NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
The City of Plant City held a National Day of Prayer gathering on May 1 at noon at the Nettie Berry Draughon Municipal Building. This day is a call for people in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. A proclamation was given at the April 28 City Commission meeting, and then read on May 1. It stated in part, “I, Nathan A. Kilton, as Mayor of the City of Plant City, Florida, and by virtue of the authority vested in me, hereby proclaim May 1, 2025, as the National Day of Prayer in the City of Plant City, Florida, and encourage all citizens to gather together on that day in homes and places of worship to pray, each after his or her own manner, for unity of the hearts of all mankind.”
PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB ARBOR DAY & TREE DEDICATION
The Plant City Garden Club concluded its annual Arbor Day celebration on April 16 at the Community Care Center by dedicating the two Dahoon holly trees the club donated to the center in January. The trees were dedicated to Lee Ann Reed and Keith Kolakowski. Lee Ann was a long-time employee of the center. Keith was a resident of Plant City who lived at the center for three years.
The club also donated and planted 500 longleaf pine seedlings at McIntosh Preserve with the assistance of Plant City Park Department employees, John Holt and Allen Merrill. Last year, the club donated 100 Loblolly pine seedlings to McIntosh Preserve. The club is hopeful they will be able to donate additional seedlings or bushes to the preserve on next year’s Arbor Day.
In addition to its annual Arbor Day celebration, the club is responsible annually for the horticulture exhibit at the Strawberry Festival, the Junior Gardener program at Jackson and McDonald Elementary Schools, Flower Therapy at the Community Care Center, and sponsors children to go to Camp Youth Wekiva in Apopka. The club welcomes new members and guests at all monthly meetings, held September through May, at the First United Methodist Church at 303 North Evers St.
HOPE LUTHERAN WELCOMES MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
On Tuesday, May 15, 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 come to the pantry because the church is working to eliminate food insecurities in Plant City. Various goods are available, from vegetables, to meats, to dairy, and baked goods. Normally the “Moving Hope” pantry 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 an extra hand of help.
For additional information, contact the church office at 813-752-4622.
UNITY APPRECIATION DINNER
On Friday, Unity in the Community hosted its annual Unity Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Robert Trinkle Center on the HCC campus in Plant City.
“All of us on the Unity Board are so humbled and appreciative to honor our selfless volunteers who take their time before and during the Florida Strawberry Festival to sell the $5 raffle tickets,” Steve Hurley said. “It’s truly a blessing for Stingray Chevrolet to once again be able to donate a Corvette. However, being able to turn that vehicle into a donation to Unity of more than 3 1/2 times the value of the car, ($300,000), takes a community that is truly willing to work together toward the common goal of giving back.”
Volunteers enjoyed a dinner from Fred’s Market, awards were given to several organizations that donated their time, and a raffle with so many prizes that none of the volunteers left empty-handed.
“With utmost gratitude for the dedication they have shown for this community, Unity gave Steve and Susan Hurley a 3-D crystal square award for their 16 years of continued support of the Corvette Raffle,” Unity in the Community Treasurer Sharon Moody said.
[Unity photo courtesy of Engle Digital.]
SCHOOL BOARD TO HEAR CASE FOR TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL RENOVATION
Last week, alumni requested community support to obtain funding from the Hillsborough County School Board to renovate the 1926 two-story red brick building on the Turkey Creek Middle School Campus. The resulting community support has brought the plan one step closer to fruition. The School Board will take up this discussion at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Raymond O. Shelton School Administrative Center in Downtown Tampa.
This brick building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and as a Hillsborough County Landmark designated as a Strawberry School. At these schools, students would go to classes during the summer, then help their families harvest strawberries during the winter. This history brought another win to the renovation effort. According to alumni, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association will be writing a letter of support for this project to the School Board.
For those who wish to contact School Board members to advocate for the renovation, the contact telephone numbers are: Lynn Gray and Henry Washington, 813-272-4052; Nadia Combs and Jessica Vaughn, 813-272-4618; Stacy Hahn and Karen Perez, 813-272-4045; Patti Rendon, 813-272-4053.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Friends of the Plant City Police Department is holding a Business After Hours gathering on Thursday, May 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at its office at 212 N. Collins St. The event offers opportunities for food, drinks, and networking. The evening is free for members, and $15 for non-members. RSVP at biy.ly/BAHMAY15.
