Stick A Fork In It

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It! While we're working hard behind the scenes to put everything in place, we wanted to take a moment to revisit some of our most popular and impactful episodes. In this next retrospective, we hear a story of food insecurity to stability from out own board chair, Kareem Spratling. Despite being an esteemed lawyer now, he remembers how he and his mother struggled with hunger in his youth -- and he wants everyone to see as clearly as he does that hunger exists in places you might not expect. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your fav social media platform to find out when the BIG CHANGES are complete and ready to see!

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It! While we're working hard behind the scenes to put everything in place, we wanted to take a moment to revisit some of our most popular and impactful episodes. In this next retrospective, we share some tears and inspiration with our longtime volunteer, Barb Smith. This selfless human being has put other people first her entire life, and when it came time for her to be cared for, she was surprised to find that retirement wouldn't really be an option for her. Tune in to learn how she has found help and purpose since then, and how you can do the same. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your fav social media platform to find out when the BIG CHANGES are complete and ready to see!

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It! And while we're assembling all the pieces behind the scenes, we wanted to take this opportunity to revisit some of our most popular and powerful episodes. In this first retrospective, we learn how SOF Missions, led by Dr. Damon Friedman, has been rescuing veterans from suicide with the same physical, mental, and spiritual help that saved his own life after duty. Keep an eye out for the big news announcement by following us @FeedingTampaBay on all social media channels!

Over the past six years our own Khalil Rasheed has gone from temp worker to Lead Driver and now Director of Logistics! And it wasn't just his calm, steadfast demeanor that got him there, but also how seriously he takes safety and planning, both on the road and in our warehouse. Tune in to learn how his experience managing military inventory brought him to Feeding Tampa Bay, and how he focuses on family during Black History Month -- which in his words, is every month! Follow @FeedingTampaBaya to see our drivers and warehouse staff in action, and find out how you can get involved in the fight to end hunger.

How do we avoid catching and spreading the flu? Well, our friend Dr. Kopec says we can start by washing our hands, and remembering to cover coughs with our sleeves. But tune in to learn why the flu might seem worse this year, and what to do if symptoms seem particularly bad for you or a loved one! Let's keep each other healthy and safe, during flu season and beyond. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how we're working with other community partners to bring health and stability to our neighbors, and how you can get involved, too.

We're hosting our first MLK Day of Service at the new Causeway Center on January 20th this year, as a way to honor the civil rights hero by improving our community. And we invited our friend, Dr. Samuel Wright, to reflect with us on the meaning of the holiday, and what it means to serve. Dr. Wright served as the Vice Chair of the African American History Task Force of Florida, and founded the Black Heritage Festival in our community all the way back in 1999! So tune in to learn about his long journey as a freedom fighter, and what you can do to be one, too. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to take the first steps, and join one of our MLK Day volunteer locations on Monday, January 20th!

What does a new year mean for Feeding Tampa Bay? It means leaning into new ways to learn and provide what our community needs. Join us for a fireside chat with our very own Thomas Mantz as we dig into what it means to go beyond food. We've built a home where services can gather, and tested it under stress -- now it's time to see what it can really do with help from our partners and neighbors like you. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see what services and partners we've brought into our world, and how you can lend or receive a hand, too.

After such a triumphant and challenging year, we've renamed our annual "Humans of the Food Bank" episode to "Heroes of Causeway"! The incredible people who have helped us settle into our new home, respond to back-to-back hurricanes, and level up our mission to end hunger are truly deserving of the name. Over the course of this episode and the next, we'll introduce you to nine of our colleagues from various teams and departments, so you can see who actually drives the work that we do, and how they do it. We're grateful to work with such compassionate and dedicated individuals, and together we're going to feed Tampa Bay in so many new ways! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our guests' smiling faces, and to get involved in our work.

