Every day, thousands of individuals and families in Tampa Bay face a difficult decision – do they buy food or their prescription drugs, or gas, or pay their rent? The circumstances may differ, but the result is the same for those struggling to make it to their next paycheck, or for seniors living on a fixed income. When those decisions get made, food most often loses out.

That’s why Metropolitan Ministries, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, receives more requests for food than any other service and the need keeps growing.

Metropolitan Ministries serves 75,000 meals each month in Tampa Bay and at partner sites around Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Pinellas counties. Last year, during Thanksgiving and Christmas, Metropolitan Ministries served more than 22,000 families in need with holiday meals.
Because the need is so great in Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries turns to companies like Quikstone to help raise donations of non-perishable food for the holidays.

Vicki Wilkins, a member of Quikstone’s Accounting team, has been planning this effort for several months. “I have a bedroom filled with BOGO (Buy One Get One) groceries that I purchase for just this reason,” Vicki said. “Some of the food will go to my church, but most will go to our drive for Metropolitan Ministries.”

Vicki sets up donation boxes at Quikstone and encourages staff to get involved. “This week, there are BOGOs for brownie mixes and canned veggies,” she tells her colleagues. She’ll keep watch on those boxes and make sure they fill up before the deadline.

This holiday season, Metropolitan Ministries is planning to help 30,000 families between November 1 and December 26.  To learn more about Metropolitan Ministries and also purchase holiday food donations online visit:  https://www.metromin.org/holiday-central/overview/