by James Coulter
More than 500 people—563 to be exact!—are reported to be homeless in Polk County, according to estimates by the Homeless Coalition of Polk County, as reported by The Ledger.
As Polk County’s largest provider of services to the homeless, Talbot House Ministries Lakeland works tirelessly to help these people through its services. Each month, they shelter 161 people, serve 21,297 meals, and facilitate 377 clinic visits, their website states.
The efforts of this non-profit organization could not be possible without the generous proceeds of its donors and the hard work of its volunteers. Talbot House Ministries Lakeland raised proceeds for its services through its annual fundraiser banquet on Thursday evening.
Approximately 400 people attended the fundraiser to enjoy a great dinner and place bids on silent and live auctions for prizes donated by local businesses and organizations. Even Sheriff Grady Judd and his officers attended the grand event that evening.
For the past 20 years, the banquet has served as a fundraiser to raise money for Talbot House Ministries. Proceeds from the event go toward financing its many services, which include food, shelter, employment programs, affordable housing, and even a free medical clinic.
These proceeds will also help build and start two new programs. One program will be a homeless diversion program. The other will be an outreach to homeless encampments across Polk County.
The biggest challenges in offering these programs, both old and new, are limited funding and power, explained Erin Martinez, Director of Development at Talbot House Ministries. Moreover, they rely on the hard work of volunteers to accomplish their mission. As such, any assistance and donations they receive from events such as this fundraiser are greatly appreciated, she said.
“This event is successful because of the support of our community,” Martinez said. “Our donors and sponsoring organizations are faithful every year to ensure that this event is all that it can be. We are very grateful for that.”
To learn more about Talbot Ministries Lakeland, visit their website at: https://talbothouse.org/
