Stick A Fork In It

Humans of the Food Bank 2023 - Part 1

Your favorite yearly episode is here! Meet the inspirational human beings who act as the heart, the arms, the legs, and the soul of our mighty little organization. We talk passion and purpose with Sarah, Chris, Lorena, and Scott on today's episode, and have FIVE MORE team members for you to meet next time! It truly takes a village to do the work we do, and we hope you'll join us in building it!

Learn more about our team and our programs on social media @FeedingTampaBay -- and visit our website, FeedingTampaBay.org, to see how you can get involved in the fight to end hunger.

Big Things Are Coming ft. Matt Boswell of ChappellRoberts

The ChappellRoberts marketing agency is the creative force behind so many of Feeding Tampa Bay's bright, inspiring campaigns each year. And on today's episode, we'd like to introduce you to their Chief Creative Officer, Matt Boswell. We talk about what it's like trying to keep a creative spirit alive in a world that doesn't always know how to nurture that kind of person, and how ChappellRoberts dreams up marketing projects like or current "Big Things Are Happening" campaign. Visit https://feedingtampabay.org/bigthings to experience our interactive art exhibition, travelling the Tampa Bay region to connect with the community and help them experience our mission first-hand!

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see where our "Big Citrus" is going to be, and how you can support us by doing things like buying a specialty coffee drink from our partners at Blind Tiger!

Helping Tackle Hunger ft. Markees Watts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Bucs Linebacker Markees Watts says he is blessed to have always had support along his journey to the NFL. And he knows how much of a difference it makes to have people believe in you. That's why he was so intent on finding ways to support the community of Feeding Tampa Bay when he arrived here from Lancaster, SC. Listen to learn how Markees went from playing 8th grade football to being one of the tiny percentage of players who actually make it to the big leagues, and how complicated that process actually is when you aren't drafted right out of college.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about the programs we collaborate on with partners like the Bucs, and how you can get involved in ending hunger in our community as well!

How the V.A. Helps Veterans ft. Dr. Chad Radwan & David Caras

We're all aware that life can be difficult for an active duty soldier, but extreme difficulties can also pile up in different ways for retired veterans. Many of them struggle to reintegrate into normal, everyday life, and may not have enough money to cover food and housing costs. And that's not even mentioning the challenges they face from physical or mental trauma they've endured. On today's episode we hear from Dr. Chad Radwan, a veteran-care researcher from the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital, and his friend David Caras, a veteran who leads support groups and other programs to help men just like him lead healthy lives.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn how we work with community partners to support veterans in and around Tampa, and how you can get involved to do the same.

More Than A Meal ft. Matt Spence & Kaity Chewning

One surprising fact that has become clear in all our decades of food banking is this: food alone can't end hunger. That's why our colleagues like Matt and Kaity work so tirelessly to develop and improve programs that provide people with access to more than a just a meal. Tune in to learn how our work provides neighbors in need with healthcare, shelter, and financial self-sufficiency -- and how absolute human gems like Kaity find their way to working alongside us on our mission!

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our programs in action, and learn how you can get involved in providing our neighbors with what they really need to thrive.

Run, Thomas, Run! ft. Jessica Spitsen

Our President and CEO, Thomas Mantz, is running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 10/8! He personally runs for better health, but this time he is running to better the health of others. And running right alongside him will be his daughter, Jessica -- who joins us on today's show to talk about her love of running and the training she and Thomas have been doing over the years.

You can join them in helping to create memories around the table for families served by both Feeding Tampa Bay and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Go to https://donate.feedingtampabay.org/campaign/run-thomas-run/c522249 for more information, and thank you for supporting our mission to end hunger and build stability throughout our communities.

You can also view the awesome fun-spirational video we recorded with Thomas about his training for the marathon on our YouTube! And see more of our creations and work in the community by following @FeedingTampaBay on social media.

Healthcare Ending Hunger ft. Lisa Bell of BayCare Health System

Access to healthy food helps to prevent so many long-term medical issues, that's why BayCare works so closely with Feeding Tampa Bay to ensure that our neighbors can get that much-needed access. Whether they're funding school pantries, sending medical patients home with bags of food, or staffing an on-site clinic at the FTB warehouse, BayCare is in it for the long haul when it comes to ending hunger. Tune in to hear from Lisa Bell, BayCare's Director of Community Benefit -- as well as our show's own former host, Matt Spence! He and Lisa have been brainstorming together for years, and are excited to talk about the programs that have sprouted from all those conversations.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media to learn more about our many programs, and how you can get involved in the fight against hunger.

Getting A Nutritional Education ft. Kelley Brickfield & Samantha Wholley of The FTB Nutrition Education Team

Growing up, many of us don't learn all of the ins and outs of what truly goes into a healthy diet. Then when money is tight and stress is high, it can be even more difficult to think about nutrition on a daily basis. That is why the Nutrition Education team was formed at Feeding Tampa Bay -- to ensure our neighbors are getting the healthy food, and the nutritional information they need when they visit our programs. On today's episode Kelley Brickfield and Samantha Wholley explain how their team works, and provide insight into some common misunderstandings about food and nutritional health.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platform for more healthy eating info, and even some in-house recipes based on food we regularly receive at our warehouse!

Families Helping Families ft. The Coles of Corbett Elementary

At Feeding Tampa Bay, we create opportunities for neighbors of all ages to get involved in helping their community. We even have specific volunteer groups composed of kids, teens, and young adults, to help them engage and learn at their level -- and that's the focus of today's show. You'll get to meet two of our Community Engagement team members, who create a fun and feel-good experience for the folks helping us end hunger. And they'll set the stage for the stars of today's show: The Cole family. This loving bunch of giving hearts have restructured their very lives so that they can be more intentional about their impact on the world. And they encouraged a whole army of volunteers from their children's school, Corbett Elementary, to do the same!

Tune in to learn more about the variously aged affinity groups of Feeding Tampa Bay, and follow us on your favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay to see what kind of things you can do to get involved!

Cooking Up Compassion at Epic Chef Pt. II ft. Mise en Place Co-founder Maryann Ferenc

Last week we had a tasty conversation with Chef Marty Blitz of the famous Tampa restaurant, Mise en Place. And the multi-course meal wouldn't be complete without introducing you to Mise en Place's co-founder, Maryann Ferenc! Maryann has spent decades developing a recipe for success in the restaurant industry, and has shared in the journey of so many excellent chefs who have passed through their kitchens. Tune in to hear how she grew up in kitchens herself, has spent decades supporting our mission and the importance of including the Mise en Place philosophy in every part of your life!

 

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media, and watch our Epic Chef LIVE on YouTube, Monday nights at 6:30pm until August 7th!