Scheduled for Sunday, October 24, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., congregations across the area will be participating in the Fifth Annual Feed the Bay, an annual outreach meant to help those facing hard times through the collection of food, hygiene items, housewares – basically anything that can be purchased at participating supermarkets, Publix and Sweetbay.
Last year’s event accumulated some 300,000 lbs. of food for distribution to 14 area charities. The same is hoped to be collected this year, aiding Lighthouse Ministries, Women’s Resource Center, the Beth El Farm Worker Ministry, the Good Samaritan Mission, Inc., Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, Day Star Faith Center, the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) and Bread of Life.
Some 30 churches will come together for the event, which include Bay Life Church- both Brandon and Riverview sites, Bay Life 60, First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, The Crossing, Bell Shoals Baptist Church- both Brandon and East Bay sites, Hope Church Cumberland Presbyterian, The First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace, First Baptist Church of Brandon, Cornerstone Baptist Church of Brandon, South Shore United Methodist Church, Temple of Praise Worship Center International, Celebration Church, Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale, Faith Worx (FBC Apollo Beach), Journey Church at Valrico, Brandon Assembly of God, Horizon Christian Church, First United Methodist Church Brandon, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, FishHawk Fellowship Church, Centerpoint Church, South Brandon Worship Center, Resurrection Catholic Church, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Simmons Loop Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church of Seffner and Browning Road Baptist Church.
“It is estimated that over 40,000 families go to bed hungry each night. Life has become overwhelming, and they need a helping hand,” states Minister of Outreach Ministries Debbie Weisemann. “The Feed the Bay program challenges the churches of our community to unite together and encourage those struggling in our community with a practical act of love.”
The effort was originally conceived by Bay Life Church, with members of its congregation heading to any of three local participating supermarkets after Sunday service was cut short. Some 30,000 lbs. of food was transported via rental trucks to local food banks. All this was accomplished in a matter of just three hours.
“This year we are asking people to consider fasting one meal a week during the month of October and setting aside that money to help buy food and then join us in going shopping on Feed the Bay Sunday, October 24. The needs are great, but ‘Together we can do more,’” mentions Weisemann.
Those who cannot attend are welcome to purchase gift cards that can be dropped off at Bell Shoals or Bay Life to be donated to a local charity in need. For more information or to volunteer the day of the event, please visit www.feedthebay.org. Those in need can call the Prayer & Crisis Referral Network at 1-877-800-7729 (PRAY) or visit www.feedthebay.org or www.meettheneed.org.
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