Hope Lutheran Welcomes Mobile Food Pantry/Back To School Bash
Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to attend Hope Lutheran Church’s “Moving Hope” mobile food pantry, located at 2001 N. Park Rd.) on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. The pantry, in association with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lakeland, will distribute food to those in need until they run out of supplies. Various pantry staples are available as well as vegetables, metas, dairy products and baked goods. No identification is required to receive food.
In addition to the mobile food pantry, the church’s Missions and Outreach Ministry is hosting a free Back to School Bash on its campus Saturday, July 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is designed to help parents equip their children for the upcoming school year. All participants will receive a complimentary backpack for the new school year filled with school supplies. Participants will also be treated to ice cream, cookies, games and crafts. The Plant City Police Department, Plant City Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will also be on-hand at the event.
“With all of the pressures on parents and students today, if we can take just one thing off the list of backpacks and school supplies, we’re thrilled to be of assistance,” said Reverend Dean Pfeffer. “We’re excited to give back and open our campus to the community to kick back, relax, enjoy some ice cream and get the needed school supplies for their children to succeed in school this coming year.”
For more information about either event, contact the church office at (813) 752-4622.
Section of Turkey Creek Rd. To Close for Repairs
Hillsborough County Public Works Department has scheduled a road closure of the northbound and southbound lanes of Turkey Creek Rd. from Reece Rd. to Sydney Rd. beginning July 17 at 7 a.m. to July 30 at 6 p.m. The project includes replacing a corrugated drainage pipe and repaving the roadway.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez, Law Enforcement Officials Highlight Dramatic Rise In Fentanyl-Related Arrests
According to Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez, in the last five years, the number of fentanyl-related arrests in Hillsborough County has risen by 1,300 percent.
“Our law enforcement partners have been cracking down on the criminals who choose to deal fentanyl on the streets of Tampa Bay,” said Lopez, whose office vigorously prosecutes these cases. “Real people and real families are losing loved ones to this deadly poison. We stand with the victims and promise to relentlessly pursue every avenue we can to ensure drug dealers pay for their crimes.”
Lopez spoke earlier this year in Tallahassee in support of harsher penalties for fentanyl traffickers. House Bill 1359 was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, which imposes additional penalties, including the possibility of a life sentence, for fentanyl-related crimes when the drugs are made to look like candy. If convicted, those who traffic in such substances face a 25-year minimum mandatory sentence.
At a press conference this week, Sheriff Chad Chronister said fentanyl’s fatal grip on citizens needs to come to an end. “If you know of anyone selling these illegal substances, please contact us immediately,” said Chronister. “You can also report and share information anonymously with Crime Stoppers or tip411.”
Free Program Offers Help For Caregivers of People With Mental Health Conditions
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family-to-Family (F2F) is a free, educational program for families, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It’s a designated evidence-based course meant to help attendees understand and support their loved ones living with mental health conditions while maintaining their own well being. The class will be held Saturday, July 15, 22, 29 and August 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AdventHealth, located at 3100 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. For more information or to register visit bit.ly/F2FJuly2023.
Tax Tips For New Parents
Kids are expensive. Whether you just brought a bundle of joy home from the hospital, adopted a teen from foster care or are raising a grandchild, several tax breaks can help with the cost.
Tips for new parents include:
* Get the child a Social Security or Individual Tax Identification number. This allows the caregiver to claim parental tax breaks.
* Check withholding, because a new family member might make taxpayers eligible for new credits and deductions which can greatly change their tax liability.
* Check eligibility for several tax credits and deductions, including the Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit, Adoption Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents.
For more information visit IRS.gov.
Stuffed Animals Can Earn Their Wings
Stuffed animals (yep, you read that right) looking for a sense of adventure can get their wings thanks to a fun program offered at Florida Air Museum in Lakeland. Two sessions are offered: August 4-5 and August 5 -6. Parents can register their children’s favorite stuffed animals for Stuffed Animal Flight School. The child and their animal will attend a mandatory orientation (which will include a photo, presentation and video of the activities the stuffed animals will be “participating in” while at flight school) and leave them with their experienced team of aviation professionals. The following day, the child will pick up their newly winged pilot with their log book to be used for future flights, the photo from orientation and a set of wings for the animal and the child. For more information go to eventbrite.com and search Stuffed Animal Flight School.