We Need Your Help for Project Fill-A-Bucket

Friday, October 9

The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) is teaming up with Project Hearth and Polk County Fire Services to administer Project Fill-A-Bucket. Buckets are given to students in the Polk County public school system who meet the federal criteria as homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Buckets are decorated, filled and distributed prior to the Christmas holidays. For many children these buckets not only contain basic living necessities, but may be the only items they receive during the holiday season. The groups goal is to fill 550 BUCKETS and YOUR help is needed. Beginning November 1st Donations can be dropped off at any Polk-County operated fire station. To find a location near you, go to www.polk-county.net/fire and click the information tab!

Items needed to fill these buckets include: shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, brushes, combs, towels, wash cloths, stuffed animals and childrens books (for middle and high school students).

The drive is being spearheaded by the chapters Community Involvement Committee headed by Shirley Whitney. Please contact Shirley at (863) 644-4145 or email: Rwhitney1@tampabay.rr.com. Please drop your donations off at a location near you, or contact Shirley for more information about how you can contribute to this worthy cause.

The term homeless children and youths means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. The goal is to fill 550 BUCKETS; however, according to Polk County Schools, we are in our 6th week of school and have already identified 600 homeless children. Please give by calling or emailing Shirley about how you can give to this worthy cause.

Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 70-plus-member Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.

The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lakeland with all meetings open to the public. For more information visit the chapters website at www.fprapolk.org/home.

Based in Sarasota and boasting 1,500 members, FPRA is the nations oldest PR professional organization dedicated to providing professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for Florida public relations professionals. FPRA was established in 1938 by the late Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC of Lake Wales.

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