WATCH: Jackie Austin Details ‘Mia’s Helping Hands’ Which Works With Families in Crisis
By Steve Wilson // June 29, 2026
Nonprofit Created by Matthew and Jackie Austin
Jackie Austin recently sat down with Steve Wilson at the Erdman Automotive Studio in Cocoa and talked about “Mia’s Helping Hands,” a nonprofit created by her and her husband, Matthew. “Mia’s Helping Hands” works closely with families in crisis. For information on how you can help “Mia’s Helping Hands,” CLICK HERE.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I recently had the opportunity to interview a special young lady, Jackie Austin. Austin, from Brevard County, recently created a nonprofit that helps families in crisis. Mia’s Helping Hands was formed to honor the memory of her sister’s little girl, Mia, now in heaven.
I first got to know Austin about 10 years ago when she was playing softball at Rockledge High School. She was the catcher on a very good team, and I could tell, even at that young an age, she was a leader, with a good heart.
When explaining what Mia’s Helping Hands is all about, Austin told me, “This isn’t a cure-all for people in crisis, but a way for our community to work together to at least lighten some of the load that hardships can bring.”
She went on to talk about the important role her husband, Matthew, has played, saying, “He has been the one spearheading logistics and paperwork and finding a means to store all donated items in our garage.”
When they outgrow their current space, the Austins would eventually like to obtain a storage unit to hold donated supplies.
Austin told me that their newly formed nonprofit has been operating primarily by “word of mouth.”
She said, “Social media has been my best friend in finding people who could use support. I then turn to my platforms specifying what type/size items we’re looking for and, so far, people have come through and provided!”
For information on how you can help Mia’s Helping Hands, CLICK HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana, and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events significant to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
