Hope Lutheran helps UFB with ‘reverse Advent calendar’
Last month, Hope Lutheran Church put a new twist on the traditional Advent calendar by working in “reverse,” and the United Food Bank of Plant City reaped the benefits.
The church’s members pitched in to donate more than 1,250 pounds of food to the food bank throughout December 2019 with the “reverse Advent calendar” method. According to Hope, members prayed every day and added a special Advent prayer calendar to each bag. In every bag was a list of non-perishable food items the members could buy from and add into the bag. The bags were returned to the church on Christmas Eve and later donated to the food bank.
“We were overwhelmed by the response of the congregation,” team leader George Hayes said in a press release. “The members of Hope once again showed their love and support for those in need in our community.”
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections announces scholarship
The Florida Supervisors of Elections are offering a new scholarship opportunity for Florida residents enrolled in or accepted to state senior colleges or universities as full-time students.
Three $1,200 scholarships are available to applicants who meet the following requirements:
Registered to vote in Florida (applications must be submitted to the county in which they are registered to vote)
Majoring in political science, mass communications, journalism or public/business administration
Have completed two years of junior college or undergraduate work with enough credits for enrollment as a junior
Must have had Florida residency for two years before the current academic year
Must be able to demonstrate financial need
Students are encouraged to apply before Feb. 28 at votehillsborough.org. Visit the site or contact Ryan Bashore at 813-367-8832 or rbashore@hcsoe.org for more information. Winners will be announced at the 2020 FSE Summer Conference.
Sign up for Dad-Daughter Date Night
The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department is accepting registrations for the upcoming 11th annual Dad-Daughter Date Night event.
Dads and daughters, grandfathers and granddaughters, uncles and nieces and other “father figures” in girls’ lives are welcome to visit the Trinkle Center at HCC, 1206 N. Park Road, from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 8 for an evening of entertainment, food, dancing and a free photo. The theme for 2020 is “A Night in the Emerald City of Oz” and all guests are asked to dress to impress.
The event is for girls age 3 and older and the cost is $35 per couple, plus $10 for each additional girl. Registration caps at 150 couples, so act fast before the cut-off date of Jan. 31 to secure a spot. Email recinfo@plantcitygov.com or call 813-659-4255 to get a registration form and deliver completed forms with payment to the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Contact Planteen Recreation Supervisor Maggie Morona at mmorona@plantcitygov.com or 813-659-4256 for more information or to help sponsor the event.
BayCare hospitals putting on play at PCE
South Florida Baptist Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital have teamed up to perform “Holding On, Letting Go” at Plant City Entertainment this week.
The play is about a man named Bobby Alexander and his “struggle to live fully while preparing to die” while his family also comes to grips with the event. The hospitals describe the play as an “intimate, compelling production” laced with humor to help an audience get comfortable thinking about end-of-life issues — including, perhaps, their own. Following the play is a facilitated panel discussion with the audience about end-of-life issues.
“Part of our mission is to explore the myriad issues surrounding death and dying,” Linda Wilkerson, manager of Faith Community Nursing for St. Joseph’s Hospital and South Florida Baptist Hospital, said in a news release. “Producing this play is a great way to start a conversation focusing on the tension between ‘holding on’ and ‘letting go’ faced by both the person who is dying and those loved ones who must share the experience.”
PCE veteran Lois Dunson is directing the play. Cast members include Jimmy Baumgartner, director of Operations for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital/St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, as Bobby Alexander, Alesia Bischoff as Alexander’s wife Lee, Debbie Scourtes as Alexander’s mother May, Coy Permenter as social worker Gabe, Gary Shepherd as Chaplain Roger and Patti Millin as nurse Virginia.
Seating is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register, visit BayCare.org/play or call 813-356-7311.