TAMPA, Fla. — The holiday season might still be a few weeks away, but the season of giving has already begun. In anticipation of an even greater need for assistance this year, Metropolitan Ministries is launching its annual holiday assistance program.
Registration for the assistance program opens Monday, Oct. 2 and will remain open for the remainder of the first week of October. In order to receive holiday food and Christmas gifts for children and teens, you will need to register this week. In order to determine if you're qualified, click here. Both online and in-person registration will be available.
Then, starting later this week through the remainder of the holiday season, various pop-up sites will be open on specific dates for families and individuals to receive food. You can find a list of specific locations, dates and times of Metro Ministries' pop-up sites by clicking here.
Metropolitan Ministries says it is seeing a 71 percent increase in the number of families seeking assistance who are facing homelessness compared to last year. Metro Ministries says it is also seeing a rise in seniors on fixed-income, single moms and even two-parent working families seeking assistance compared to previous years.
The need for donations and volunteers is also growing. Metropolitan Ministries says ways the community can get involved include:
- Sign up for a food or toy donation collection drive with your business, employees, congregation, school, club, etc.
- Volunteer at one of the many locations nearest you — as an individual, family, or group. Slots fill quickly, so sign up now.
- Make a monetary donation now to help us stock the shelves (these gifts will be matched by a generous donor and double your impact).
- Starting Nov. 1, donate food and toys/gift cards. Most needed items: frozen turkeys and hams, canned yams, stuffing, canned vegetables, boxed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, cereal, rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, dessert mixes, gift cards, toys/gifts for children ages 4-17.
