by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Sulzbacher Center has enough space in its dining room to allow its guests to have a cool place in the summer and a warm spot in the winter to have breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Over the past 12 months, that means more than 460,000 have been served in a temperature-controlled environment.
However, the Sulzbacher Center feeds hundreds more on a daily basis and they usually have to eat wherever they can find a spot.
“Our visitors, until now, had to balance their food, balance their drink and find a spot on the curb or up against a tree in all kinds of weather,” said Sulzbacher President and CEO Audrey Moran. “Now, they can have a meal with dignity.”
Thursday, representatives from Publix Super Markets and members of the Sulzbacher board of directors cut the ribbon to a new outdoor picnic area, which was funded through a $10,000 grant from Publix Charities. Dwaine Stevens, media and community relations manager for Publix, said the project goes back to Publix Founder George Jenkins and his belief in giving back to the community.
“We appreciate the day and it’s an honor to be here. This will make life a little more pleasant,” said Stevens, adding the Lakeland-based supermarket has partnered with the Sulzbacher Center for the past decade. “We look forward to another decade.”
Moran talked about the number of projects at the Sulzbacher Center over the years and that many cost millions of dollars. Despite the fact the picnic area was funded with just a $10,000 grant, Moran said the project means a lot to the residents and staff.
“This project is very, very special to all of us,” she said.
After the ceremony, the two dozen or so Publix representatives on hand stayed to help serve a lunch of barbecue chicken that was provided by Publix.
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