After such a triumphant and challenging year, we've renamed our annual "Humans of the Food Bank" episode to "Heroes of Causeway"! The incredible people who have helped us settle into our new home, respond to back-to-back hurricanes, and level up our mission to end hunger are truly deserving of the name. Over the course of this episode and the next, we'll introduce you to nine of our colleagues from various teams and departments, so you can see who actually drives the work that we do, and how they do it. We're grateful to work with such compassionate and dedicated individuals, and together we're going to feed Tampa Bay in so many new ways! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our guests' smiling faces, and to get involved in our work.

We're grateful to have such a wide range of expertise and such a depth of commitment from our FTB board members. And that members like Roberto Torres (owner of The Blind Tiger Cafe) are willing to share their perspectives with us here on the show, to give our audience a peek behind the curtain. Tune in to hear Roberto explain the decision and process behind building our new Causeway Center facility, and some of the other awesome local projects he's helping to oversee as well! Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how things are progressing in our new home, and how you can lend a hand to our neighbors in need.

Today's guest, Roger Germann, tells us that every person who visits the Florida Aquarium is helping them to preserve nature and provide a better life to the animals they care for. And they want to pay that support forward to the community as well, through partnerships like the one they've formed with us here at Feeding Tampa Bay. Tune in to learn about Roger's journey from a hardscrabble youth in Chicago, and how reconnecting people with nature has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences he could have asked for. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn about other community partners joining us in the fight to end hunger.

Soldiers often learn to suffer in silence, which is why it's so important that they have advocates like retired Col. DJ Reyes. His work with Veteran Treatment Courts in Florida have helped numerous service members turn their lives around and reconnect with their families and purpose. On today's episode, we learn what it's like to spend 35 years touring the world on active duty, and why so many of our military personnel find themselves struggling when they return home from a life of constant conflict. Visit the websites DJ mentions on the episode to learn more about him and the mentor program he organizes below: www.cuspisvir.org www.hillsboroughcountymentors.org And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn about other ways we support our service members!

According to today's guest, Hillsborough County has more teacher vacancies than any other county in the state. And as President of the Hillsborough Classroom Teacher's Association, Rob Kriete knows what he's what he's talking about. That's why he's encouraging everyone to visit voteyesforstudents.org to learn about the referendum that will be on general election ballots this November. This millage referendum (Hillsborough Referendum #2, at the bottom of the ballot) will provide more funds for teachers, bus drivers, custodians, and other workers who support our children, to ensure they're getting the best education possible. Tune in to learn more about the needs of our community's children, and how you can support them! And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn more ways to get involved.

BayCare doesn't just specialize in providing care for your body, they understand the importance of taking care of your mind, as well. Dr. Christina Canody joins us today to talk about dealing with some of the suffering Floridians have experienced after being hit with two consecutive hurricanes, and also to introduce us to the On Our Sleeves initiative. As a Pediatrician, Dr. Canody has seen how many children struggle with mental health, and is hopeful that BayCare Kids can help. Visit BayCareKidsOnOurSleeves.org to learn more! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn about more partners and initiatives like this one.

If we want life to improve for ourselves and our neighbors, we'll need to get involved in the conversations that can change that for us. And one of the many ways that we can do that is through voting. Our own advocacy champion, Lorena Hardwick, joins us again today to explain some easy ways you can learn about and lean into the voting process in the coming months. Don't rely on social media or word of mouth to inform you, because there are simple websites that can help you understand what's on your ballot, and early voting locations so that you don't have to take off work or wait in long lines! To learn more about advocacy and getting involved in conversations about community change, follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platforms.

Can you believe there are already over 150 episodes of this show!? Give all we've seen and done in that time, and all the people we've met and talked to, we wanted to mark the occasion by revisiting the goal of the show, and the people working to accomplish it. Shannon Oliviero is the PR Officer of Feeding Tampa Bay, and Ev Malcolm is the Content Manager -- and together they've been telling the stories of our neighbors, partners, and teammates for almost 5 years! Tune in to learn about these two wonderful creatives, how the show has helped spread the mission of Feeding Tampa Bay, and where we hope to take it in the future. P.S. The book Ev referred to on the show is called Lost Connections, by Johann Hari And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media for more powerful storytelling and opportunities to get involved in the fight against hunger!

