TAMPA, Fla. — Monday is family night at the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse, where helping hands and hearts are always welcome. Dozens of families have turned out to volunteer, many of them raising their hands to indicate it’s their first time there.
“Whoa, that’s awesome!” exclaimed Kate Scaglione of Feeding Tampa Bay, who helped organize the effort.
The good work of Feeding Tampa Bay doesn’t happen without volunteers. On this night, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Markees Watts handles potatoes instead of pigskin. The linebacker is all in on helping families tackle hunger.
“I don’t believe anyone should go through that,” Watts said while holding his 8-month-old daughter Kora on his lap. “Especially, if I can help kids reach their next meal, I want to do that.”
Helping give local children the strength to grow, learn and play is also a passion of 10 Tampa Bay. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Feeding Tampa Bay for Cereal for Summer.
“Cereal is the number one item for kids. Think about when you were a kid, right?” Shannon Hannon Oliviero of Feeding Tampa Bay said. “Help us put meals on tables, but imagine that smile from a child who normally couldn’t have a box of cereal.”
You can help feed hungry kids by collecting and donating cereal through the month of April. Start your own drive at your business or school, or drop off some boxes at our 10 Tampa Bay studios (11450 Gandy Boulevard, St. Petersburg), Achieva Credit Unions, Sonny’s BBQ restaurants or Goodwill Stores.
You can also donate online by going to CerealforSummer.org
“It makes you feel good that little kids are having a meal!” Hannon Oliviero added.
And that “feel good” feeling is also what keeps Sarah Dale and her daughter Penny volunteering at Feeding Tampa Bay. 5-year-old Penny knows all about spud specs as she holds up a “bad one” with a spot.
Sorting potatoes might seem like small potatoes, but just like donating a box of cereal, it all helps families in need. Just ask Penny why. “Because people who don’t have food — need food!”