Mt. Olive honors local black trailblazers
At Mt. Olive Baptist Church’s Feb. 3 service, the Ball Street church kicked off Black History Month differently than usual: by honoring those from Plant City’s black community that have opened new doors.
Some of those honored were:
Sadye Gibbs Martin, Plant City’s first black mayor and city commissioner
Bobby Miller, Plant City’s first black police detective
Ted Taylor, Plant City’s first black attorney
Floyd Kelly, Plant City High School’s first black head football coach
Gerold Dickens, Strawberry Crest High School’s first black head football coach
Marian Richardson, the first black girl to compete in the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Pageant
Essie Dixon Lewis, the first black girl to place (First Maid, 1973) in the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Pageant
Sonja Woodard, Plant City High School’s first black valedictorian
Rhonda DuPont, Plant City High School’s first black Calendar Girl
Ginger Bennett Forte, Plant City High School’s first black Homecoming queen and first black female athlete to have her jersey retired
Horace Broadnax, Plant City High School’s first black male athlete to have his jersey retired
Derrick Gainer, former NFL player and Super Bowl champion
PIT count needs volunteers
The 2019 Homeless Point in Time (PIT) count provides the most accurate representation of the homeless population in Hillsborough County. Once the final count is tallied the area’s homeless advocates can address the pressing needs for the represented community.
The PIT survey for Plant City will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 and volunteers are needed to help support the Plant City community with the initiative. Anyone wanting to volunteer in the survey must attend a training date. Plant City’s training dates are at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and Feb. 19 at On Point Co. Work Solutions, 1805 James L. Redman Parkway.
Registration is open at Thhi.org/volunteer. You can also call Jennifer Anderson at 813-323-4013 for information.
New Suncoast center grand opening
The new Suncoast Community Health Center Plant City Family Care facility, 801 E. Baker St., is getting ready to party as it opens its doors.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Feb. 14 and the community is welcome to join in. There will be a food truck on location from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and more fun for everyone through 3 p.m.
Services offered at the new facility include adult and pediatric medicine and dental work, women’s health, optometry, behavioral health and a pharmacy.
2018 Shoe Project success
Every year, the GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club organizes the Shoe Project with local elementary schools to provide brand new shoes and socks to children in need. The 2018 Shoe Project was its most successful to date, reaching 16 local elementary schools with more than 600 pairs of shoes donated to students.
The latest Shoe Project was headed by Mackensi Beers and sponsored by James Hardie Building Products, Gordon Food Services, Unity in the Community Inc., Happy Souls Sock Ministry, Star Distribution Systems Inc. and Payless Shoes.
For more information on the Shoe Project and how to get involved with the 2019 shoe drive, visit gfwcplantcityjuniors.com.