Wauchula Celebrates 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors'

WAUCHULA, Fla., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A community Neighbors Helping Neighbors celebration on Wednesday, January 12 will honor heroes who helped Hardee County through the hurricanes, marking progress for Wauchula and Hardee County in the five months since the first of three storms struck the area August 13 and looking forward to making the community better than ever. Symbolic of the community's recovery, Winn-Dixie will reopen its doors following a long reconstruction process necessitated by hurricane damage.

WHO: Wauchula Mayor David Royal will host a group of community leaders including:

* Hardee County Sheriff Loran Cogburn * Wauchula Police Chief Bill Beattie and Fire Chief Michael Choate * Winn-Dixie CEO Peter Lynch and Wauchula Store Director Brad Simpson * Hardee Junior High School Band * Wauchula Elementary School Student Council

* Community heroes including police and fire department members, utility workers

* Community residents who survived the storms and are building for the future

WHERE: Winn-Dixie Store #667 at 1510 U.S. Highway 17 North in Wauchula SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Wednesday, January 12, 8:30 a.m.

The celebration will begin with an All-American, hometown "community pep rally"

* Hardee County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard * Hardee County Junior High School Band * Wauchula Elementary School Student Council leads Pledge of Allegiance

* Recognition of community organizations that displayed community spirit by serving others before themselves in the aftermath of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne.

* Winn-Dixie, which has served Wauchula for more than 30 years, reopens the store damaged by Hurricane Charley and destroyed by Frances and Jeanne.

Wednesday, January 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

* Complimentary picnic lunch for the community, provided by Winn-Dixie and Oscar Meyer under the direction of Chef Robert Tulko, Winn-Dixie's corporate chef and goodwill ambassador

* Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

* Cheerios #43 NASCAR showcar, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.