Stick A Fork In It

Few people understand the power of food better than professional chefs. That's part of the reason Chef Ferrell Alvarez, who partly owns some of the most celebrated eateries in Tampa, has directly supported the mission of Feeding Tampa Bay for years. This year he's lending his expertise to our annual Fork Fight gala event, coordinating top culinary artists from around Tampa Bay to create multi-course meals for our 500 guests. Tune i...

Many of us don't actually know how to check in on our own mental health. Many more don't realize how much of an effect mental health has on every part of our lives. We're fortunate to have experts like Natasha Pierre to coach us through the confusion and struggle of understanding our minds — what they need, how to care for them, and the fact that we're rarely alone in these difficulties. Tune in to learn how a talented girl from th...

It takes an incredible emotional strength (and sometimes an incredible partnership) to turn personal tragedy into hope for others -- but that is exactly what Mike & Kathy Fooshee have been doing for years. After meeting online over 20 years ago, their blended family has weathered unbelievable challenges, and made a mission of sharing their story with others to spare them from suffering through the same experiences. They do all of t...

For nearly 30 years Sweetwater Organic Community Farm has educated Tampa residents about easy farming techniques, by inviting them to plant and harvest crops alongside their neighbors. Everyone from kindergarteners to senior citizens are welcome to come and learn how to care for plants and animals from the community that has kept the farm thriving all this time. On today's episode we talk with Chris Kenrick, the farm's Director, an...

What happens when a father of 7 breaks his back on the job, and is unable to continue working, while the cost of rent and groceries rises all over the country? He leans on the support of community, family, and maybe even a furry new friend who can pull him out of the depths of despair. Meet David Brown, one of the brave, big-hearted guests who has visited the partner pantries of Feeding Tampa Bay. On today's episode he shares the s...

How do you plan for the most ambitious social project ever undertaken in Tampa Bay? With the help of experienced, dedicated people like Todd Wickner, who's managed successful restaurants and arenas across the United States. As a member of the Board of Directors of Feeding Tampa Bay, Todd has helped guide us through all of our trials, successes, and growth over the past 10 years, and he joins us on the show today to talk about the m...

As a widow and mother, Barb is back to work at 71 and still struggling to make ends meet. She has been a lifetime caregiver and loyal volunteer, making asking for help extremely difficult and emotional. In a time where choices were being made between transportation, food and medicine, having food available was an unexpected relief.

To learn more visit FeedingTampaBay.org or to find a food bank near you, feedingamerica.org/find-yo...

With so many sources of news available on TV and online, it's difficult to know what to trust. We invite the Emmy-award-winning duo Michael Paluska and Reed Moeller from ABC Action News to pull back the curtain a bit on journalism, and share with you what it's like to brainstorm, write, and record the stories that inform you about your world. Tune in to learn about twin-tuition, the art of videography, and why it's important to inv...

We're fortunate to have had the support of Tampa's Mayor, Jane Castor, through thick and thin in recent years. She stood by us during the pandemic, providing Feeding Tampa Bay the attention and resources we needed to ensure nobody went hungry while businesses were closing. And now she's helping guide us through the process of expanding our capability, as we begin construction on a new facility offering more programs and more food o...

There was so much more to discuss with our recent guest, Katie Fitzgerald, that we just had to have her back on the show. Last time we talked about the ways that food banks are evolving to address root causes of hunger -- but on today's episode we discuss how that evolution is made possible, and how it's already making regions around Feeding America food banks truly hunger-free. To learn what it really means to be hunger-free, chec...

After spending years teaching students directly, Addison Davis finds himself in charge of all the school's in one of the nation's largest counties. How does someone in that position ensure that children are getting what they need to be well-adjusted, successful adults? By working tirelessly to get teachers and parents what they need, and remembering that every child has a story. Tune in to learn how Addison has pushed to improve sc...

Hunger-free means everybody who needs food knows where they can go to get some, as our Chief Programs Officer, Matt Spence, recently explained on our show. And on today's episode we introduce you to the folks who have helped us develop a plan to make Tampa Bay hunger-free. Over the course of the past year the Monitor Institute, and their Managing Director, Joanna Burleson, has helped Feeding Tampa Bay figure out how we can do what ...

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...

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...

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 i...

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...

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 hung...

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...

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 Actio...