There’s a lot to love about the holiday season, but not much gets us more amped than Giving Tuesday, a global initiative launched in 2012 to promote generosity + encourage folks to do good. Arguably the biggest giving day of the year across the globe, it takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is an opportunity for people to make donations to their favorite charities, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations.

Last month, we partnered with Trinity Medical Group and invited you, our dear readers, to help bring awareness to the local orgs that help keep our communities connected + running, and we told y’all we’d choose one lucky organization at random to receive a $1,000 donation from 6AM City and a special shout-out in the newsletter.

We received so many thoughtful nominations, and today we’re delighted to highlight the winning organization, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. To ensure everyone knows who they are, what they do, and why their work is so important to the folks in Lakeland, we’re sharing a brief Q + A sesh with them. Read on and enjoy some good old-fashioned educational warm fuzzies (’tis the season, after all).

What is the purpose of your organization? – “The mission of Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine is to provide free, high-quality, out-patient medical, dental, and mental health care to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate manner.”
How do you go about making that happen? – “It takes a village! Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization, our success depends on the talented and compassionate people who give their time and talents. Our strong community partnerships allow us to continue to deliver quality healthcare that improves the health and medical access of our patients. The continued support of our donors and funding partners makes this all possible. For every $1 invested in LVIM, we are able to provide over $5 in services to our patients.”
How has the pandemic affected your work? –“Since March, LVIM, like everyone out there, has traveled uncharted waters. We’ve had to make many decisions, pave many new paths, and in some cases had to come back and do all the same work the very next day. Initially, we had to shorten our workday and close to new patients. We added plexiglass barriers, require masks, offer curbside check-in, and telemedicine. We are happy to report, as of November 1st, we began accepting new patients again and have extended our hours.”
What have you done this year that you’re most proud of? – “In addition to us remaining open throughout the pandemic, we became a mobile food pantry site twice a month. This is through the generosity of the George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative and in partnership with United Way of Central Florida and Feeding Tampa Bay. LVIM launched our mobile food pantry initiative on March 10th just before COVID-19 arrived at our doorstep.”
Can you briefly share a story of how your work has helped one of your clients/the community you serve? – “In February, we asked our patients and volunteers to share what LVIM meant to them. "LVIM has literally saved my life. As a diabetic, losing my health insurance was disastrous. I found myself without medication and the cost was expensive. Thanks to LVIM, I was able to resume my life and my health is back on track." J. - A patient of LVIM.”
What is the greatest challenge to your organization and its work? – “The balance of ensuring there are volunteers to serve patients, patients for volunteers to serve, and the financial resources to make it all come together.”
What is one thing you wish people knew or understood about the work you do? – We wish people knew the free services we provide are for the working uninsured of Polk County, not just the Lakeland community.”