Resources available for Polk State students and community members facing food insecurity

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

Polk State College offers resources for students who are experiencing food insecurity. Two key programs, My Brother’s Keeper and Polk Pantry, accept donations year-round and provide discreet and confidential assistance to students by offering food and personal hygiene items.  Donations to these programs, either monetary or in-kind, can be made at the cashier’s office on campus and online.

More information, including hours, locations, and online donation links can be found at www.polk.edu/student-life/eagle-outreach/.

Additional resources are available throughout Polk County including food banks, food pantries, and community means. The following is a guide to food banks and pantries in and

Community meals and food pantries

The Mission, 180 E. Central Ave., Winter Haven

Monday through Friday: Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Food pantry from Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (ID with proof of residency required)

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Church Service Center, 495 E. Summerlin St., Bartow

Second and fourth Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Eagle Lake First Assembly of God, 670 N. Eagle Lake Drive, Eagle Lake

Last Friday of each month at 9 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Peace River Park, 1638 County Road 700/U.S. 98, Fort Meade

Second and fourth Thursdays at 10 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 410 Pilaklakaha Ave., Auburndale

Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Help of Fort Meade, 27 W. Broadway St.

Third Tuesday of each month

Frostproof Care Center, 17 S. Scenic Highway (863.635.5555)

First and third Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Primitive Baptist Church, 2855 Orchard Drive, Haines City

Second and fourth Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Lake Alfred, 289 E. Pierce St.

First and third Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Crystal Lake Elementary, 700 Galvin Drive, Lakeland

First and third Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Blessings & Hope, 2150 E. Edgewood Drive, Lakeland

Second and fourth Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, 1645 N. Webster Ave., Lakeland

Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Harvest Church Food Pantry, 2120 Airport Road, Lakeland

Third Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m.

Lakeland Seventh-Day Adventist Church,1435 Gilmore Ave.

Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Food Pantry at Pilgrim Rest Free Will Baptist Church, 1052 N. Kettles Ave., Lakeland

First and third Mondays at 9 a.m.

Resurrection Catholic Church and School – Food Pantry, 3855 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; ID with Polk County address required

Catholic Charities of Central Florida at St. Joseph’s Multi-Ministry Service Center, 118 W. Lemon St., Lakeland

Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (863.686.7153)

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Boys & Girls Club, 315 N. Dr. Martin Luther Blvd., Lake Wales

First and third Thursdays at 8 a.m.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 644 S. Ninth St., Lake Wales

Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (863.676.1556)

First Assembly of God Church – Food Distribution, 1400 E. Canal St., Mulberry

Mondays at 2 p.m. (863.425.1931)

United Way of Central Florida’s mobile food pantry at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 306 SW Second Ave., Mulberry

First and third Fridays at 2 p.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Mulberry RCMA,4440 Academy Drive

Second and fourth Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Poinciana Community Park, 5001 Allegheny Road

First and third Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

Abundant Life Ministries – Food Bank, 5237 Thornhill Road, Winter Haven

Second and fourth Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 532 Ave. M NW, Winter Haven

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (863.299.7983)

Champion’s Church House of Hope – Drive-Thru Pantry, 1801 Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven

First and third Mondays, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Wahneta, 3469 S. Rifle Range Road, Winter Haven

Last Saturday of each month at 8 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at First Missionary Baptist Church, 200 Ave. R NW, Winter Haven

Second and fourth Fridays at 10 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Tabernacle of Praise,1302 33rd St. NW, Winter Haven

Second and fourth Mondays at 10 a.m.

United Way of Central Florida’s Mobile Food Pantry at Wahneta Baseball Park, 2816 Rifle Range Road, Winter Haven

First and third Fridays at 10 a.m.

Food distribution events

Feeding Tampa Bay Emergency Response

Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Bartow Community Service Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at House of Refuge, 640 Burns Ave., Lake Wales

Feeding Tampa Bay Emergency Response

Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m. at Lakes Church, 1010 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland

Stay updated

Feeding Tampa Bay

Food distribution schedule: feedingtampabay.org/findfood

Alerts: Text “FTBFYI” to 833.530.3663 for text alerts and updates

United Way of Central Florida

Food distribution schedule: uwcf.org/initiatives/endhunger/schedule/

Hotline: Dial 211

Transportation

We Care of Central Florida Inc.’s Ride-to-Health has teamed with Uber to provide free transportation to Polk County residents 18 and older who live independently and face challenges with food insecurity, chronic illness or mobility. The program provides one trip per week to Walmart or a nearby food pantry.

*Most information from this post was published by The Ledger on Friday