In the spirit of the holidays, Fred’s Market and Johnson Barbeque will be hosting its first “Harvest for Our Local Community” campaign next week.
Through the harvest, which takes place Nov. 11 to 14, patrons will be able to choose from a list of four local charities to which to donate 5% of their dinner check.
General Manager Vicki Sharer came up with the idea. She has worked at Fred’s locations in Bartow, Winter Haven and Riverview as well as Plant City. All four locations host spirit nights for local schools or for specific members in the community who have suffered hardships.
But, Sharer wanted to take that idea further by expanding it to local charities after she got a unique call from a patron. The patron was making dinner reservations for a party of 27. She was picking up her daughter from Steppin’ Stone Farm, a home for troubled teenage girls.
Family from as far as Pinellas Park came to see her for a scheduled visitation. Many had never been to Fred’s Market.
“I thought, ‘What if we could have something that benefited the charities that were touching the lives of locals right here in Plant City?’” Sharer said.
The patron’s story of Steppin’ Stone Farm touched Sharer.
“It was such a heartwarming story listening to her,” Sharer said. “She said her daughter had been a complete stranger before. And that in just five months, she had completely changed.”
Sharer selected Steppin’ Stone Farm to be one of the charities. She also selected Unity in the Community, Free Friday Lunch at the First United Methodist Church and Everyday Blessings.
“We’re hoping it is a success, so we can hold it again,” Sharer said.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
THE CHARITIES
For the “Harvest for Our Local Community” campaign, patrons of Fred’s Market or Johnson Barbeque have a chance to select one of four charities to which to donate a portion of their dinner check.
“Hopefully, one of those four we selected have touched the lives of families in Plant City,” Fred’s Market General Manager Vicki Sharer said.
Steppin’ Stone Farm
Located on Pritcher Road in Lithia, Steppin’ Stone Farm is a home for troubled teenage girls.
The counseling program houses girls for a year, rehabilitating them in behavior, academics and faith.
The girls attend school, chapel and many extracurricular activities like volleyball. They even raise two steers every year to be shown at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Unity in the Community
The non-profit organization benefits other charities within Plant City. For 14 years, Unity in the Community has raised funds to support Meals on Wheels, the United Food Bank of Plant City and a Thanksgiving Dinner program, among many other donations.
Since 1999, Unity in the Community has raised $500,000 for community service organizations and more than 300 Thanksgiving dinners for families in need.
The organization is staffed by volunteers.
Free Friday Lunch
Volunteers from various area churches have combined forces to help fight hunger in the community.
Using the First United Methodist Church’s kitchen and fellowship hall, volunteers have been handing out free meals at noon every Friday.
Along with the meals, the diners enjoy a prayer and reflection time.
Everyday Blessings
Just down the road in Thonotosassa is a home for foster children. Called Everyday Blessings, the charity cares for up to 28 children.
The children range from newborns to 17 years old. They come from all economic and ethnic backgrounds and have been removed from their home because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Everyday Blessings also has location in Sarasota, which cares for up to 12 children.
Harvest for Our Local Community
WHEN: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 11 to 14
WHERE: Fred’s Market, 1401 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; Johnson Barbeque, 1407 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
PHONE: Fred’s, (813) 752-7763; Johnson Barbeque, (813) 759-0009