The City of Frostproof has 2,800 residents. The Care Center also serves another 12,000 in the surrounding rural area at the peak of the citrus harvesting and "snowbird" season. Nearly 14% of the area citizens live below the poverty level and 82% of elementary age children are on free or reduced lunch meaning their households are below 130% of the federal poverty level. 26% of the population is over 64 years old with nearly 900 single elderly residents living alone.
The Frostproof Care Center is in its twenty second year of service to disadvantaged people in the extremely rural southeastern corner of Polk County, Florida. Care Center helps individuals and families by meeting immediate and urgent physical needs caused by sudden trauma, disaster or economic instability and providing transitional services, education and mentoring to help them "get back on their feet." We believe it is always important to "give fish to the hungry," but it is equally important "to teach them to fish." Through its
Care Center is helping clients out of crisis and into economic, social and personal stability.
There are many reasons for local families in crisis, most related to economic distress from joblessness or underemployment and from lack of education. Some of these families are Hispanic farm workers and seasonal workers who are spread geographically in the service area. It also includes families suffering from instability (making frequent moves), substance abusers and families with physical abuse and neglect.
OUR COMMUNITY
MAKING A DIFFERENCE YEAR AFTER YEAR