Stick A Fork In It

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!

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!

No doubt you probably have some Vigo & Alessi food products in your own pantry right now. Well they're celebrating 75 years of being based in Tampa by teaming up with ABC Action News and Feeding Tampa Bay, to help Pack the Pantries of school children and their families in our community! Tune in to learn about Vigo's history from one of the family members that helps bring you some of your favorite Italian and Spanish food products, and also how you can help with our Pack the Pantries campaign this year. Young kiddos need food to grow and learn, and we're grateful to have partners like these standing beside us to make sure that happens!

Learn more about Feeding Tampa Bay, our partners, and how you can get involved in the fight against hunger by visiting FeedingTampaBay.org. Or by following us on your favorite social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay!

2022 marks the SEVENTH year of our much-loved Epic Chef competition, where the top chefs in Tampa Bay face off in a contest of culinary creativity. Guests watch in person or online, enjoying delicious gourmet cuisine and crafted cocktails at the Epicurean Hotel, and on today's episode our guest is the hotel's General Manager, Shawn Routten! Tune in for a quick convo where we learn about the history of the event, the future of the hotel's expansion in SoHo, and some fun facts about Shawn himself. And be sure to tune in for the final night of Epic Chef -- Monday, August 1st starting at 6:45pm! Visit the Feeding Tampa Bay YouTube channel to watch LIVE, and subscribe for notifications about this and future events.

And as always, follow us on your other favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay, to learn how you can get involved with our mission of ending hunger in West Central Florida and beyond!

Trinity Cafe promises to feed all who need food, rain or shine, pandemic or peace, 365 days a year. And the meals are so much more than just basic sustenance. That's thanks in large part to our Executive Chef, Daniel Graves, who has worked everywhere from smalltime local kitchens to massive casino chains over the past 32 years. On this episode Chef Daniel explains what drew him to Trinity Cafe after decades of managing premiere kitchens around the country, and how he and his committed team are able to turn food donations into gourmet meals on a daily basis for our neighbors in need.

Want to see some of his expertise in action? Check out our upcoming Epic Chef event, where guests can sample the amazing charcuterie boards he's assembled, and watch some of the best chefs in Tampa Bay face off over the course of three nights! And follow us on all social media @FeedingTampaBay for more updates.

Becoming a parent for the first time is scary, and the mountains of information we're expected to consume in preparation can be overwhelming. That's why Jake Edling, father of seven and acclaimed dad-expert, wrote "The New Daddy Experience" -- a succinct and grounded guide through the first few months of parenthood. Though it is primarily geared toward new fathers, new mothers can also benefit from the tips, tricks, and truths contained in the intentionally brief collection of pages. On this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Jake explains how he transitioned from life as a company man to life as a dedicated father and teacher, and how he learned to navigate the unpredictable path of parenthood. Find his brand new book for Kindle on Amazon!

And be sure to check out our recent Father's Day special episode, featuring some of the dads who work at our food bank. Whether you're having your first child or your seventh, there's so much that can be learned when we share our wisdoms with one another.

Follow us on all social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay for other info and insights to help support your family!

On this special Father's Day edition of Stick a Fork in It, we welcome a few of the food bank's new and long-time fathers to share stories of the work, play, and growth that goes into raising their little ones. Matt hosts our co-workers Pete, Khalil, and Lemuel, who have sons and daughters ranging from toddlers to teens and beyond, and a truckload of funny and meaningful stories that naturally come with the territory of parenthood. Tune in to learn how they manage their work-life balance, create loving connections with their family, and learn from their own childhood experiences to be the best fathers they can be. To all the dads out there we say, Happy Father's Day!

Follow us on all our social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay for more fun insights into our world and the amazing staff that helps us lift up our community every single day!

We all love our furry friends, and the last thing we want is to see them going hungry when we fall on hard times. That's why PetSmart Charities decided to team up with Feeding America, to make sure that pet owners didn't have to make difficult choices in trying to support themselves. Tune in to learn how PetSmart and Feeding Tampa Bay worked together to provide dog, cat, and people food to families during the pandemic, and how you can help support that mission going forward!

Follow us on social media @FeedingTampaBay to learn about the other partners that make our mission of ending hunger possible, and how you can join the movement, too.

Recorded on location at the WellBuilt Bikes shop in the University Mall, we talk philanthropy and philosophy with grassroots community organizer, Jon Dengler. He shares how a single conversation with a homeless neighbor led him to build an organization that works tirelessly to support people struggling with poverty and independence. From opening his home to the unhoused, to starting community gardens, to providing free bikes to customers who complete a bit of community service -- Jon has collaborated with like minds to move mountains for people, without the backing of any major corporate or government funding. Tune in for an inspiring story that will help you to see poverty differently, and how much something small like a working bicycle can mean in helping someone out of a rut in their life.

Follow us on social media for more stories like this one @FeedingTampaBay!

What if your child could get a dental check-up without having to leave school? And if your elderly neighbor could get food for free when their money is tight? And if someone could help you navigate confusing government programs online? Well at Gulfside Elementary, all of these things are made possible through the Community Partnership program they are a part of -- and the services offered are available to students, families, and any other residents in the area who need help.

On this episode we're joined by the Gulfside Hub director, Mary Brown. And she explains not only how the program works, but how they've already seen amazing, measurable results in the few short years that it's been open. Tune in to learn how community partners have come together to support Gulfside and other schools all over Florida. And follow @FeedingTampaBay on any social platform to see how we're providing support too, so you can get involved!