Fresh Food Available Through Feeding Tampa Bay

TAMPA, FL – In the week since it began relief efforts for people impacted by Hurricane Irma, Feeding Tampa Bay reported it has distributed more than 250,000 meals in the community.

The charitable organization, part of the 14-member Feeding Florida food bank network, still is distributing fresh food at locations around the Tampa Bay area daily. It’s also still collecting much-needed supplies from members of the community as well as its community partners.

Feeding Tampa Bay’s will have distribution sites at the following locations on Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 for people to pick up fresh food:

Friday, Sept. 22

• 9 to 10:30 a.m.: Beth-el Farmworkers Ministry, 18240 U.S. Highway 301, Wimauma
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Daystar Life Center, 226 Sixth St. S., St. Petersburg
• 10 a.m. to noon: St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 812 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs

Saturday, Sept. 23

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Hopeville, 1436 County Line Road, Hudson
• 8 a.m. to noon: Christian Secure Ministries, 5609 U.S. Highway 19, New Port Richey
• 9:30 to 11 a.m.: St. Jerome Catholic Church, 10895 Hamlin Blvd., Largo

Hurricane Irma victims who are in need of immediate assistance also can call Feeding Tampa Bay at(813) 254-1190 between 7:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. or e-mail [email protected].

Donating to Feeding Tampa Bay

For Tampa Bay-area residents who are looking to help people affected by Hurricane Irma can do so in a couple of way through Feeding Tampa Bay.

Feeding Tampa Bay is accepting monetary donations on its Hurricane Irma site athttp://feedingtampabay.org/irma-relief-donate/. The organization will match donations at this time, and every $1 donated can be turned into 20 meals for hurricane victims.

However, Feeding Tampa Bay is also accepting donations of foods and goods at collection sites around Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The organization reports the following items are its biggest needs:

• Canned ready-to-eat items with pull tops (fruit, vegetables)
• Protein pin pouches or pull-top cans (canned chicken, chili, beef stew, tuna)
• Snacks (breakfast bars, granola bars, etc.)
• Peanut butter
• Toiletries
• Paper goods
• Diapers
• Cleaning supplies (bug spray, garbage bags, bleach, bleach wipes, brooms, mops, mop buckets)

Donations of food and other relief supplies can be made at the following collection sites:

• 10News WTSP, 11450 Gandy Blvd. N., St. Petersburg
• Be Infused, 2429 Roanoke Springs Drive, Ruskin
• Dance Ferrentino Insurance and Financial, 11049 Countryway Blvd., Tampa
• McKitrick Elementary School, 5503 W. Lutz-Lake Fern Road, Lutz
• Mulberry Kids, 32152 U.S. Highway 19, Palm Harbor
• Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, 5107 N. Central Ave., Tampa
• Nutrition Smart, Carrollwood, 14847 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• Nutrition Smart Wesley Chapel, 1821 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Nutrition Smart Westchase, 12702 Race Track Road, Tampa
• Studio Movie Grill, 12332 University Mall Court, Tampa
• Synergy Florida, 3230 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa
• Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1750, Tampa

Businesses and other organizations looking to become a collection site, contact Megan Carlson [email protected] or (813) 262-2158.

Feeding Tampa Bay also is looking for volunteers to help sort, inspect and pack the food and supplies they are distributing to the communities in need. People looking to volunteer can visit https://feedingamericatampabay.volunteerhub.com/events/index to register.

Image via City of Tampa Government Facebook page