{"id":60631,"date":"2026-01-03T22:06:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T03:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=60631"},"modified":"2026-01-03T22:06:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T03:06:28","slug":"lakeland-nonprofit-says-it-needs-support-to-continue-helping-homeless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/01\/03\/lakeland-nonprofit-says-it-needs-support-to-continue-helping-homeless\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakeland nonprofit says it needs support to continue helping homeless"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine not knowing where your next meal will come from or where you\u2019ll stay the night.<\/p>\n\n\n

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That\u2019s the reality that many people who are homeless face. In Lakeland, one nonprofit said the need has grown over the past year. And they need support too, so they can continue to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorting through piles of donations it\u2019s become an everyday thing for Michael Carrano and his team with\u00a0The Cosmo Project<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a nonprofit focused on providing resources to the homeless community.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Carrano founded The Cosmo Project in 2023 to give back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When you\u2019re unhoused, and you need clothing, nine times out of 10, you get what\u2019s handed to you \u2014 you don\u2019t get to pick your own clothing,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The clothing is set up on racks, along with food and hygiene products for the homeless community, which is given out to them at Munn Park in Lakeland every Sunday at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Carrano said the need has grown over the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast year, we served about 4,000 to 5,000 people. This year, we clocked in about 6,300,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Carrano also said that several factors could be contributing to the increase in the homeless population they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHousing market is insane, food prices are high,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the increased need, the nonprofit is also in need of more helping hands, like Oliver Lamy. He started volunteering with his parents about a year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mostly do the smaller parts like hanging the clothes, organizing stuff, but it just feels satisfying to see them having things they need,\u201d said Lamy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encourages the younger generation to go out and help. For Carrano, it\u2019s about giving the homeless community the resources that will help them get back on their feet during a tough time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is harder now to be homeless than it has ever been,\u201d said Carrano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cosmo Project said that right now, they\u2019re most in need of men\u2019s clothing items and volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n