ORLANDO, Fla. — While many people gathered around the table on Thanksgiving, other people in Central Florida don’t even have a roof over their heads.

It’s a growing problem in Orlando that the newly renamed Christian Service Center for the Homeless is working to solve, and the organization's leaders said they hope the public will give back and help them.

According to center leaders, the nonprofit serves about 500 people a day.

On top of that, Central Florida has seen the number of homeless people skyrocket.

“We’ve seen really significant increases overall, and we had a 75% increase in unsheltered homelessness from year to year, just in one year,” said Eric Gray, executive director of the organization said. “That's unheard of, you know. If we had a year where we saw a 10% or 20% increase, it is a big deal. Having a 75% increase in a single year, that's just monumental and enormous in ways that I don't think any of us really, fully comprehend.”

Among them is Alfonso Reynolds, who didn’t think he would get a Thanksgiving meal this year.

“This is my first thanksgiving, really," Reynolds said as he ate a donated meal. “For three years straight, I wasn't able to have a real Thanksgiving.”

After living on the streets for several years, the holiday was not top of mind.

Gray explained that for many, it’s just another Thursday.

“You're in survival mode when you're living on the street, and you're not really thinking about what you're missing out on," Gray said. "You're just thinking about, 'how do I survive to the next day'?”

According to Gray, it’s been a particularly difficult year to be homeless, especially with a new law banning people from sleeping and camping in public places.

“I was arrested for camping, and I was time-served with three months, but just something innocent, just sleeping on the sidewalk,” Reynolds said.

While Gray is appreciative of all the efforts to hand out Thanksgiving meals, he said he is looking forward to Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3, a day that he said kick starts the season of charitable giving.

“I won’t mince words. We need help," Gray said. "We're focusing all of our efforts on solutions to get people housed, hired and healthy, but that's still leaves a lot of need to just help people survive day to day.”

Gray said about 40% of all their donations come in the last six weeks of the year, Gray said, and 20% come in the last 48 hours.

He said he hopes people see the need of those living on the streets of Central Florida and feel inspired to give back, not just now but all year.

“Every Tuesday, there is a significant need, and we need people supporting us at the other 51 Tuesdays in the year as well.”

As for Reynolds, he’s now working as a handyman, saving up as much as he can to put a roof over his head. Until then, he’s grateful for every bit of help he gets here.

“Oh, I am really thankful. It’s a lot of help,” Reynolds said.

Gray said the service center is working to raise $1 million for a big renovation at the Christian Service Center for the Homeless that will break ground in February. He said the center is turning one of its buildings into an on-site medical clinic and will construct showers, a laundry area and a place where people can safely leave their belongings.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating, go to the Christian Service Center website.