Lighthouse Ministries A look inside: Pastor Joe got me an uber there on a Wednesday afternoon, as I was to participate in their "volunteer" program. I listed on my application that I take Suboxone and have for years. No issue. On Friday afternoon a guy named Reggie shows up and tells me to leave immediately. (Let me add that on Thursday i had to go to the ER and get antibiotics for strep throat). The reason I had to leave is that I take Suboxone. He says it will make me drop dirty for benzodiazepines and amphetamines, both of which is totally false and literally scientifically impossible. Reggie has a volunteer follow me around as I pack up my stuff, saying i need to leave right now over and over as if I did something wrong, when I absolutely haven't. While I was there i seen that in the mornings after the over night guests leave, the volunteers are tasked with staging the dorms to look a certain way --just in case-- if any donors might want to walk through. So, every morning 120 bunks are made up nicely with nice sheets and blankets etc just so that at 2pm another volunteer can go around and rip all the stuff back off the beds. I asked why they did this? And was told it was to stage the property to look a certain way, to look "nice" if anyone were to want to walk through before or after donating money. They don't help volunteers not program participants get jobs. But rather promote the homeless to pay $7 per night to stay from 4pm-6am everyday. Even if you work you can't enter after the usual 4-5pm check in time. So they really aren't trying to better anyone's life. I would bet plenty of money is collected to allow for their "programs" and "volunteers". But it's all misdirection and deception. Staging daily. Kicking people out for no reason. Not really trying to help people with employment or flexibility. And it's all done in the name of God. Pretty sure God brought me to Lakeland just so I could witness this atrocious behavior and people. Reggie is not only uneducated on what he speaks, but totally unprofessional and literally bullied me. Shame on Lighthouse. Sincerely, Ryan S. Trucker 863.346.0512 read more

Well, I'm disappointed and rather insulted. The donation/thrift section refuses to take a desk because they "don't take desks", a table because it has a scratch mark, a large dresser because it had testing paint (I was planning on repainting it but never got around to it), and the 2 end tables that went with the dresser because the legs are "loose". These pieces of furniture survived being moved twice and been around for decades. Of course it's not going to be brand new looking. And all that is needed is some TLC. The only thing they took was a massive China cabinet. For a church, this is very not-church-like. Especially the two gentlemen had a vibe of being pretentious. They did take the smaller box/bag items though which is why it's a 2 star instead of 1. They also lack communication. We were told they would go across the street to get their stuff. My mother called the day before to be sure the day before pick up, they never called back. They called the day of and said they'd call us when they were 20 minutes out and would not because they were booked (which is fair, but they should have said so earlier). They actually called when they were 10 minutes out so we were scrambling to get their stuff to our house. I think they refused to take it because they, the drivers, didn't want to put in any effort and actually work. We won't be donating to them again. Instead we have another that would take just about anything, give it the TLC it needs and sell it to someone who needs it. read more

Located in Lakeland, FL Lighthouse Ministries helps the local community through outreach, food boxes, a resident program, soup kitchen, catastrophic event household goods donations and the operation of 7 (currently) thrift stores throughout Polk County and Hillsborough County. This Christ-centered charity does not accept state funding and is self sustaining through donations to the thrift store, charity and support from the community. I had the pleasure of touring the resident facility, where I learned about the 1 year resident program and how this organization is helping to get those in need, to get on their feet again. The resident facility also had an incredible state of the art hydroponic garden, where Lighthouse grows food to feed those living on campus and those fed through the soup kitchen. On my visit, their garden was abundantly growing beans, squash, cucumbers and zucchini- impressive at the hottest part of the summer. The thrift stores carry home goods, furniture, jewelry, clothing, pretty much everything. There were some nice items in the Thrift Stores, and friendly staff to help load furniture in your car/truck. More information about the organization is on their website, along with all of the Thrift Store locations for donation drop off or shopping. read more

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This is the UN-Goodwill type of thrift store. It is in an old building in an old neighborhood that some people might not want to go to...but this was my favorite thrift store in Lakeland! Thrifting here was just plain fun!! I found Brooks Brothers clothing...SAS shoes...Tahari, just to name a few as well as looking at funky vintage dresses that the elderly must have donated. I bought vintage ties for 50 cents each. I was buying a Thirty-One wallet with a price of $3.99 and said to the sweetheart of a clerk that I thought it was priced a bit high. She cheerfully said she agreed...and priced all four purses at $1.99 as well!! If I lived down here I'd visit once a month to see the change in merchandise!! Good job Lighthouse...a great Ministry and a great little store!! read more