharing Center’s Board of Directors.

“We’ve spent the last three years strengthening our relationships with elected officials, churches, and other nonprofit partners all while building a strong bench of leadership on our Board,” says Michelle. “The years ahead will see us leverage all of that to address new and emerging challenges in our community.”

High on that list is the crisis of affordable housing in Seminole County. The very people we depend on – teachers, first responders, healthcare workers – can no longer afford to live in the county they serve. The Sharing Center’s workforce attainable housing initiative, called The Sharing Commons, will give these professionals an affordable alternative. It will also create a natural progression of services for The Sharing Center’s clients who are re-entering the workforce and seeking stability. The land and zoning have been secured. The Sharing Center is currently in the silent phase of a capital campaign to bring the project to life, and Michelle has been instrumental in shepherding the initiative and bringing it to fruition.

“We’re elevating the conversations about how to solve problems here in Seminole County,” says Michelle. “We have the right leadership, the right Board, and the right partners to solve them. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and where we’re going from here.”

To learn more about The Sharing Center and how you can get involved, visit TheSharingCenter.org.