News & Events
Annual Report & Newsletters
As you look at the 2024 Annual Report, we pray you will find encouragement. Even in the darkest of times, the light of Christ shows through. When people were faced with unexpected circumstances they were met with neighbors stepping up to bridge the gap.
Thank YOU for being a part of that bridge!
For a detailed report on all of Care Center’s ministries, click the link below to view the 2024 Annual Report. We also have included the latest newsletter that is issued quarterly.
2026 Events
Golf Tournament
34th Annual Tournament Saturday, October 24, 2026
FOR MORE INFO:
Contact Mike Morrow
mike.morrow@lwcarecenter.com
ThanksLiving Camp
ThanksLiving Camp is a service-oriented youth camp that takes place a few days before Thanksgiving. Campers will care for neighbors through a variety of activities that give back to the community. In addition to caring for the community, campers will be challenged to grow through their experiences serving others and will have dedicated devotion and reflection times throughout camp. For those not yet ready to participate in a week-long summer camp, ThanksLiving Camp is a great primer for Stay-at-Home Work Camp. This camp is for students in 6th-12th grade.
Contact us for more information:
863.676.6678
Holidays
The Holiday season is a special time for people and Care Center. Care Center strives to be a bridge for families in need during the holiday seasons by providing food, gifts, and essentials to enable families to enjoy their time together. Caring volunteers ecstatically come together to provide a blessing to families during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Throughout the year, hundreds of families are blessed through our annual food drive, Christmas gift shopping program, and much more!
VOLUNTEERS are always a huge asset, but this is especially true during the holidays! They help keep Care Center rolling by packing food boxes, delivering gifts and food to families, wrapping Christmas gifts, and more! We are always in need of more caring helping hands.
If you would like to volunteer during the 2026 Holiday Season, please email holidays@lwcarecenter.com or call 863-746-6388 for more info.
Register to Volunteer or host a Food or Toy Drive Sign Up Here
Your generosity can help bring hope, comfort, and joy to individuals and families in our community this holiday season. If you would like to support Lake Wales Care Center, simply click the Donate button below to make your gift.
If you would like your donation to go directly to our Holiday Assistance Program, please be sure to note “Holiday Assistance” in the Designation area when making your donation.
Empty Bowls
2026 Auction held February 10 was a meaningful event, thanks to volunteers, painters, local restaurants, and donors! Thank you to each one who was part of the event this year. Final details about money raised to fight hunger in this community coming soon!
Enjoy community fellowship and tasty local soup while supporting a good cause!
Empty Bowls is an annual silent and live auction for hand-painted pottery from local artists. Each year, artists, community leaders, staff, volunteers, and others come together to paint objects for Empty Bowls. The funds raised from the auction contribute to Lake Wales Care Center food programs. By attending and purchasing an item, you are directly contributing to combatting food insecurity and providing comfort for neighbors in need throughout the Lake Wales community.
2027 details about Painting Days and Auction coming soon!
Contact us for more information:
Faith Frank
863-296-8138
faith.frank@lwcarecenter.com
Act Like Men
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
January 14th-16th, 2027
Location: Lake Aurora Christian Camp
Arrival Thursday 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Departure Saturday 9:00 PM
Cost: $200 – Includes lodging, meals, and supplies
Contact Bo or Gene for more information:
Bo Boyte: 863-412-0481 – bo.boyte@gmail.com
Gene Moses: 863-605-9558 – gene.moses@hotmail.com
2027 Registration Coming Soon
Clay Shoot
2026 Sporting Clay Shoot
Friday, March 20
Location: Warner University, 13895 US-27, Lake Wales, FL 33859
Thanks to the generous Event Sponsors Story Companies and Weikert Ford, all registrations and donations supported the ministries of Lake Wales Care Center.
Individual winners received prizes for Top Shooter in categories of Male, Female, and Youth.
Teams of 4 will be scored together, with highest scores choosing prizes first.
Teams are encouraged to bring their own carts, but with advance notice, carts are available for rental for $75 per team.
Participants bring their own guns and may choose 12 or 20 gauge shells.
Gun Raffle tickets are available for purchase in advance and at the event, and you do not have to be present to win the raffle of the handgun or the shotgun.
Station Sponsorships include signage on course and a gun raffle ticket of your choice for $150.
Registration begins at 7:45 AM, and the event ends after lunch and prizes are awarded.
Contact us for more information:
Rhoda Beutler – rhoda.beutler@lwcarecenter.com
(863) 296-8140
Mike Morrow – mike.morrow@lwcarecenter.com
(863) 412-6960
Run Like You Care
Contact us for more information:
Faith Frank
863-296-8138
faith.frank@lwcarecenter.com
Stay at Home Work Camp
SAHWC 2025 was a fantastic experience. We are looking forward to SAHWC 2026!
