TAMPA, Fla. — Metropolitan Ministries experienced a 300% increase in families seeking assistance with their Thanksgiving meal this year.
They say thanks to the generosity of the community, they were able to meet everyone’s needs, and on Thursday, they served thousands more a hot, Thanksgiving Day meal.
What You Need To Know
Metropolitan Ministries experienced a 300% increase in families seeking assistance with their Thanksgiving meal this year
They provided over 14,000 meals to families across Tampa Bay
Metropolitan Ministries is still taking Christmas applications from families needing assistance, but say they’re filling up fast
For the last 36 years, Joyce Keller has spent her Thanksgiving volunteering with Metropolitan Ministries.
“I just said, for my heart, this is what I want to do,” she said.
On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers served people a hot meal with turkey and all the sides at the Portico Café in downtown Tampa. The doors were open to anyone: people facing homelessness, hunger, or who just needed a meal and someone to share it with.
“Very nice of them, very nice of them, very Christ-like,” said Rocky Carson, who came to enjoy Thanksgiving lunch.
Carson said he didn’t know where he would’ve spent Thanksgiving had it not been for Metropolitan Ministries, and Keller says he’s not alone.
In her nearly three decades of volunteering, this year, “More people. You know, more issues, snap problems, a lot of kids.”
Metropolitan Ministries provided more than 14,000 meals to families across Tampa Bay. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Fallon Silcox)
Metropolitan Ministries served more than 200 people in downtown Tampa, and thousands more at locations across Tampa Bay.
“It was really shocking with the government shutdown, delays in snap benefits, as well as just the general challenges people are having with the economy, we had a huge increase in need. The first week of November we had a 300% increase, quadruple the number of people coming in for help,” said Christine Long, Executive vice president and Chief Programs officer for Metropolitan Ministries.
She doesn’t expect it to slow down for Christmas, and now, Keller is looking ahead and said they’ll need some extra help.
“Be thankful for what you have, not everybody is. Come volunteer at the ministry, we have opportunities seven days a week,” said Keller.
Right now, Metropolitan Ministries is still accepting applications from families who may need some extra help this Christmas, but they expect to fill up fast.
If you’re able to help, they’re collecting toys and food throughout the holiday season.