Seeds Of Hope Community Food Bank Opens At Lamb Of God

For Newsome High School senior and Migrant Outreach Director Wesley Eaton, following visiting area family’s homes led to only one conclusion: to help them anyway possible.
“I saw rundown dilapidated living conditions,” Eaton said. “There were dirty mattresses on the floor and hardly any food.  Extension cords were strung between the trailers that provided minimal electricity.  I’ve never seen anything like it. I was shocked that people living 10 minutes from FishHawk Ranch were living like this. ”
After multiple visits, and a checklist of food items to be distributed to migrant families in order to coordinate food they would like to have, it became evident that such effort will be more than just a onetime deal, establishing of Seeds of Hope Community Food Bank.
Financed 100 percent by the Annual FishHawk Turkey Trot (FHTT) 5K and Fun Run, Seeds of has established an account with Feeding America Tampa Bay to purchase food at a reduced rate.
“While we had the money to start the Food Bank finding a location proved to be difficult,” said FHTT race director Leda Eaton.
After multiple ideas, FishHawk resident Joe Garcia, who ran a Valrico Food Bank that the 2009 Turkey Trot supported, contacted Lamb of God, which then agreed to provide space for Seeds of Hope. 
“With that our Turkey Trot came full circle fulfilling the event’s dual mission of providing meaningful community service for high school students and providing money to hunger relief,” Leda said. 
Currently, three Newsome High School students regularly mend the weekly distribution of food, packing boxes and carrying them to the cars. 
Today, after just six short weeks, the bank has grown from one family to providing food for 15 families representing 77 people. All participants must provide their name in order to receive food.
The food bank, now open on Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. at the Lamb of God Lutheran Church, located at 10540 Browning Rd. in Lithia, on the southeast corner of Lithia Pinecrest and Browning roads (right behind the Lithia Fire Station) is looking for canned food donations from the community.
Anyone interested in donating is welcome to drop off canned donations to Lamb of God.
For more information, visit www.fishhawkturkeytrot.com.