Yuengling may have opened its famous Tampa brewery back in 1999, but did you know they are the oldest family owned brewery in the US dating back to 1829? Today, the sixth generation of four sisters are running the operation. Tune in to learn more from Debbie Yuengling as she shares their 'all family' culture and what it's like to grow into such a fun and inventive industry. Don't miss out on the concerts taking place on September 5th and 7th -- visit www.yuenglingcenter.com to learn more and get your tickets today. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see what other great community partners we're teaming up with, and how you can get involved in ending hunger, too!

There are currently only two "community" schools in Hillsborough County, so as the Resource Teacher at Brandon High, Lauren Leto had to blaze a few trails to support her students. And one of the first things she found when she began talking to families in the community was that their most basic needs weren't being met. Before the conversation could start about raising the school's grade or overall test scores, students and families needed access to consistent, healthy meals, and to feel like they could count on someone to listen to and care for them. On today's episode we talk with Mrs. Leto and one of her student helpers, Pierre, about the impact these resources have had on their school's community, and how something as simple as a food pantry can change lives for the better. Learn more about our Feeding Minds program by following @FeedingTampaBay on social media today!

In Phil Lee's own words, Florida Blue is a "health solutions company" -- not just an insurance provider. On today's episode he explains what it means to focus on preventive healthcare, rather than trying to address issues once they've already started, and how having access to healthy food is such a key component in that endeavor. In the past four years alone, Florida Blue has provided over 180 million meals to residents across the state. And they plan to continue that mission through close partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay, and building infrastructure that can better connect people with the food they need not just to survive, but to thrive. See more of the magic made possible through our partnerships by following @FeedingTampaBay on social media, and visiting our website to get involved firsthand!

For YEARS our caring friends over at ABC Action News have been helping us raise awareness about the struggles, needs, successes and humanity of our neighbors around Tampa Bay. And on today's episode we have two of the crew's grade-A journalists, Sean Daly and Jillian Ramos, joining us to talk about our upcoming Pack the Pantries campaign, as well as the effect that media has in creating a better community. Tune in for laughs and learning, and check out our past episode featuring Sean Daly at the link right here! Also follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platform to see how you can easily get involved in the fight against hunger in our region and beyond.

If you've watched Feeding Tampa Bay's Epic Chef competition in the past, you know just how exciting it is to see the best culinary artists in the region face off head-to-head! This year is no different, except that Rachel Bennett, Executive Chef of The Stovall House, will be joining our CEO Thomas Mantz in hosting the live event. Tune in to today's episode to learn about Chef Bennett's history with the event, her history in the kitchen, and what you should prepare for starting later this month! Thanks to our partners at MOR-TV, you can watch this year's competition live on YouTube (@MORTampa), Facebook (@MORTampa), and on their website, www.mor-tv.com -- and be sure to follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media for more info!

You may be thinking that with our new community center on Causeway Blvd. Feeding Tampa Bay is all set! But the work is just beginning, friends. Now that we have more capacity to feed our neighbors, we have even more room for help from kind souls like you! Our colleagues Derek Ultican and Jason Prado join us on today's episode to explain how you can help us press on toward ending hunger in Tampa Bay, whether you have time, talent, or treasure to contribute to the cause. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see all the opportunities we offer for getting involved with your community, and visit our website to donate or volunteer

As our mission has grown, the way it's represented has to grow, too. And we're so thankful to have had the experts at ChappellRoberts by our side for over 10 years, to help with that. We have their Senior Director of Brand Strategy, Katy Parsons, on the show today, to share what it's been like engaging with our community in creative and meaningful ways for so many years. Tune in to see how marketing goes so far beyond just colors and jingles, into breaking down barriers of understanding and possibility for the people who experience it. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platform, to see how you can experience the possibilities for yourself!

