ODESSA, Fla. — Its diesel engine straining and loud, the big blue bus hits the road. But before this mobile food pantry can roll out, volunteers at an Odessa warehouse must be on the move.
This is the Messengers of Hope Mission, and the mission on this November day is to provide a happy holiday. Volunteers form an assembly line and fill hundreds of bags of food with all the fixins for a Thanksgiving dinner.
Messengers of Hope has been delivering hope, in the form of food, to folks in Pasco County for nearly 10 years. No preachin, no prejudice.
“No questions asked,” affirms Messengers of Hope founder Bob Gardner. “Someone can come up in nicest car, the nicest clothes; we don’t know their situation. They could be living in their car, they could have just lost their job…. we don’t judge them, we just welcome them.”
Donations of food from local businesses and residents keep the warehouse stocked. Heather Sidlauskas and her neighbors donated a pickup load of turkeys.
“I don’t want anyone to go without for the holiday,” Sidlauskas said.
But the warehouse doesn’t stay full long. Each week, it’s emptied again by volunteers like the Haulton family. They lend their time and muscles about twice a month. One of the girls struggles to carry a bird, nearly as big as she is.
“I’m holding a big turkey right now!” she exclaimed.
Lori Haulton says volunteering here twice a month, teaches her kids some important lessons. And she pitches in because when she was young, her family was on the receiving end of food donations.
“I grew up in one of those situations and for me to be able to give back now as an adult is very important to me,” Haulton said.
People in need leave the warehouse with heavy food boxes and lighter worries.
“Money’s short,” Deloris Curry said. “I work every day to try and make ends meet, so the food will help out a whole lot,” she said pointing to a turkey and canned goods filling her car’s passenger seat.
Aaron and Stephanie Pleus and their three young kids are thankful for the food they picked up. “Bills pile up toward the end of the year,” said Aaron, with Stephanie adding, “Everything is more expensive than last year.”
But back to the start of this story. It’s the big, blue bus that also makes Messengers of Hope a mobile pantry.
“Without it, we can’t get this done,” said Gardner, behind the wheel.
On a regular route, the bus arrives at a New Port Richey parking lot, where a ribbon of recipients wait for help and hope.
Robina Quinn was near the front of the line that started forming hours before.
“It’s very tough out there. Food has skyrocketed,” she said.
On this day before Thanksgiving, frozen turkeys were of course the hot item and a variety of free food — the recipe for a happy holiday.
“We really appreciate this,” said Lisa Morgan, who’s cooking for 15. “It’s going to go a really long way this Thanksgiving!” she said touching her heart.
Mission accomplished!
More information about Messengers of Hope Mission, their food distribution dates, and how to volunteer can be found on their Facebook Page.
10 Tampa Bay and our parent company TEGNA’s foundation were happy to help this charity by giving them a $2,000 grant during our Community Connection broadcast.