Lighthouse Ministries Inc

Community outreach programs:our thrift stores house our hope centers that distribute food boxes to individuals as well as local partner agencies, churches, and civic clubs. Other agencies receive these food boxes from us for distribution to individuals at their locations to expand our reach outside the hope centers. This outreach provides material relief to the poor and at-risk residents by way of these food boxes that include food items for four people for four days. Our goal is to offer accessible food distribution 5 days a week to address the many food deserts located in specific neighborhoods. In addition, our hope centers offer material aid such as clothing, household items, furniture, and referrals for other needs. Partnering with other agencies, churches, and local governments we seek to distribute additional resources to individuals and families that they refer to us.we have established a life learning center in ybor city through a partnership request with kimmins terrier foundation. The lighthouse ministries kimmins family adult learning campus ybor city accepts students for esol and adult learning opportunities, and computer skill training. The campus is also a resource center for job placement and food boxes. The work in the ybor city area with early childhood headstart program made kimmins aware of the need for assistance to the families of the headstart program. The center provides case management for families to receive food boxes, clothing, furniture vouchers, free of charge. Additional case management services include life skills, work life training, renaissance star assessments for education, ged/college prep, faith & finances, literacy, esol classes and job referral placements. These are essential to the wellbeing of these families.in 2024 there were 103 individuals enrolled in the esol classes for a total of 2,286 class hours. 58 students graduated moving on to higher levels od curricuuum and successfully speaking english.community outreach programs served 8,202 individuals in 2,681 families, providing 2,120 food boxes totaling 74,130 meals and over 7,017 household items. Community outreach programs also saw 43 people make faith decisions.

Preschool and xtreme kid's clubs:lighthouse ministries offers an accredited community preschool program at our lakeland campus and an afterschool program called lighthouse kid's club at 3 different locations in the community for both resident and community children. Lighthouse kid's clubs facilitate the successful relational, physical, and cognitive development of disadvantaged, at-risk children in local impoverished neighborhoods in lakeland. Our lighthouse kid's clubs proactively reach kids by offering them a safe place where they can come to play, eat, and just hang out with other kids, without fear of being picked on or left out. Kids can sit with leaders who care about and who will really listen to them, and learn about god's presence, power, and purpose in their life, even in the most difficult situations. Daily afterschool and weekend activities are designed for developing safe and nurturing environments within the child's neighborhood where local adults/parents can volunteer to help in the development of these children. Our locations are within very low economic areas with children from diverse social and economic backgrounds. The families we serve could be referred to us in a few ways: through our program, title 1 schools we work directly with, and dcf referrals/foster families, churches and various agencies and ministries. Lighthouse kid's club staff also provide regular touches in the homes of all the children in the clubs throughout the week, including boxes of monthly staples from the hope centers. Kid's club staff work with the lighthouse thrift store hope centers to provide services and products to the families in these communities.the community preschool and lighthouse xtreme kid's clubs enrolled 65 children in 2024.

Homeless intervention programs: through our homeless intervention programs, dedicated case managers, resources and financial aid is provided to help prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless. The goal of this program is to prevent homelessness when possible or to minimize the amount of time someone is homeless in our community. Our homeless intervention staff work with individuals and families currently housed to maintain their residences or get them to our shelters. We work in the field, assisting individuals or families in preventing their homelessness by paying rent or utility bills that may be in arrears and assisting with transportation. A new passenger van was purchased to aid the homeless and low-income individuals served with access to our campus and employment opportunities so they can fully engage in the four pathways to progress: spiritual growth, community, industry and education. We also work with other local agencies and law enforcement to provide homeless prevention services in collaboration with these agencies.homeless intervention programs served 326 individuals and families and housed 41 individuals and families in 2024.