Many of us know how scary it is to leave high school and try to find your place in the big, wide world. So the mission of Workforce Development Partners is to connect those graduating students with real people who can offer them real opportunities, and support them in their transition to adulthood. Yvonne Fry joins us on today's episode to talk about where and why this mission began, and how it's grown to support dozens of schools in our region. If you have a grade school student looking at home, visit workforcedevelopmentpartner.com to see what kinds of connections might be possible to ensure their future is a bright one! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to catch more opportunities offered by our network of brilliant, caring community partners.

Our annual cereal collection event is here! Every year our partners at 10 Tampa Bay help us collect TONS of cereal so that kids in our community can have breakfast every day, even when they're on summer break from school. Kathryn Bursch has been helping us coordinate this massive effort for a long time, and joins us today to share what she's seen of the community pitching in to help one another. And there's still time for you to get involved! Cereal for Summer runs through the end of May, and you can donate or learn more by visiting cerealforsummer.com. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see just how much cereal we've collected this year, and all the other ways we're activating our community to make Tampa Bay a better place!

There's no singular path to accomplishing our goals in life, and on today's episode our president & CEO, Thomas Mantz, shares the secret sauce behind his successes at Feeding Tampa Bay. The main ingredient? Help from others who care. Not only does everyone need a hand-up to get where they want to go in life, but we all need to help each other if we hope to live in a community that's both stable and thriving. And with the grand opening of our enormous new facility just a few weeks away, we're excited to give everyone a taste of what we can accomplish, together. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to stay in the loop about our new facility and services in the coming weeks!

If you've spent enough time around Feeding Tampa Bay then you already know that food IS medicine! And the TampaWell project, created by our partners at Tampa General Hospital, is using that medicine to improve the health of our neighbors through a bright and sunny community garden. On today's episode we talk to Jenise Carr, the Food Pharmacy & Community Garden Manager at TampaWell, and learn all about the ways organic gardening helps us live longer while building community at the same time. AND she shares how those of us who aren't huge veggie fans can spice up our recipes to enjoy the nourishment our bodies need! Be sure to visit the TampaWell website to learn more about their health app and volunteer opportunities. And check out the Sapphire Award we recently received from Florida Blue for our FoodRX program! Find more healthy, fun recipes follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media.

Awareness of and involvement with the community around you is the most important part of advocacy work, according to Lorena Hardwick, our own Chief External Affairs Officer. It can be easy to get swept up in the frustrations we face in our lives, without knowing what we can do about them or how we can do it. But that's Lorena's specialty -- she stays on top of the important local and political developments that affect the lives of our neighbors, and acts to be their voice ensuring that families and children have what they need to thrive. Tune in to learn how you can directly effect change in your community, as well. Contact Lorena with questions you have about advocacy, at LHardwick@FeedingTampaBay.org And follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how we're effecting change on a daily basis, and all the ways you can get involved in the fight to improve lives all around the region!

Former Senator Janet Cruz still remembers how her grandparents' clothes smelled of cigars when they returned home from Ybor City's historic cigar factories. She recalls a childhood where neighbors shared cultural nuances and best of all delicious food! Growing up in Tampa helped create the passion that drives her to ensure that children and families throughout Tampa Bay have the resources they need to live happy and supported lives. Join us as we discuss Tampa's rich history, the struggles of growing up in poverty and the resilience of never giving in, an important conversation we can all learn a little something from. And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see history in the making, as we work to end hunger in the Tampa Bay area!

Joining us again on today's episode is mental health expert, Natasha Pierre, to help us honor Women's History Month by talking about how women can make the present a historic time. We touch on the importance of mentoring, how role-modeling starts at home, and how to have compassion for the people who might misunderstand you out in the world. This episode is chock full of other powerful insights as well, so tune in to celebrate how badass women truly are year round! Check out Natasha's previous episode with us here Find the book Natasha mentioned here And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see what the women in our world are doing to end hunger each and every day.

