Who we are
At Mission Bithlo United, we’re just a group of people who believe no one should be forgotten. Our goal is simple: to love our neighbors the way Jesus taught us to. That means showing up for people in Bithlo and the surrounding communities with a smile, a warm meal, a pair of shoes, or even just a prayer when it’s needed most.
Our Story
This all started when our founder Lucy felt called to take church outside the four walls of a building and into the streets. She believed that the best way to live out the gospel was to be with the people who were struggling most. So she packed up meals, prayed with folks, and started building relationships one by one.
What began as one person stepping out in faith back in Oct. 2019, has grown into a united effort with friends, volunteers, local churches, and generous neighbors all working together. Today, Mission Bithlo United is more than a nonprofit, it’s a family that keeps growing.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission: To serve and love our neighbors by meeting their everyday needs (food, water, clothing, hygiene kits, and prayer) all in the name of Jesus.
Our Vision: A Bithlo where no one feels invisible, and where neighbors take care of neighbors with compassion, generosity, and faith.
What We Believe In
Compassion – Every person deserves to be seen, heard, and loved.
Faith – We trust Jesus to guide everything we do.
Community – When we show up together, lives change.
Dignity – We help in ways that honor and uplift, never tear down.
Stewardship – We treat every donation as a gift to be used wisely for our neighbors.
Our People
Mission Bithlo United isn’t run by a big staff or fancy office. It’s run by everyday people, moms, dads, students, church friends who simply care about our neighbors. It’s really everyone who shows up — cooking a meal, donating a blanket, or offering a prayer — that makes this work possible.
Our Community
We couldn’t do this on our own. Thanks to the support of local churches, community partners, and generous donors, our reach goes so much further. Together, we’re building a network of love and support that reminds our neighbors they are seen, valued, and cared for.
Local businesses like Wawa, Publix, Cheddar’s, and others generously donate food, while caring neighbors provide clothing, shoes, blankets, and hygiene items. Every gift, big or small, helps us show up for the people who need it most.
Join the Story
This is who we are: people who believe in showing up, loving well, and trusting God to do the rest. Every meal served, every prayer whispered, every donation given is part of the bigger story of what God is doing in Bithlo.
We’d love for you to be part of it.
Our Founder
“Bithlo is just a few minutes from Avalon Church, where I worship. One day, a woman from a mobile home community in Bithlo asked if someone from our church could visit and pray with her in Spanish. A sister and I gladly went — and from that very first visit, I was shocked to see such a large, struggling community so close to my own neighborhood.
I had already been serving downtown through the Jesus Loves You, Love Him Back ministry, where I cooked and shared meals with those in need. With that same spirit, I asked one of our benefactors to provide extra food so I could begin serving Bithlo. From then on, I went door to door, introducing myself and asking how many people lived in each home before preparing a package for them. When people asked, ‘How much does it cost?’ my answer was always the same: Nothing. Your Father in heaven sent this to you.
Soon after, a neighbor told me about “the boys in the forest” — men and women, young and old, living hidden in the woods and reserves, simply trying to survive. Visiting them made it clear to me: God had invited me into this work. I became a bridge, gathering food wherever I could to share with anyone in Bithlo who needed it.
Over time, the Lord opened more doors. More donations came, and with them, more opportunities to serve. When my small car could no longer carry all the food, clothing, and supplies, I was blessed with the gift of a truck, a miracle that continues to carry essentials throughout the city.
But our mission is more than food. Every visit is a chance to pray, to listen, to embrace, and to share the hope of salvation. Through these moments, what began as serving strangers has grown into true friendship and brotherhood. This is the heart of Mission Bithlo United.”