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 in to learn about Chef Ferrell's journey from "young punk" to winner of a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award!

Tampa Bay there are still a few tickets available!

Secure your seats now by reaching out to [email protected]!

And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see a recap of this year's Fork Fight event, so that you can plan to get tickets and join us next year!

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 the Virgin Islands was shaped by huge successes and unimaginable losses, to become an advocate for every human being who struggles like she does. (Due to a camera error this week's episode doesn't have video but we plan to have Natasha on the show again in the future!)

Follow us on social media @FeedingTampaBay to see clips from our other podcast episodes, as well as encouraging updates about our mission to end hunger!

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 this with a hug and a smile for everyone they meet, and we're so grateful that they spend two days every week volunteering with us at Trinity Cafe.

Listen to their story on your favorite podcast app, or watch the episode on YouTube! Our channel there, and on all social media, is @FeedingTampaBay.

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, and learn why it's so important that more people become farmers, even if that just means growing a few plants in their own backyards. Knowing where your food comes from, and feeling pride in having grown it yourself is important, but even more important is the connection it fosters between yourself, nature, and the community around you.

Our episodes are also fully video recorded now! Watch Chris, Shannon, and Ev share laughs and learning on YouTube by visiting youtube.com/feedingtampabay -- and look out for more inspiring content on social media by searching @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite platform.

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 story of how he unexpectedly found himself out of work, the journey that put him on through places he never thought he'd be in, and the inspiring people he met along the way.

This is also our first FULLY VISUAL episode! Watch David, Shannon, and Ev share laughs and learning on YouTube by visiting youtube.com/feedingtampabay -- and look out for more inspiring content on social media by searching @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite platform.

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 most exciting step forward that we're currently taking -- the construction of a brand new headquarters off of Causeway Boulevard.

Tune in to learn how Todd grew from helping out in his father's luncheonette, to easily feeding thousands of people in packed sports stadiums. And to learn more about our mission of ending hunger in Tampa Bay by 2025, visit our website, FeedingTampaBay.org, and follow us on social media @FeedingTampaBay!

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-your-local-foodbank

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 invite your wife to dinner with Harrison Ford.

You can also see Michael and Reed's story about the heroes fighting child hunger, and find past episode of our show at feedingtampabay.org/stickaforkinit!

For more fun, insightful stories about our work -- follow us on your favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay!

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 out the door. Tune in to hear about her journey from athlete to police officer and finally to mayor of an entire city. And learn how the importance of family and community aided her along the way.

And as ever, follow us on your preferred social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay, to see what other guests we've had on the show, and what exciting developments are on their way in the future.

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, check out another recent episode where our Chief Programs Officer, Matt Spence, breaks it down in simple terms!

You can save our episodes for later listening on any of your favorite podcast platforms, and you can see teasers for each one by following our social media accounts @FeedingTampaBay.