Programs

On a limited basis, we are able to provide an opportunity for those in our community who are facing an unexpected loss of income or an unexpected necessary expense.
We provide this through a CARE plan, which often includes:

• Volunteer Hours
• Pay back agreements
• Home visits
• Life skills class attendance (finance, relationships, etc.)

In order for us to fairly evaluate the circumstances of each family’s situation as we look to develop a CARE plan opportunity, the family will be asked to provide documentation of the following information:

• Income from employment, disability, SSI, Social Security, child support, pensions, retirement account, TANF, and any other income source
• Mortgage, rent, and utility payments
• Food Stamps
• Other income and expenses which impact the family’s budget (such as receipts for unexpected expenses)

Lake Wales Care Center is proud to offer a 4-class series on Life Skills to help individuals to meet the challenges of everyday life.

The mission of Life Skills classes is to help individuals develop confidence, and to take responsibility for their own health and overall well-being. Life Skills emphasizes defining healthy relationships, financial planning, employability and developing a healthy lifestyle.

Life Skills classes are held weekly and are open to the public. Please contact our main office at 863-676-6678 for a class schedule.

Class Descriptions:

• Relationships: This class offers thoughts on how and why we were created for relationships with God, self, and then others. We discuss practical ways to enhance all three of those relationships, as well as learn how we individually give and receive love.
• Finance: It is an unfortunate truth that for many of us, we are enslaved to our financial situation. The Finance Class gives helpful information that can begin to transform you to being the master of your finances. Budgeting, the importance of saving, misuse of credit cards and other important topics are covered.
• Employability: This hour long class is for individuals who are unemployed or seek to have better employment. It reviews job seeking principles that help develop a clear path to gain employment.
• Health: Many people are unhealthy because they do not understand serving size proportions of packaged food or the amount of sodium and sugar they should limit in their diet on a daily basis. This class focuses on the importance of what’s on your plate as well as understanding the nutrition facts on a food label. We offer hands on experience in reading food labels and help individuals to become more aware of how to make necessary changes to reduce sodium and sugar with an emphasis on paying attention to serving size.

Lake Wales Free Clinic is a quality provider of charitable health care to those individuals who have no insurance and/or meet income eligibility requirements.

• Acute and chronic care of adult patients
• Referrals for specialty care
• Blood STD testing
• Smoking cessation classes
• Diabetes education classes
• Cardiology appointments available, contact clinic for more info 

• Obstetric and gynecological care
• Immunizations
• Pediatric care
• Prescribing or dispensing of narcotic medication

• Income must not exceed 200% of FIPL (Federal Income Poverty Level)
• Individuals must reside in Polk County
• New patients must bring photo identification

All services are FREE to those who qualify. Services are provided by local professional volunteers who are committing their time to help those in need. There may be a separate expense at a local pharmacy for prescribed medications. Providers do their best to prescribe the least expensive medications.

Monday & Thursday Evenings: Sign-in from 1pm-2pm
Dermatology Clinic Third Monday of the Month, 4:30, in conjunction with primary health care

The clinic is always recruiting medical professionals as well as non-medical concerned citizens who would like an opportunity to serve. Non-medical volunteer opportunities include office reception, data entry, intake qualifying, and foreign language translation. Medical professional volunteers needed include medical doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, pharmacists, or pharmacy technicians.
Medical professionals that volunteer and work at the Free Clinic are covered for liability under Sovereign Immunity by the Department of Health under the Volunteer Healthcare Provider Program, s. 766.1115, F.S.

If interested in volunteering, please fill out a Care Center by Clicking Here.

Meals-On-Wheels provides one well-balanced meal every weekday. Meals are prepared daily by AdventHealth in Lake Wales, and delivered to the recipients’ homes by volunteer drivers Monday – Friday. Meals-On-Wheels has been active in Lake Wales since 1973, but has been a service of the Lake Wales Care Center since 1988.

A well-balanced lunch meal. Meals consist of a hot entree, vegetables, salad, dessert, and a drink. Drivers delivering meals provide someone to look in on recipients daily and make sure they are well. Lake Wales Care Center also informs recipients of any other services that may be beneficial for them.

Individuals who have physical limitations, have hardship in preparing meals, are recovering from surgery and are temporarily unable to fix meals for themselves. This program is open to any income and/or age level. Referrals come from relatives, friends, doctors, or the individual.

Meals-On-Wheels serves the greater Lake Wales area including (but not limited to): Indian Lake Estates, Saddlebag Lake Resort, Fedhaven, Lakeshore, Nalcrest, Lake Ashton, Babson Park, Dundee, Frostproof and South Lake Wales. You can contact the MOW coordinator to verify that you are in the service area.

The cost is $5.00 per meal. Also, there is a sliding fee scale for those who qualify.

Contact the coordinator by phone or visit the Care Center’s main office at 140 E. Park Avenue in Lake Wales. The coordinator will then contact the individual by phone or by home visit to explain the program and complete the application. Once the application is complete, the recipient will then begin to receive up to six meals per week. Payments can be make weekly or monthly in the form of check or cash.

SAHWC started in 1985 with just a handful of individuals completing yard work for their neighbors. The original goal was to provide services to homeowners who ordinarily could not afford such services. It has since evolved into three week-long camps, each with about one hundred campers and counselors, yet the goal remains the same. The campers stay at a Lake Wales facility, either Camp Endeavor or the h.e.a.r.t. Village. During the day, campers visit local homeowners and complete various home repairs, including painting, yard maintenance, and yes, even roof repair.

Campers can expect to work hard, enjoy downtime with each other, and grow together during worship and devotion.

This is not the only time Care Center facilitates home repair projects. In fact, qualified homeowners can receive home repair help throughout the year for everything from leaky faucets to wheelchair ramps. Small repairs are completed by skilled volunteers, while large projects are reserved for groups and camps.

For more information contact Sarah at
sarahowen.lwcc@gmail.com or call 863-676-6678 ext. 1225

6th-12th graders participating in service oriented projects around the community.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to serve during the holiday season!

2023 Thanksliving Date: 

November 19-21