IDignity’s 2025 Year In Review
2023 Souper Douper Fundraiser
Watch IDignity’s Annual Souper Douper Fundraiser and hear Karelyn’s story of determination, hope, and identity. With your help IDignity is able to help thousands more like Karelyn, and bring awareness to the barrier that is the lack of legal identification. A barrier that leaves many with no way to obtain employment, proper healthcare, food, access to their bank account, and much more.
To donate click HERE! Help us reach our goal of $100,000, the equivalent of 4,000 Florida State ID cards. Share this with your friends, family, and colleagues! Together, we can restore dignity and hope by providing identification.
Do You Remember Getting Your License?
Humberto’s Story
Humberto moved from Los Angels to Orlando to be closer to his 9-year-old daughter and ended up experiencing homelessness for two years. Now, Humberto resides at Pathways to Care after obtaining serious burns from a fire pit, one that nearly took his life if not for the help of a friend. Humberto came to IDignity for his Social Security card and birth certificate. He needs these documents to reach his end goal: securing a job. Humberto wants to give, explaining that he wishes to pull people out of the dark just as he was pulled out. When asked what it feels like being without his documents to now obtaining them he stated, “I feel like I’m living now, not existing. I’m living and I’m very grateful for everything I got.”
Kiara’s Six Year Adventure
Kiara’s older sibling used to tell her she was adopted. A stranger at the DMV told her the same thing. It turns out, they were both wrong. When Kiara Fraizer was young, her older sister tried to convince her she was ‘born on a ship in a pile of doo-doo.’ Kiara wrote it off as annoying and typical sibling behavior and never thought it would come back to haunt her – until she went to obtain her Florida gold star ID. Born and raised in Ohio, Kiara never had any issues getting her ID, but when she showed the clerk her documents to obtain her Florida REAL ID it was clear something was wrong. Kiara’s last names on her Social Security card and birth certificate were different. One document had her father’s last name and the other had her mother’s last name. Confused and bewildered, Kiara could only stare at the two documents while the clerk attempted to explain why this could be happening.
“This [discrepancy] usually happens when you get an amended birth certificate, so you’re adopted,” the clerk told her. Suddenly, she could hear her sister’s words taunting her, “You were born on a ship in a pile of doo-doo, and you were adopted!” But still, Kiara knew this was not true.
In fact, the reasoning for her mismatched documents was much simpler. Her parents had an argument and her dad’s name ended up being omitted from her birth certificate. Thus, the last name on her birth certificate was listed as her mother’s. However, when Kiara got her Social Security card, her last name was listed as her father’s. So there was no record of how her name went from Harris to Fraizer. Now, years later as a single mom with two kids, Kiara needed her gold star Florida ID since she is no longer a resident of Ohio. “I went [to apply] for rental assistance and I got denied because I didn’t have a Florida ID [my Ohio ID wouldn’t work]. Everything else went through but I didn’t have that ID.”
Proving Kiara Fraizer and Kiara Harris were one and the same became a struggle. Five years passed as Kiara searched for a way to fix her mismatched last names. Kiara spoke to her mom, who recommended IDignity where her mom had previously received her ID.
Kiara worked with the two lawyers on staff, Kelly and Sharlene (pictured above), for a few months. “The process just started immediately, no fees, no anything. They knew exactly what to do from day one. This was a big, big milestone because it was a hindrance in my life.”
After going in front of a judge to get her name change approved, Kiara was able to amend her birth certificate to list her last name as Fraizer. Now, Kiara is able to get her gold star Florida ID, be REAL ID compliant, and get her kids into school without any issues.
“They [school officials] want to see your birth certificate to prove you are their parent. I had to tell them the whole story. It looked like I was two people because I had two last names; my kids were Fraizer and I was Harris.”
Finally, after nearly six years, Kiara’s last name matched her identification documents. “[I] feel complete. Having Fraizer on my birth certificate makes me complete and whole with my dad and my family. I’m telling you, IDignity has completed my family. I can call my dad and tell him I will have Fraizer on my birth certificate now!”
