Stick A Fork In It

Humans of the Food Bank 2022 - Part 2

Continuing from yesterday's episode of this year's Humans of the Food Bank, we bring you 5 more of our incredible colleagues sharing their personal journeys! Tune in to meet the compassionate souls that work every day to end hunger in Tampa Bay and beyond, and if you missed the first 3 guests, be sure to check out Part 1 of this year's series.

Catch all the teasers and highlights from this and other FTB creations by following us on social media @FeedingTampaBay! 

Humans of theFood Bank 2022 - Part 1

Everyone's favorite annual episode is here! We love to wrap up each year with an episode that helps you get to know our staff, who they are, what they do, and why they do it. These phenomenal human beings feed thousands of families all over West Central Florida, and they pour their heart into our mission every single day. Tune in to hear from three of our colleagues who have never been on the show before, and learn how they came to be part of the Feeding Tampa Bay Family. Then, tune in again tomorrow, December 22nd, to hear from four more hunger heroes!

And follow us on your preferred social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay to see the work these incredible folks do in action!

How Will Feeding Tampa Bay End Hunger? Our Chief Programs Officer Matt Spence Explains The Strategic Plan

Our beloved show host, Matt Spence, returns to share what he's been up to for the past few months -- which entails everything from Ninja Warrior training to mapping out the end to hunger in Tampa Bay. He and other members of FTB have been assembling expert research and firsthand community member experiences into a strategic plan, which will help us ensure that everyone who needs food in our region will know where to find it. Tune in to learn how we're improving our programs to put more food in schools, improve the physical health of families, and help people establish their own financial stability.

And be sure to follow FTB on your favorite social media platform for more insights and updates @FeedingTampaBay!

Katie Fitzgerald, President of Feeding America, Explains the Future of Food Banking

Katie Fitzgerald never intended to work in food banking, but along the storied path to her current position, she learned just how many doorways access to food can open for people across the country. Feeding America is a network of more than 200 partner food banks that cover every county in the United States, and Feeding Tampa Bay is just one part of that massive effort. Our own CEO, Thomas Mantz, joins us on this episode to discuss with Katie how the work that we do creates opportunities for people to change their future, by connecting them with resources beyond just food. Tune in to learn how we hope to provide a voice to the people who are struggling, and who know what they need better than anyone else.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platforms to learn how you can stand with us in the fight against hunger, providing hope to people in your own community and beyond.

Rescuing Food from Waste with Cammie Chatterton, CEO of Bay Food Brokerage

Billions of pounds of perfectly edible food goes to waste every year in the United States alone. As one of the largest food recyclers in the country, Feeding Tampa Bay is proud to partner with caring individuals like Cammie Chatterton, who uses her role and knowledge as a food broker to make sure that waste is reduced as much as possible. Tune in to learn what a food broker does, and how she became a part of our mission to end hunger in our community.

And follow us on your favorite social media platform @FeedingTampaBay to learn how YOU can become part of the mission, too!

Learning about the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s Free Shot Clinic from their CEO Sherry Silk

We know that our pets are family, and their health and happiness is as important to us as our own. That's why we partner up every year with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to provide free shots for dogs, and free food for families. Having a few less things to worry about builds up the capacity our community members have to deal with struggles that come their way, and we've seen how just a little extra help can dramatically change a life. Tune in to hear from Sherry Silk, CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, on how their organization has grown to help more of our furry friends, and the families that love them.

And find us on your favorite social media platform @FeedingTampaBay, to learn about more events like the free shot clinic coming up on Saturday, Nov. 5th -- from 9am-12pm at the Gardenville Park & Recreation Center in Gibsonton!

Helping Through Hurricane Ian with Jim Carpenter of Feeding Tampa Bay

How do we bring stability to our community and even our Florida neighbors? Our Director of Facilities and Disaster Response, Jim Carpenter, joins us at the table once again to share details on how our network prepares and provides relief during a storm, specifically Hurricane Ian. Followed by Rule #7 suggestions from ABC Action News Denis Phillips! You can listen to his full episode (Weather Geeking with Denis Phillips of ABC Action News) on your favorite podcast platform, as well.

Follow us on your favorite social media platforms to stay updated on all the ways we help our community in times of need, and to learn how you can get involved in the fight against hunger, too.

Studying Humans and Hunger with Dr. Himmelgreen of the University of South Florida

What does the study of Anthropology have to do with fighting hunger? Well, more than you'd think! Not only does studying human nature tell us tons about how people cope with hunger, it can also tell us how to combat it. On today's episode we sit with our longtime academic associate, Dr. David Himmelgreen, to talk about the ways that people all over the world are alike, and how we learn better ways every day to help them.

Wait for it... This is our first podcast episode with a visual follow up, where you can join Thomas and Shannon on an adventure into the worlds of our guests and the community we serve. Tune in for, Stick A Fork In It TV -- brought to you regularly on our YouTube channel. This first one will launch next Wednesday, September 28th. So be sure to follow us there for updates!

And to see all the other ways we're working to fight hunger, follow us on your favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay.

Learn How You Can Take Action with Full-Time Volunteer Don Germaise

As a former reporter with ABC Action News, Don Germaise made the decision not to really retire but instead to "hunker down" into a life dedicated to community service. In the Tampa Bay non-profit world, he is the definition of "Take Action". And that is the mantra during September, which is recognized every year as Hunger Action Month, when people all over the country come together to help each other get the resources they need to fill bellies and create a better future. You can take action year round, but tune in to learn more about the ways you can get involved this September, and hear some of Don's amazing tales of volunteering around the world!

Follow us on your favorite social media platforms to learn how you can take part in Hunger Action Month, or just take action in your community in general!

Making TampaWell with Dr. Tanuja Sharma & Kim Christine of Tampa General Hospital

Tampa General Hospital believes, like we do, that food is medicine. But they also know that exercise and education are medicine, too, and they're committed to helping our neighbors access all of those things. Through their upcoming grassroots project, TampaWell, they will provide Tampa residents with a community garden and food pantry, as well as guidance on ways to practice "enjoyable movement" and mental health wellness tips. On today's episode we're joined by Kim Christine and Dr. Tanuja Sharma of Tampa General Hospital, and they offer a wealth of insights into ways that men, women, children, and seniors can take simple steps to improve their health on a daily basis. Tune in and see how you might benefit from a little integrated medicine yourself!

 

And follow us on your favorite social media sites @FeedingTampaBay for more information about TampaWell, and other ways that we're partnering with our peers to make Tampa living healthier and easier for everyone!