The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation is bringing back Lights of Love for its 18th year.
By Thais Leon-Miller | Staff Intern
Christmastime in Plant City is just a flick of a switch away.
On Thursday, Dec. 1, the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation will host the 18th annual Lights of Love celebration. The event, which is celebrated by turning on lighted Christmas displays in downtown, kicks off the start of the holiday season in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
Attendees will be able to take pictures with Santa Claus and enjoy music from the First Baptist Church of Plant City Chorus and Next Radical Generation (NRG). Drinks and snacks will be available in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, including hot chocolate. The food and music will lead up to the big event of the night: Santa Claus flipping the switch to light the city Christmas tree and all of downtown Plant City’s Christmas lights.
The event’s impact reaches beyond the streets of Historic Downtown. Last year’s Lights of Love event raised close to $35,000 and helped the hospital extend its intensive care unit from eight to 17 beds.
This year, the foundation hopes to boost existing community programs, including Wellness on Wheels.
“Wellness on Wheels is a 35-foot RV that’s equipped to do screening and health education,” South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation Executive Director Jana Butler said. “They do heart health screenings, diabetes screenings. For the school system, they do health education initiatives for children and height, weight and scoliosis checks.”
Proceeds from the event will additionally help fund the community flu shot program, new medical equipment for the hospital and its heart and vascular center. Ladies’ Night Out, a program that addresses women’s health issues, also will benefit.
While the proceeds are geared toward helping the community, the foundation’s goal is for people to come out and have a good time.
Butler has lived in Plant City for 27 years and has been bringing her family to see the tree-lighting ceremony for over a decade, though she has only been with the foundation for the last five years.
“It’s the start of the Christmas holiday and celebration for Plant City,” Butler said. “Somehow, it’s nostalgic. It’s kind of like Christmas in the old days, and it brings us back to community and family. We are very lucky the city supports the hospital the way it does.”
For more information, or to make a donation or sign up for a sponsorship, call (813) 757-8478. All proceeds benefit the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation.
