Metropolitan Ministries plans to help about 30,000 Tampa Bay families this holiday season. It wants businesses, churches, civic groups, and community organizations to host food drives. On Thursday morning, crews began setting up the nonprofit’s holiday tent in Tampa.
Only about one-quarter of the nonprofit’s holiday food drive slots are filled. That puts it behind last year’s pace, said James Dunbar, vice president of outreach, prevention, and community partnerships, according to Tampa Bay28. Groups should start scheduling drives now, he said.
“We definitely need more support from our local businesses, local faith groups, and civic groups to help us run drives,” Dunbar said. “Food drives for turkeys, for hams, and non-perishables that go into the food boxes and go on the shelves that families will be able to shop for.”
Groups that sign up get donation barrels, collection materials, and preferred shopping lists. Once the tents are up, staff and volunteers build shelves, set up areas for handing out food, and pack the boxes.
Rising living costs keep hitting many Tampa Bay households, the group says. Grocery prices are up. SNAP benefits are smaller. With money still tight, many families struggle to put holiday meals on the table.
“The increased food prices and the decreased SNAP benefits and reduced availability for SNAP benefits definitely is affecting the families,” Dunbar said. The need has stayed steady all year, he said, mostly for fresh and frozen meats and other grocery basics.
Planning starts early. “We start in February, March period, with our planning, coordinating, working with our site partners,” Dunbar said. “Once the tents are up, then the real work starts.”
Armature Works in Tampa has teamed up with Metropolitan Ministries for six years, and it is collecting food donations through October. “For the month of October, we actually work with them all month long,” said Connor Marks, director of public events at Armature Works. “We do a preferred donation list for all perishable items that could go towards their community.”
The partnership will take center stage at the annual Fall Fest on Oct. 24 and 25. Games, a petting zoo, and a pumpkin patch fill the event, and the money raised goes to Metropolitan Ministries. Guests can donate any time in October, Marks said. Community support grows every year.
Businesses and organizations can start hosting food drives now. The holiday tents will begin taking direct donations Nov. 9. Families who need help can expect online registration to open in mid-to-late October, while in-person registration should start around the beginning of November.
Anyone who needs help, or who wants to volunteer, donate, or host a food drive, can find details through the Holiday Central program at MetroMin.org.