The nonprofit organization sends students home with backpacks full of food to get them through the weekend.
Category: Social Services
Posted inPeople
Beloved Pastor Retires After 48 Years in Ministry
On Christmas Day, the Rev. David McEntire gave the final sermon of his 48 years in ministry – 15 of those at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland.
Posted inSocial Services
New Bethel AME Church Creating a Community Garden
Produce grown on-site will be used for the congregation’s much-needed food pantry.
Posted inSocial Services
At Talbot House, Maria Cruz Takes the Lead as Brenda Reddout Retires
Cruz, a key figure behind Orlando’s homeless diversion and prevention program, joined the Lakeland nonprofit in April
Posted inSocial Services
Heartland for Children Facing Difficulty Recruiting New Foster Parents
Heartland for Children is in need of 25 additional foster homes in the Lakeland area to serve teens, siblings and children, including those with autism and developmental delays. Overall, the organization is hoping to add 50 new foster homes in its entire coverage area of Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties, according to Kim Daugherty, chief […]
Posted inSocial Services
Polk Schools Launch Food Pantry in West Lakeland
The food distribution is available to anybody in need every other Friday at the West Area Adult School on Central Avenue.
Posted inHousing, Social Services
Salvation Army Doubling Shelter Housing for Families
In March 2021, Carlinys Rodriguez and her two sons, ages 7 and 8, were kicked out of their home by a family member and she thought they had nowhere to go. But she found her way to the Salvation Army’s George W. Jenkins Community of Hope neighborhood off Kathleen Road, a 49-acre, family-friendly neighborhood that […]
Posted inHistory, Social Services
Library’s Main Branch Reopens Tuesday; History Center Launches a Few Weeks Later
It is move-in weekend for the Lakeland Public Library’s main branch along the east shore of Lake Morton. The 56-year-old facility has been undergoing a massive $1.89 million renovation for the last 18 months, including a new HVAC system, ceilings, lighting, flooring, paint, furniture, a new collection layout — and the addition of the Exhibit […]
Posted inSchools, Social Services
Program Offers Free Summer Meals for Any Child at 33 Lakeland Sites
Polk County’s school system is participating in a statewide Summer Breakspot program to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all children up to 18 years old. Nearly three dozen schools, businesses, and city recreation centers are taking part in the program in Lakeland, with more than 70 schools participating throughout Polk County.
Posted inPeople, Social Services
Callie Neslund Tapped as GiveWell Community Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer
The GiveWell Community Foundation has selected Callie Neslund of Lakeland to be its chief operating officer. Neslund, 37, will assume the role in August, primarily focusing on “future initiatives stemming from the United Community Needs Assessment currently underway, strategic planning, and day-to-day operations,” according to a news release.