FEEDING TAMPA BAY

Community Partners Fuel Feeding Tampa Bay’s Mission

by Kelley Sims, Chief Development Officer, Feeding Tampa Bay

As we close the chapter on an unpredictable year and the devastating ripple effect of a global pandemic, we reflect on our community’s extraordinary response which has fueled Feeding Tampa Bay’s momentum to end hunger by 2025.

Together, we stepped up for our neighbors in profound ways. Generous donors increased their contributions. Brave volunteers immediately rushed to distribute meals. Our staff assembled to create new solutions to provide our neighbors with long-term stability. By the end of this year, we anticipate serving over 85 million meals across the 10 counties we serve – all powered by the mobilization of those who stand with us.

Before the pandemic, 650,000 families across our region relied on Feeding Tampa Bay. Now, we’re serving almost 2,000,000 meals per week to people in need, 68% of whom have never been in a food line before. These are everyday people who were just one crisis, one job situation, or one pandemic away from food insecurity. Our community was and is there to support them. We stood together, rallied to meet the need, and doubled our output.

We know that there is enough food for every neighbor in need, we just need to bring that food to their tables. Feeding Tampa Bay has a plan for this. We will feed our neighbors today through forward-thinking food distribution solutions that overcome barriers to access - like our partnerships with global brands for our distributions, which will continue well after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will feed our neighbors tomorrow, through continued programs. With national child hunger rates increasing on average by at least 47%, currently 1 in 4 children do not know where their next meal will come from. This is where our Feeding Tampa Bay family stands together to step boldly into the gaps. Through robust, free grocery distributions, after school meal programs, Feeding Minds school pantries, SNAP benefits assistance and more, we are tirelessly working to ensure that each child in our care receives the food they need to thrive. In April and May, Franchise Consulting Company is standing with us through our Cereal for Summer (cerealforsummer. org) efforts to directly make an impact on local children during their Great American Franchise Expo in Tampa on April 24-25.

Our response to COVID-19 proves we are unstoppable when we stand together. Franchise Consulting Company, and all Tampa Bay Franchisees, have a powerful opportunity to leverage this momentum and cultivate the health and capability of our broader community. When our leaders stand with Feeding Tampa Bay, you set the pace for a more viable, stable and capable workforce.

Learn more about us and our businesses’ role in ending hunger in Tampa Bay at FeedingTampaBay.org.

With national child hunger rates increasing on average by at least 47%, currently 1 in 4 children do not know where their next meal will come from.

FeedingTampaBay.org

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