Client Stories

Each client who comes to The Mustard Seed has a unique story, and all of them have the same goal – to turn their house into a home so they can rebuild their lives. Your support of The Mustard Seed truly transforms lives and helps makes our community a better place for all. You make all the difference. Learn about your impact by reading the stories below.

Client Story: Randy

Randy, a supply officer in the Navy during the Vietnam War, said he lost his wife 1 1/2 years ago after 44 years of marriage. That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
“I couldn’t handle the funeral and walked out,” he sai… continue reading

Client Story: LaMontavia

LaMontavia and her children, ages 13, 9 and 5, lived in a high-crime Miami neighborhood rife with multiple shootings per month and drug deals, she said. So the mother of three moved to Orlando in 2014 “to have a better life.” 
“I d… continue reading

Client Story: Tenyka

Tenyka “Nikki” Phillips lost her friend, Cindy Jackson, and her sister, Krystal T. Phillips, to murder within seven months of each other.
A man killed Jackson on her birthday on Christmas Day of 2017 in Eatonville, and a man who said he w… continue reading

Client Story: Joseph

Joseph moved to Orlando from Philadelphia seven months ago after his mother passed away. He left his job at a mall and came to Florida, “with $300 in my pocket, a book, a box of clothes and a hope and a dream,” he said.
Joseph moved to Or… continue reading

Client Story: Darnell

Darnell and his 13-year-old daughter, Haile, lived out of a car for several months after Darnell got injured working on the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project. Heat produced from a welding arc and spark damaged Darnell’s eyes rendering him legall… continue reading

Beds for Keona and her Children

“I finally got an apartment for me and my kids. We’ve been on the floor since we got approved, and I’m hoping to get them off the floor.” For Keona and her children, visiting The Mustard Seed was a step toward stability for her and her children. After fleeing domestic violenc…

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A Washer for Denieshia

When you support The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, you help families like Deniesha’s. “Seven years ago, my nieces and nephews were put in the foster care system. I adopted the older two, and am in the process of adopting the younger two.” Denieshia stepped up to support her niec…

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A Sofa for Donetta

“I can’t work, I’m partially blind, and I need help furnishing my house.” For Donnetta, a tumor impacted her vision, leaving her struggling to support her three children. She was living in week-to-week hotels to keep a roof over her children’s heads. “Hotel living is hard.” Many famil…

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Latest News

Throwback to Chairs for Charity and Raise the Table’s of the Past!

March 19, 2025

We are just six weeks away from our upcoming fundraiser, Raise the Table! Raise the Table is an exciting night of dinner and dancing to support the mission of The Mustard Seed of Central Florida to help rebuild the lives of families and individuals emerging from crisis. Let’s “throwback” to some of … read more

Will you be our Valentine?

February 13, 2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! We at The Mustard Seed of Central Florida are grateful for all the ways you show love to our mission throughout the year, and we wanted to highlight the ways those in our community support our mission:
Becoming a Monthly Donor:
The Mustard Seed relies on the generosity of th… read more