PRESIDENT'S CORNER: STUFF THE BUS
STUFF THE BUS, a project of ENGAGE Chamber Young Professionals, includes collecting school supply donations for Polk’s students in need. The campaign generally begins mid-July and continues through mid-August - just in time for school. This year, stuff the Bus begins Monday, July 10 and continues through Friday, August 18, 2017.
“The number of homeless children and youth in the Polk County School System is growing year after year,” said Dee Dee Wright, Polk County School Board Project Hearth Specialist. “Last year we identified more than 2800 homeless people throughout Polk County,” she said. Homeless children and youth are students who lack a fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Families are considered homeless who have “doubled up” at a residence, or are living in substandard housing or hotels. Women with children living in a charity home are also considered homeless by Project Hearth - the Polk County School Board’s services department for homeless students. The average age of a school-aged homeless person is nine years old. It has been estimated that at any given time, there are more than 350 school aged, enrolled homeless children in Polk County.
Ms. Wright’s office works to address the needs of Polk’s homeless students year round.
Anyone may donate to the drive by bringing donations to the Bartow Chamber of Commerce in July or August.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely, ENGAGE Chairwoman. “When we found out how many kids in Polk were homeless, we couldn’t believe it. It's shocking to realize that there are so many children in our area without a stable place to live,” she added.
Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation to homeless school-aged children in Polk County may do so by writing a check to the Polk County Education Foundation and writing “Hearth” in the memo line of the check. Checks may be dropped off at the Bartow Chamber, anytime. Donations will be used to purchase caps and gowns for seniors, pay for school physicals and pay for needed birth certificates.
According to Wright, the items most needed this time of year are school supplies including backpacks, zip binders (Trapper Keepers), paper, 3-prong folders, spiral notebooks and calculators (scientific and graphing). In addition, school uniforms, gift cards for food, medical and dental services are much needed. Although hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, hair brushes and feminine products are always appreciated, the most dire need at this time are the school supplies.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK,
CLINT EDWARDS
PS: Happy 4th of July!
HELLO BARTOW! MEMBERS PARTICIPATE FOR FREE
ROI ALERT TO ALL MEMBERS!
We've established a new perk to your membership. Now, as a member of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, you may include a promotional item for your business in the HELLO BARTOW! welcome baskets for new residents. PARTICIPATION IS FREE OF CHARGE! If you are interested, contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Director, (863) 533-7125, or reply to this email.
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
 Reserve your space now in the Fall Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
More . . .
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JULY BUSINESS: TB&K Outsource
Left to right: TB&K Outsource Owner Trina Kelly and Chamber Membership Services Director Barbara Adamson
July Chamber Business of the Month:
TB&K Outsource Full Service Printing
(863) 512-0528 • www.tkellyprint.com
With over 15 years of experience in the printing industry, I am positive I can provide you with your printing needs. With one of the best graphic designers on my team and long-standing relationships with various vendors in and out of the state of Florida, I am sure to be able to meet your printing needs at the best price. My attention to detail has proven to be effective when providing clients with the one-on-one attention they deserve. My goal is to exceed your expectations! For a price quote please call or email me anytime.
TRINA
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com
WANT US TO TEXT YOU ABOUT EVENTS?
Free TEXT ME!
Chamber Members:
We are offering a new feature of your membership, absolutely free to you! If you would like to get a text message about upcoming events, call or email Barbara Adamson, Chamber Membership Services Director, today! barbara@bartowchamber.com or 863-533-7125.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
25 YEARS
Achievement Academy, Inc.
15 YEARS
Polk County Sheriff's Office
10 YEARS
Summerlin Oaks Apartments
SM Communications, Inc.
5 YEARS
Rainbow International of Mid Florida
Comfort Keepers
RIBBON CUTTINGS COMING UP
QUEENS FASHIONS RIBBON-CUTTING
QUEENS FASHIONS AND GIFTS ribbon-cutting took place June 21. The new downtown clothing store is located at 320 E. Summerlin Street. In this photo, owner Jennifer M. Camp cuts the cermeonial Chamber of Commerce red ribbon. Call (863) 245-7183 for more information. (photo courtesy of Sharon Casey)
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
JULY
Tuesday, July 10
ENGAGE STUFF THE BUS BEGINS
Bring School Supplies to the Chamber
For Homeless Kids!
Wednesday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
WHITE ELEPHANT PARTY FOR DIPLOMATS
Happy Birthday Issie Jencowski
Thursday, July 20, 9:30 a.m.
PATEL, GREENE & ASSOCIATES, PLLC NEW LOCATION
215 E. Main Street, Bartow 33830
SEE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON YOUR CHAMBER WEBSITE HERE.
SUMMER NIGHTS FUN THURSDAY
Harmony Haven Event Venue hosted the June, "SUMMER NIGHTS FUN THURSDAY," and despite weather typical to Florida in the Summer, brave souls found their way to the networking event amid near tropical storm conditions. Thanks for coming, and thanks, Harmony Haven, for hosting this event! Harmony Haven is located at 6320 US 98 South, Bartow, FL 33830. Call owner Anna Maria Baker for more information, 863-581-7400, or visit www.harmonyhavenevents.com to plan your next big event. (Thanks to Sharon Casey for these photos)
 More photos here.
NEW MEMBERS
Restaurants
NiNi’s Landings
Ms. Sandy Joyner
5995 Airport Blvd./Bartow Municipal Airport
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 875-5789
Executive Office Space
RCL Property Holdings LLC
Richard Lindstrom/Carmen Lindstrom
11506 Hammock Oaks Ct.
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 689-1663
Individual Members
Tony Murray
1105 Lee Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-8031
Retail Stores
Indigo Moon
Mark & Deanine Mulpagano
165 E. Main Street
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 224-7758
Website
MEMBER MICRONEWS
MARCHING FOR A CAUSE
100 MEN IN BLACK
July 8, 2017, 4:00 p.m. at
St. James AME Church, Bartow
FIVE AMAZING SPEAKERS 10 MINUTES EACH
"You Don't Want To Miss Out!"
NEW EXHIBIT AT POLK COUNTY HISTORY CENTER:
The Way We Worked at the Polk County History Center. The Way We Worked is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, the Florida Humanities Council and the Polk County History Center.
NOMINATE SOMEONE AS EMERGING LEADER
Polk Emerging Leaders Awards
Tuesday, August 15, 2017, 6:00 PM
Bartow Civic Center
2250 Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!
The annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards will once again be a collaborative event of the three young professional groups in Polk County. Continuing a new era of collaboration and blurring the east/west dividing line, the awards have been established to annually recognize five young professionals between 21- 42 who have made significant contributions and commitment to the Polk County community.
Nominations are now open for 2017!
To nominate an individual for the Polk Emerging Leader Awards, simply fill out the form at this link.
http://www.winterhavenchamber.com/polk-emerging-leaders-awa…
Applications must be returned to pelaApplication@gmail.com or dropped off at 401 Ave B NW, Winter Haven by close of business June 15, 2017.
DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR SEPT.!
 This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m., beginning in September, 2017. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!
ENGAGE STUFF THE BUS TO BEGIN JULY 10
ENGAGE Young Professionals' Stuff The Bus is coming up! School supplies will be collected for Polk Schools' "Hearth Project," which supplies school supplies to homeless children. Be sure to drop supplies off to the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce from July 10 through August 18 and help homeless students have the supplies they need for school. |
