The small community of Clay County has been united in support of the search for Alyssa Umbaugh, a missing 15-year-old girl whose disappearance has sparked a robust grassroots effort to locate her since she was last seen on December 1st.
Alyssa Umbaugh’s case has captured widespread attention, especially on social media platforms, where support and awareness have grown around her disappearance. Steven Femenella, the founder of an organization committed to assisting families with missing children, has been particularly motivated to take action following the spread of Alyssa’s story online. Femenella, who resides near the area where Alyssa was last seen, has expressed empathy towards her family, highlighting the personal resonance of the situation given his own experience as a parent.
Femenella said, “There’s a lot of great organizations that provide information on missing children… I wanted to create one that actually did something.” His organization focuses on proactive measures to help find missing children and support affected families.
On the ground, volunteers are rallying this Sunday to canvas Orange Park, the location Alyssa was last spotted. They plan to distribute flyers and engage with residents in hopes of garnering new information that could lead to Alyssa’s safe return. This effort will be centralized at the Moose Lodge on Collins Road, where participants will receive guidance on their search activities. Volunteers are advised to dress comfortably and bring tools like staple guns for affixing flyers.
Brittany, a fellow volunteer and also a parent, expressed optimism about the search efforts: “I know that we’re going to bring her home.” This sentiment underscores the determination within the community to both raise awareness and take direct action in finding Alyssa.
Femenella emphasized the critical role of community involvement in such cases, remarking, “Let’s get these kids home. Let’s stop what’s going on with these children. If I can get the community involved, we have a better shot at it.” While acknowledging the challenge ahead, he stressed the importance of “keeping her face fresh” in the minds of all who can help.
Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding Alyssa Umbaugh to reach out to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office or contact Detective Page directly via 904-264-6512.
The unified response from the Clay County community showcases the power of collective effort in times of need. Through persistent volunteer actions and continued vigilance, the hope remains that information leading to Alyssa Umbaugh’s whereabouts will soon come to light. The shared objective is clear: bringing Alyssa home.
Source: News4jax
