HOPE LUTHERAN WELCOMES
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
On Thursday, January 22, Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 North Park Road, will host their mobile food pantry in the church parking lot. This pantry, in association with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lakeland, will begin distributing food to those in need beginning at 6:00 p.m. until the supplies are distributed. Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to join them as they work to eliminate food insecurities in the community. Various goods are available from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods. As a rule, the pantry, “Moving Hope,” takes place at Hope Lutheran on the third Thursday of each month. No identification is required, and the pantry is open to anyone in the Plant City community needing that extra hand. Please note that our January pantry is a week later due to New Year’s Day.
For additional information, contact the church office at 813-752-4622.
Martin Luther King Jr Parade
The 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Parade will be held Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Note that roads along the parade route will close as early as 12:00 p.m. The parade begins at 1:00 p.m. and travels along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, starting at Wheeler Street. The parade is hosted by the Improvement League of Plant City, CDC. Additional information on the festival is available at www.plantcitymlkfestival.com.
In addition to the parade, the opening ceremony will be at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is an Expo from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and a Drumline Battle of the Bands from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., also at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center.
There is a Leadership Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Trinkle Center, Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus. Tickets are $50 per person.
On Monday, a Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Bing House Museum, hosted by the GFWC Plant City.
Road Closure
S. Warnell St, between CSX Railroad and E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, will be closed temporarily beginning on January 15. The project is estimated for completion on February 13.
CSX Track Maintenance
Announced
CSX Transportation announced a track maintenance project set to begin on Monday, February 2. This project will include the installation of new railroad ties in the track surface along parts of the CSX Wildwood subdivision. It will be an overall three-week project beginning on February 2 and ending around February 20. Railroad crossings will be closed anywhere from two to five days, depending on the type of maintenance they are to receive. Closure dates are estimated and subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances that may occur.
E. Knights Griffin Road – February 15
Joe McIntosh Rd – February 15
2026 Best of Plant City
Voting is Now Open!
The Plant City Chamber needs YOU to tell them the businesses and individuals you think should carry the 2026 Best of Plant City title! To vote for your favorites, visit https://form.jotform.com/253283576628165. Voting is open through January 18. The nominees were chosen based on the nomination letters sent in from the community. The committee made its decisions based on the responses the nominator provided. Winners will be determined by the nomination details, committee review, and public voting. To qualify as a nominee, the business or individual must be a current member of the Plant City Chamber, have an impact on the Plant City community, and meet the description of the award for which they are being nominated.
