Michelle Bergeron has been down on her luck.
She’s been stuck between a rock and a hard place, so she knows just what it’s like to need assistance — and to humbly ask for help.
That’s why the Land O’ Lakes resident wants to help, in any way she can.
“I was going through struggles as a single parent, and working, with not a lot of benefits and just couldn’t get assistance (because I made too much money),” Bergeron said. “During that time, I had friends help, but not everyone has someone to turn to for help — or have a hard time even asking or getting past the humiliation of being in that situation.
“I had wanted to start a nonprofit for years because I really just wanted to help people in the community.”
In January, Bergeron founded Grace, Gratitude & Giving — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creating a community of giving help to those going through a hard time, such as being unable to pay rent or buy groceries, but also making “too” much money to qualify for assistance. The charity helps people during hard times, in-between paydays or if emergencies arise.
Bergeron — along with fellow board members, Lutz resident Jessie Copeland and the Jacksonville-based Michael Mundy — have collected small donations to help others.
They’ve helped with medical bills for a family whose 12-year-old had cancer. Sadly, they also assisted with funeral expenses when the child passed away a few months later, raising $600 total. The small nonprofit also filled the gap for a single mother when she needed help to pay rent. They partnered with Metropolitan Ministries that gave her $1,000, in addition to the $250 she needed, which the charity provided.
“When there is an emergency, and they have to decide to pay a bill or buy food, we want to be there to assist,” Bergeron said. “They can apply for assistance, but when they say, ‘You make enough money, so we can’t help you,’ that’s where we come in.”
Bergeron says anyone can reach out to the nonprofit.
They won’t turn anyone away, but they will focus on helping those in Land O’ Lakes, Pasco County and Tampa Bay, primarily. They also have extended that reach to assist Feed My Sheep CFL in Lakeland with its homeless mission by providing blessing bags that include essential items. The group also did a shoe drive out of the UPS Store in The Shoppes of Sunlake Centre in Land O’ Lakes.
With Grace, Gratitude & Giving, when someone comes for assistance — whether it be a single parent, a married couple or anyone that just needs help getting through hard times — the group won’t make anyone jump through hoops for help. There’s no filling out endless forms, requiring a background check or having to conduct a home interview and the like.
“If we have the resources to help, we hope to always help them,” Bergeron said. “Maybe they are taking advantage of us, maybe they’re not, but we’re not not going to help them. We’re going to try no matter what.”
The charity relies on donations, as well as getting the word out.
Copeland, who runs a tech company out of Lutz, set up the charity’s online presence and social media channels, but said Bergeron put in the legwork networking and getting the word of mouth out in the community.
“I’m the nerd behind the nonprofit,” Copeland said, jokingly. “I help volunteering with hands-on help, too, but it’s really (Michelle) and she is well aware that it’s so much work to get our name out there. I just gave her a platform to do it online.
“We’ve known each other a long time,” he added, “and I wanted to be a part of it, too. I said, ‘Let me do the nerdy stuff,’ but it was an easy decision to also join up with her so we can help those who really need (help) and just can’t seem to get it.”
Bergeron, who is an Uber driver, says she passes out business cards to each of her passengers and has contacted every resource hub possible to get the word out.
She realizes people who need help may not know where to look or even who to ask.
That’s because Bergeron has been there.
“It is rewarding (helping people), but at the same time, I still get sad,” Bergeron said. “Why do we have so much of this in the world, which is a joy and a blessing, but sometimes not the ability to help someone now? It just can feel like it’s not enough.
“There are so many people that need that help — that’s why I started this nonprofit. Need is need, and we want to help that need.”
Grace, Gratitude & Giving
Details: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit creating a community of giving help to those going through a hard time, such as unable to pay rent or buy groceries, but also make “too” much money to qualify for assistance. It partners with several other charitable organizations, such as Metropolitan Ministries and Feed My Sheep CFL in Lakeland, in which they put together blessing bags that contain essential items.
Info: Visit WeareGraceAndGratitude.comWeareGraceAndGratitude.com. Parties interested in donation can also email or , or call 813-501-7651.
Published November 29, 2023
