Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Orozco .
Hi Gabriela , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
TUB began in 2022 as a grassroots response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. What started as protest and sidewalk support outside the All Women’s Health Clinic quickly revealed a deeper need in our community. People seeking reproductive care needed more than protection — they needed tangible resources, compassion, and someone to show up for them without judgment.
In 2023, we became an official nonprofit to expand that mission. Throughout the year, we focused on direct assistance for clinic patients by providing rides, food, clothing, hygiene essentials, and financial support — always with dignity at the center.
By 2024, our vision grew beyond clinic-based support. We launched TUB HUB, a community-centered initiative offering transportation assistance, educational workshops, tabling at events, and safe spaces for connection and resource-sharing.
In 2025, we expanded again with our Food & Hygiene Pantry and Computer Corner, offering free food, personal care items, computer access, printing, and digital support for individuals reentering the workforce. These additions allowed us to remove even more barriers for families and individuals experiencing hardship.
Today, TUB operates a broad network of mutual aid programs designed to meet people where they are:
* Red Tent Project (Period Boutique) — 700+ period bags distributed to support menstrual equity.
* Back to School Supply Event — 400+ backpacks filled with essential school supplies for local students.
* Threads & Things Free Closet — free clothing, shoes, hygiene items, and home goods for individuals and families.
* Computer Corner — free access to computers, tablets, printers, and internet for job searches and resource navigation.
* Food Pantry — nutritious food delivered to over 100 families and individuals across the community.
* Hygiene Program — hundreds of hygiene kits distributed to promote health, dignity, and confidence.
* Repro Care Project — free condoms, emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, and more to support reproductive autonomy.
* Out to the Streets Initiative — our outreach team directly visits homeless communities across Central Florida, providing essential supplies such as food, hygiene items, clothing, blankets, and seasonal necessities.
* Christmas Toy Drive — each year, we distribute over 250+ gifts to children across Central Florida, making sure families experiencing financial hardships can still celebrate the holidays with joy.
How the Community Can Support TUB
There are several meaningful ways for people to get involved:
* Volunteer
Help with pantry distribution, outreach events, donation sorting, toy drives, or street outreach.
* Donate Supplies
We always welcome menstrual products, hygiene items, toys, school supplies, clothing, nonperishable food, blankets, and home goods.
* Financial Contributions
Monetary donations allow us to restock supplies quickly, support emergency requests, and sustain our programs.
* Spread the Word
Follow and share our work, invite us to events, or connect us with organizations, faith groups, or local partners.
* Collaborate
We welcome partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and community groups for drives, resource fairs, workshops, and co-hosted events.
At our core, TUB is about dignity, care, and community. We started on the protest lines, grew into a mutual aid network, and continue to expand because our community believes in showing up for one another — compassionately and consistently.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth. We started our work in one of the most stigmatized and politically charged spaces — abortion support. Standing with patients after the overturning of Roe v. Wade brought immediate challenges, from public stigma to outright hostility. Talking openly about abortion rights is still taboo for many, and our presence outside the clinic often made us a target.
In the early days, we operated with almost no funding. Most of our resources came from small donations — social media and patients who were grateful for our help and wanted to support our efforts. Their appreciation kept us going, but the need in our community grew faster than our resources.
As we expanded, the challenges shifted. Securing grants and donor support became essential, but funding for reproductive justice and mutual aid is incredibly competitive. We have to constantly advocate, apply, and fight for the money that keeps our programs active. Being a fully volunteer-based organization adds another layer — we rely on people generously giving their time, and there are never enough hands to meet the level of need we see.
Another challenge has been the political climate. We operate in a region under an administration that does not share our beliefs or support the work we do. This creates barriers, both seen and unseen, that we have to navigate every day.
One of our biggest transitions — and challenges — was expanding from abortion support into broader community defense work. As we listened to the people we served, we realized their needs didn’t stop at the clinic door. Food insecurity, lack of hygiene products, unstable housing, and limited access to digital resources were all issues hitting the same community members we were supporting.
That realization pushed us to grow into a resource-based mutual aid network.
We moved from strictly abortion-related support to becoming a hub for essentials like:
* A food pantry
* A hygiene closet
* Computer and printer access
* Clothing, home goods, and baby items
* Outreach to homeless neighbors
* Reproductive health supplies
* Seasonal support like our annual toy drive
This shift required new systems, new volunteers, new funding sources, and a much larger operational footprint — all while maintaining the reproductive justice foundation we started with.
Despite all these struggles, we continue to grow because our community needs us. Every challenge has pushed us to expand our mission, strengthen our programs, and remain committed to showing up with dignity, care, and consistency.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Umbrella Brigade (TUB) began in 2022 supporting patients outside the All Women’s Health Clinic after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. What started as reproductive care advocacy quickly grew into broader community defense and resource-based work, addressing barriers like food insecurity, lack of hygiene products, and access to digital resources.
Today, TUB is a volunteer-driven nonprofit known for mutual aid, dignity-focused support, and community empowerment. Our programs include the Red Tent Project, Food & Hygiene Pantry, Computer Corner, Threads & Things Free Closet, Out to the Streets initiative, Back to School Supply Event, and our Christmas Toy Drive — serving hundreds of families and individuals across Central Florida.
TUB stands out for its holistic, community-centered approach. We meet people where they are, provide essential resources, and foster empowerment — all while staying rooted in reproductive justice. We proudly support our LGBTQIA+ community and unhoused neighbors. Our work has been recognized with the Pride Chamber Nonprofit of the Year Award (2025), two grant awards, and multiple in-kind donations from companies including Thrive Causemetics.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of the amazing TUB Team and my fiancé. TUB is more than a nonprofit; we’re a lifeline, a hub of care, and a trusted source of support for our community.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson we’ve learned is that people matter. Our individuality and diversity are what make a community truly beautiful, and when we show up for one another, we create safety, dignity, and strength. Everyone deserves access to basic needs — housing, food, clothing, medical care, and mental health support — and our work has reinforced that meeting these needs isn’t just charity, it’s building the foundation for a thriving, empowered community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theumbrellabrigade.org
- Instagram: theumbrellabrigade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084557181188
