How they give back

• Providing free medical care in Eloise through Angel’s Care Center, a no-insurance-needed clinic run by volunteer doctors every Tuesday
• Assisting low-income people in Winter Haven through Project Love, a sister ministry of Angel’s Care Center that provides resources, food, and classes to those in need
• Supplying food supplement packets in central Africa to help severely malnourished children move into a healthy weight
• Building a foundation for a Costa Rican mother and her two children, who were previously living on a dirt floor
• Developing clean water filter systems in Cuba

Shop, sell + support

• Kids, teen, and adult clothing (men’s and women’s)
• Home goods
• Books and magazines
• CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records
• And more

• Spring Break Early Bird Special | Monday, March 11-Friday, March 15 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Family Fun Center, 4825 Florida Ave. S., Lakeland | $18.99 | Enjoy a morning of unlimited attractions and arcade games.
• BINGO! | Monday, March 11 | 6:30 p.m. | The Links Sandpiper, 6001 Sandpipers Dr., Lakeland | Free | Fill your board and scream “bingo” B-4 someone else does.
• Off The Wall SOUL Line Dancing Class | Monday, March 11 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Get off the wall and on the dance floor at this weekly movement class.

• Green Hat & White Gloves Tour | Tuesday, March 12 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Frances Langford Promenade, Lakeland | Free | Register for a free tour of Lake Mirror to learn the history of Lakeland’s notable people + places.
• A New Beginning | Tuesday, March 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Bring your favorite drink and enjoy this painting class — plus, you can make your own natural candle for an additional $20.

• Knit One, Crochet Too! | Wednesday, March 13 | 5-6:55 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Bring your current knitting or crocheting project to work and chat with others.

• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo | Thursday, March 14-Friday, March 15 | 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $8-$15 | Join sewing classes, workshops, demos, and fashion shows — parking is $10.
• Karaoke Nights | Thursday, March 14 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free | Grab the mic and sing along to your favorite song.

• Movie on the Lawn: “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” | Friday, March 15 | 6-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Watch this small movie on the big screen at 7 p.m., and arrive early for science-themed activities.

• Publix estimates it will spend $2.5 billion on capital projects in 2024 — 25% more than it spent in 2023. The locally headquartered grocer has a long list of projects in the works, including new store openings, remodels, and technology improvements at its Lakeland campus. (Grocery Dive)

• Foodies, listen up. A new wine bar and Lakeland’s first Bright Ice Scoop Shop location may be coming to the vacant vintage gas station at 1212 S. Florida Ave. — the former home of Petals Flower Shop. Development plans for the two concepts were submitted to Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency last week. (The Ledger)

• Three Polk State Eagles basketball players have scored honors from the All-Citrus Conference. Guard Dominick Nelson was selected to the first team — he averaged 20.1 points per game, the college’s highest average in seven years. Honorable mentions were also given to guards Ty Owens and Malachi Stevens.

• Polk County Fire Rescue recognized 66 employees last week in a ceremony that celebrated firefighters who received promotions or recently retired. The department also acknowledged new staff members, including its 17 new hires.

• $290,000. That’s how much the Tenth Annual Top Chef of Polk County raised to support Achievement Academy and benefit local children with special needs and developmental delays. Local chef Kaelani Leone from Good Thyme LKLD earned the “Top Chef of Polk County” title.

• The Coleman-Bush Building added new stories of Black Lakelanders to its exhibit, now dubbed the “Hall of History.” The ~$3,500 expansion installed three new panels and a large touchscreen housing stories of notable members of Northwest Lakeland’s Black community. You can see the display weekdays, 8 a.m. to5 p.m. (LkldNow)

• The Kids Arts Tag program is zooming back for its 18th year with new designs from the 2023-2024 school year. The fundraising effort allows locals to purchase vanity plates designed by fifth graders — including students from Lakeland schools. All proceeds will support art teachers in Polk County.

• Lakeland ranked No. 105 on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live In the US in 2023-2024" list. Swan City was also the 13th-highest-ranked city in Florida, and was noted for its reasonable cost of living, access to nearby attractions, and rich Florida history.

• Watson Clinic just opened the Watson Clinic Orthopaedics at Winter Haven, extending orthopaedic, sports medicine, arthritis care + more to Winter Haven residents. Live closer to Lakeland? Get orthopaedic care in Lakeland, too.*

• Jump into the world of construction as a foreman, project engineer, assistant superintendent, and more. The SEU Trades program’s AAS in Construction Technology offers hands-on, earn-why-you-learn coursework in the ever-growing industry of construction. Get details + apply.*

• This cozy men’s sweatshirt has been climbing the sales ranks and we can see why — the brushed fleece makes this everyday essential super comfortable.*