CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The search for Alyssa Umbaugh, a 15-year-old girl missing since Dec. 1, continues as volunteers and community members come together to support her family.
Alyssa’s story has garnered attention across social media, motivating Steven Femenella, founder of TKS, to take action. His organization is dedicated to helping families locate missing children.
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“There’s a lot of great organizations that provide information on missing children,” Femenella said. “I wanted to create one that actually did something.”
He said he lives not far from where Alyssa was last seen.
However, as a parent, Femenella said he feels a personal connection to the case.
“I have a daughter myself,” he said. “I wouldn’t know what to do if something happened to her.”
Alyssa was last seen in Orange Park, just before the holidays.
On Sunday, volunteers plan to canvas the area, distributing flyers and speaking with residents in hopes of generating new leads.
“I know that we’re going to bring her home,” Brittany, a volunteer and a mom, said.
Volunteers will gather at the Moose Lodge on Collins Road to receive instructions. Organizers suggest bringing comfortable clothes and tools like staple guns for posting flyers.
Femenella emphasized the power of community in solving cases like Alyssa’s. He said they may not find her on Sunday, but it is important to “keep her face fresh.”
“Let’s get these kids home,” he said. “Let’s stop what’s going on with these children. If I can get the community involved, we have a better shot at it.”
Anyone with information about Alyssa Umbaugh’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office or local authorities.
People can contact Detective Page with tips at 904-264-6512.