In addition, Kiara can now tell her sister that she was NOT born on a ship in a pile of doo-doo!
Melanie and Jonah: Watch their story
After years of searching and wondering, Melanie and Jonah, mother and son had finally found each other. Together they came to IDignity looking for ID. Watch the vide below to hear their amazing story and how IDignity has been a part of their journey. This video was filmed by IDignity’s amazing partner, First Baptist Church of Orlando. Thank you First Baptist Orlando for your never-ending support and advocacy since day one!
A Turning Point | Alex’s Story
Alex is a single mother. She was evicted from her apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid the chaos and stress of becoming homeless during a pandemic, Alex lost all her personal identification documents.
While trying to survive without a home for her and her infant son, and without any identification, she turned to drugs. That turn cost Alex everything, including custody of her boy.
Some months later, Alex came to IDignity. She was 63 days sober and recovering at a facility that helped her get clean, and get her son back. She needed her ID and her son’s birth certificate so she could find employment and get her son into daycare.
As she left Jackie’s Place to go pick up her son’s birth certificate from the Florida Health Department, she expressed her gratitude to the people who make IDignity possible. Alex said, “Thank you. It’s really hard, ya know, coming off the streets from being homeless, and losing everything, and trying to better our lives. So, this helps us better our lives and we greatly appreciate it because we couldn’t do it without you.”
Battling to Build a Better Life | Benny’s Story
Benny is originally from Naples but has always seen Orlando as a second home. He first came to live in Orlando 21 years ago.
Since then, Benny has battled being homeless. A combination of mental illness and drug addiction has made it difficult for him to stay off the streets.
In 2020, Benny was in Kentucky looking for work when he lost his driver’s license. With no options and no way to obtain a replacement, he returned to his second home. A few months later, he returned to IDignity for assistance replacing his ID. Just after that, he came back to replace his Florida birth certificate as well.
Benny’s hyperactivity disorder makes it hard for him to be idle, or not doing something. He says, “if I’m going to do something, I might as well do something that is going to benefit me.” Benny is currently trying to rebuild his life and these identification documents were the tools he needed to continue to pursue that goal.
After moving in with his niece just days ago, and now having his identification documents, Benny hopes to find work in the UCF area and is excited to start applying.
God Put Us Here To Help
Written by Madhavi Mooljee
“God put us here to help those who were less fortunate”. These were the words of Myron, who, up until a few months ago lived in a tent under a large oak tree in Sanford, Florida with his wife Linda.
During a heavy storm in October, their tent was wrecked by a branch falling straight through the middle of it. Although the two individuals were unharmed, their few belongings were ruined, leaving them with little to call their own. In an ironic way however, they say how thankful they are for the experience because it led them to the local organizations that recently helped them move into their new home.
On this crisp, windy afternoon, the couple joyfully hold up their freshly printed driver’s licenses, the address to their new home labeled in black. It is for this reason that Myron cannot hold back his big toothless smile — overjoyed with the warmth and community that surrounds him here at the IDignity Orlando event. Both are excited for the opportunities that now await them.
Myron and Linda mention their eagerness to help those who need it most. “We both came from a checkered background…but we have made a step forward,” says Linda, a look of determination in her eye.
Having been homeless for a while, Myron and Linda have been through their fair share of struggles. Now that they have a place of their own, they open their doors to those who need somewhere to sleep, shower or eat. “We have a big heart for the homeless,” Linda says, “we’ve been there.” It is because of their experiences while living on the street that this couple is committed to loving everyone “regardless of who they are, what they are or what their color, sex or order.”
Myron and Linda’s story says a lot about what it means to make a difference. It shows how helping others does not mean you have to change the world, but simply lend a hand to someone who needs it.
With their new home and their new ID’s, the couple can now continue to fulfill their mission from God — to help those who are less fortunate.
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