Where to get a free meal and other assistance in Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay News | Tampa

Click to enlarge

Justin Garcia

A tree wrapped in a downed power line the day after Hurricane Ian hit Tampa.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, thousands of Tampa Bay residents lost power. Without refrigeration, food spoils and many people will go hungry.

Fortunately, several groups are working to feed those in need.

In Tampa, Metropolitan Ministries (MM) has partnered with world-class names to feed people today and over the weekend.

“The World Central Cuisine (WCK) along with the Metropolitan Ministries kitchen team and dozens of volunteers are ready to prepare and distribute meals to those in need starting tomorrow and over the weekend in the aftermath of the hurricane Ian,” MM wrote in a press release. “A special volunteer is Thaddeus Bullard aka WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil.”

O’Neil will be joined by local restaurateur and Next Level Brands Hospitality co-founder Jeff Gigante, philanthropist Tony March and “a small army of local volunteers.”

The WCK team aims to prepare 15,000 hot meals and 10,000 cold meals using the commercial kitchen of MM.

Many meals will be delivered to locations south of Tampa, but the WCK team will also help support local hunger relief efforts while there.

Additionally, MM will provide emergency supplies at a drive-thru, including non-perishable food, packed lunches, bottled water and electricity to charge phones.

Help navigate shelters, housing assistance, financial assistance, and other resources will resume next week during normal business hours.

MM also uses volunteers to help distribute the meals. “In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is a huge need for hunger and storm relief for our neighbors,” MM wrote on Facebook. “With this increased need for services, comes an increased need for volunteers.”

The group shared a registration link for those who want to help give people hot meals locally.

MM also accepts donations of non-perishable food and bottled water at the following Family Support Centers:

MM’s relief announcement comes the day after Mutual Aid Disaster Relief set up a hub at Waters Avenue Church in Tampa that will provide people locally and also bring supplies to the Fort Myers area. Today, a relief trip has already been sent to the Sarasota area, with more trips planned in the coming days. Tampa food, not the bombs also delivers meals to communities in need.

In St. Petersburg, a drive-through kitchen is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. today. Jared’s Food Bank, located at 3115 44th Ave N, will provide fresh produce, meat and staple foods to any Pinellas County resident in need.

If you have lost electricity in St. Petersburg and need a place to charge your mobile phone, the University Student Center-USF St. Petersburg is open to the public from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 200 6th Ave S St. Pete. Coffee, water, fruit, snacks and electricity will also be available.

This story will be updated as more rescue centers come to our attention. Please feel free to contact us for any relief information that should be shared.

Comments are closed.