SAHWC 2026 Dates:
Camp 1: June 7-12, 2026 (Camp Endeavor)
Lights for Life
Lights for Life honors the lives of individuals from conception to final breath and raises awareness and funds for the Choices Pregnancy Care program.
The 2026 event will be held Friday, October 2nd with luminary bags lining the path in the afternoon and evening with a brief program at the Basketball Court at dusk. Bags may be purchased in honor of or in memory of loved ones.
To Register and purchase bags please click HERE
Care Corps Internships
A community service immersion experience, learning how to help others. Focus on service activities, training and educational opportunities, discipleship programming, personal mentoring. Stipend and housing options are available. Internships are available through the summer or year-round.
Junior Interns & Junior Volunteers
Junior Intern and Junior Volunteer program participants will work at various locations providing community service acts through the many programs and services Lake Wales Care Center offers.
Junior Internship Program:
$30.00** stipend per day (Must work a full day shift), paid every two weeks. There are three paid hours and five volunteer hours per full shift, presenting an excellent opportunity to earn income, volunteer hours, and increase job and leadership skills.
- Earn school volunteer hours
- Ongoing Biblical devotionals and career classes with a Care Center mentor
- Team building and development of work skills
- An opportunity to attend a LWCC Summer Work Camp
- Exposure to many different jobs and Care Center ministries
- These are Summer Internships, but there is a limited amount of Jr Internships through the year
Click here for Junior Internship Application (Paper Copy)
Junior Volunteer Program:
- For younger students who have completed a grade between 6th-8th grade.
- Earn school volunteer hours
- Junior Volunteer hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-12pm (drop off and pick up at the main office)
- Ongoing Biblical devotionals and leadership development
- Exposure to many different jobs and Care Center ministries
- An opportunity to attend a LWCC Summer Work Camp
Click here for the Junior Volunteer Application (Paper Copy)
For more information contact Kareen.
kareen.pickett@lwcarecenter.com
863-296-8138
40th Anniversary Celebration and 40 Days of Prayer
May 30th, 2025, Lake Wales Care Center passed the milestone of 40 years of providing service to the community. Leading up to the 40th Anniversary Celebration, we invited Pastors, Board members, volunteers, community members, interns, and staff to pray daily for 40 days from April 21 to May 30. This powerful prayer time aimed to unite us in our faith and hope, asking God’s guidance and blessing on each aspect of Care Center’s work for years to come.
A prayer was recorded each day featuring leaders from Care Center’s community. Videos are also posted below. Even after the celebration, we still invite the community to come together in prayer, asking for continued strength, guidance, and blessings for the future. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to Care Center, we encourage everyone to pray for wisdom for continued service, compassion, and community impact following the biblical calling to serve those in need.
Day 1 – Board Members (Rev. Chad Tingley)
Day 2 – Staff (Rob Quam)
Day 3 – Volunteers (Carolyn)
Day 4 – Neighbors (Danieris, Rob, Emma)
Day 5 – ESOL (Saberly)
Day 6 – Basic Needs (Rev. Kyle and Emily Kilpatrick)
Day 7 – Bicycle Ministry (Dwayne and Chris)
Day 8 – Choices Pregnancy Care (Donna)
Day 9 – Community Garden (Douglas)
Day 10 – Community Kitchen (Viola)
Day 11 – Food Pantry (Charles)
Day 12 – Free Health Clinic (Dr. James Nelson)
Day 13 – Holidays (Sarah)
Day 14 – Home Repair (Ralph)
Day 15 – Meals on Wheels (Dennis)
Day 16 – Stay-at-Home Work Camp (Mark)
Day 17 – Thanksliving Camp (Faith)
Day 18 – Transitional Housing (Nicole)
Day 19 – Wellness for Life (Rev. Phil and Nita Stalnaker)
Day 20 – Baby Bottle Campaign (Sara)
Day 21 – Clay Shoot (Vic Story)
Day 22 – Empty Bowls (Laura Hunt)
Day 23 – Golf Tournament (Mike)
Day 24 – Lights for Life (Rev. Daniel Williams)
Day 25 – Rob (Run Like You Care)
Day 26 – Carole (LW Thrift Store)
Day 27 – Andy (Dundee Thrift Store)
Day 28 – Ken (Kathryn’s Christian Books, Coffee, Gifts, Ice Cream, and More)
Day 29 – Kevin (Online Sales)
Day 30 – John (Inventory)
Day 31 – Ed (Facilities)
Day 32 – Shane (Trucks)
Day 33 – John (Foundation Board)
Day 34 – Scott (Finances)
Day 35 – Rev. Mackay Smith (Supporting Churches)
Day 36 – Rhoda (Donors)
Day 37 – Leadership Development (Amanda)
Day 38 – Rev. Scott Markley (Future Staff)
Day 39 – Rev. Roy Wilkinson (Strategic Planning)
