Circle of Friends Thanksgiving Celebration Happens Saturday

The Circle of Friends will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Saturday, November 19, beginning at 11:00, and are inviting the entire community to join them in the Historic District of downtown Lake Wales for the event.

The celebration will take place in front of their facilities at 105 East Stuart Avenue. The entire block will be closed for the day's activities.

Guests will find family friendly entertainment and a day of free games and activities for all ages, with an area special for children aged 2 to 7. Vendors will be offering locally hand-crafted and quality gifts for Christmas, while food trucks will offer a larger variety of food items. Kids will have a chance to visit and get a picture with Santa, along with face painting, raffles, a pie eating contest, scavenger hunt, and much more.

Families and individuals who are struggling this Holiday season can stop in and grab one of the 200 free Thanksgiving hot lunches being handed out. Guests are encouraged to register when they arrive to get a free meal, play raffles, enter contests, get vendor deposit refunds, and/or sign up for newsletters. The registration table will be located near the DJ.

The Circle of Friends Ministry, Inc. is a small nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization which provides year-around services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Their services are physically accessible to those living inside Polk County, Florida, and virtual services are available nation wide to individuals with special needs 16 years and over.

Funding for operations is received by way of grants, personal and business sponsorship, and donations. There are several services available and accessible to clients and their families, including the P.O.P. Day Program, Reaching Hands Support Group, and a Garden.

The organization is dedicated to building a stronger community through education, outreach, and charitable works. The Circle also operates The Enhanced Boutique, which was established to enhance their mission to promote overall well-being, give alternatives in body products, support local businesses, and provide our clients with opportunities for vocational training.

All natural products are hand crafted and produced by staff who hold Food Handling Certification to ensure quality and safe production. Local Struthers's Orange Blossom Honey is offered for purchase. FDA approved loose leaf tea and tisanes are shipped from the Colorado Mountains and packaged into tea bags to be sold inside the Boutique, to be taken home or consumed in the garden.

Drink containers, great for tea and coffee, are also available for purchase. Aroma therapy items such as jewelry, oils, and gel pods are on display.