U-Haul Dealer in Leesburg, Fla., Helps the Homeless

Jan 15, 2018

Mark Stapleton is the owner of 441 Thrift Store and U-Haul in Leesburg, Fla. Because of the known homeless population in town, he planned a drive for their benefit. This year he teamed with The Open Door for his holiday event.

The Open Door is a drop-in center for Lake County individuals and families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. LifeStream, a Lake County psychiatric facility, runs the program. Through a suggestion from someone on his Facebook page, Stapleton found the organization.

Stapleton made gift bags with items the homeless need, including gift cards to fast-food restaurants. Waterman Memorial Hospital in Eustis donated a turkey dinner to the homeless through The Open Door and wanted the gift bags ready to hand out to the people coming to the dinner. “They asked me to have everything there so they can sort and get the bags together,” Stapleton said.

Passion for Giving Back

411 Thrift Store and U-Haul in Leesburg, Fla.

411 Thrift Store and U-Haul in Leesburg, Fla.

Some five years ago, Stapleton made a concerted effort to begin giving back to his community. At the time, a nurse at a local elementary school told him about several children with their shoes taped together. The next day, he met with the nurse and the principal to plan a clothing drive.

Stapleton noted that these kids are going to be the city’s leaders and employees in the future. “If you give them a better motivation to start early, it’s better for the community,” he said. Nowadays, Stapleton and the 441 Thrift Store run about five drives or volunteer events per year.

“It’s whoever at the time, I feel, has the most need and I can help out the most people,” Stapleton added. “What we’re trying to do, a bunch of us as a group, is turn Leesburg around. And to do that, it has to be everyone helping everyone else out.”

Stapleton also belongs to a newspaper family. He spreads the word of the volunteer events he spearheads utilizing press releases and Facebook to drum up support for the events.

Beyond the Holidays

Finally, Stapleton realized food banks are low in stock as donations decline after the holiday season. As a result, he has another drive to raise food for the homeless and less fortunate as the new year begins. “We try to run one every year right after Christmas to restock a little bit,” he said.

U-Haul and Leesburg are also thankful for the selfless work Stapleton is doing to aid his community and the homeless population in Central Florida. A U-Haul neighborhood dealer since 2013, contact the 441 Thrift Store and U-Haul at (352) 315-1746.

U-Haul is working to eradicate homelessness every day through its sponsorship of Humble Design. The Detroit-born nonprofit, which also operates in Chicago and will be expanding to other markets, provides formerly homeless families and veterans with gently-used donated home furnishings and decorating services to make their residences feel like a home. Read more about the partnership here.

More articles like this one…

What’s New

U-Haul Co. of Cleveland Performs Day of Service with Humble Design

U-Haul Co. of Cleveland Performs Day of Service with Humble Design

U-Haul Company of Cleveland volunteers recently teamed with Humble Design Cleveland to provide a mother and her three sons with a furnished home they will cherish forever. Humble Design is a nonprofit that brings dignity to individuals, families and veterans emerging...

U-Haul Offers Help to Tenants of Charlottetown Apartment Fire

U-Haul Offers Help to Tenants of Charlottetown Apartment Fire

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage to tenants who were forced to evacuate their Charlottetown apartments due to a devastating fire. A 20-unit apartment building at 6 Elena Court was engulfed in flames on Monday night, triggering fire alarms and forcing...

Tornado Victims: Free Storage Offer in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas

Tornado Victims: Free Storage Offer in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas

U-Haul is making 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container usage available to victims of the powerful tornadoes that left a path of destruction Saturday in Rogers and Bentonville, Ark., Claremore and Pryor, Okla., Valley View, Texas, and surrounding areas....

Temple Tornado: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage in Texas

Temple Tornado: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage in Texas

U-Haul Co. of North Austin is making 13 facilities available to provide 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to families impacted by Wednesday night’s powerful tornado that struck Temple and wreaked havoc along Interstate 35. Many homes in and...

Tornado Recovery: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage in Iowa

Tornado Recovery: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage in Iowa

U-Haul® is offering recovery assistance to victims in Greenfield, Red Oak and other areas impacted by the devastating tornadoes that tore through central Iowa on Tuesday. Countless homes in these communities were damaged or destroyed, and a number of lives were...