Twenty years cycling between home-life struggles and military combat zones has taught Dr. Damon everything he needs to know about the importance of personal and interpersonal healing. After battling with PTSD and suicidal thoughts himself, his life purpose was revealed to him in the form of improving life for the men and women who sacrificed to keep their loved ones safe. On today's episode he takes us on a journey from juvenile jail cells to having his name honored in the Pentagon, and teaches us about all the physical, mental, and spiritual ways his organization (SOF Missions) is healing veterans in Florida and beyond. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about our incredible partners, and the ways you can get involved in the fight to improve life for every one of our neighbors around the country.

There is no better way to support our struggling neighbors than understanding what their struggles consist of, and how they can be helped. That is why Kareem Spratling is the perfect chairman for the board of Feeding Tampa Bay, and why we want to introduce you to him on today's episode! In his youth, Kareem lived the experience of food insecurity firsthand. And as his life journey led him to positions of prestige, he never stopped pouring his time and effort into helping others find stability and dignity, too. Listen to learn about his journey from the projects to becoming a public finance attorney, and why he thinks success stories are so important during Black History Month and beyond. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our own success stories, and how you can get involved to help us create more of them!

Dr. Sharma has returned (previous episode link here) and is helping us kick off the New Year with a better understanding of Integrative Medicine! She shares her individualized approach to each patient's over all well-being and a few incredible success stories that reflect positive, healthy outcomes that have changed lives. We discuss the lifelong affects of "food trauma" and how it's up to us to make a difference along with updates on our partnership with Tampa General Hospital and the innovative health programs available, that just begin with good nutrition. For more information on Nutrition Education visit our website.   Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about the work we're doing to improve health in Tampa Bay, and the phenomenal partners working right alongside us.

Did you know that Feeding Tampa Bay has programs for volunteers of all ages? On today's episode we talk about the Student Ambassador program, and meet two of the local college students using their knowledge and their voices to help fight food insecurity! Meet Gina and Adam, and learn how college students in Tampa Bay can get involved with their community, helping neighbors and making friends along the way. Then head over to FeedingTampaBay.org and learn about our other youth programs, Catalyst and Changemakers! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see more of the fun, fulfilling activities you and your family can participate in throughout the coming year.

Your favorite yearly episode is here! Meet the inspirational human beings who act as the heart, the arms, the legs, and the soul of our mighty little organization. We talk passion and purpose with Roanna, Jack, Omar, Robert, and Jocelyn on today's episode! It truly takes a village to do the work we do, and we hope you'll join us in building it! Learn more about our team and our programs on social media @FeedingTampaBay -- and visit our website, FeedingTampaBay.org, to see how you can get involved in the fight to end hunger.

Your favorite yearly episode is here! Meet the inspirational human beings who act as the heart, the arms, the legs, and the soul of our mighty little organization. We talk passion and purpose with Sarah, Chris, Lorena, and Scott on today's episode, and have FIVE MORE team members for you to meet next time! It truly takes a village to do the work we do, and we hope you'll join us in building it! Learn more about our team and our programs on social media @FeedingTampaBay -- and visit our website, FeedingTampaBay.org, to see how you can get involved in the fight to end hunger.

The ChappellRoberts marketing agency is the creative force behind so many of Feeding Tampa Bay's bright, inspiring campaigns each year. And on today's episode, we'd like to introduce you to their Chief Creative Officer, Matt Boswell. We talk about what it's like trying to keep a creative spirit alive in a world that doesn't always know how to nurture that kind of person, and how ChappellRoberts dreams up marketing projects like or current "Big Things Are Happening" campaign. Visit https://feedingtampabay.org/bigthings to experience our interactive art exhibition, travelling the Tampa Bay region to connect with the community and help them experience our mission first-hand! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see where our "Big Citrus" is going to be, and how you can support us by doing things like buying a specialty coffee drink from our partners at Blind Tiger!

Tampa Bay Bucs Linebacker Markees Watts says he is blessed to have always had support along his journey to the NFL. And he knows how much of a difference it makes to have people believe in you. That's why he was so intent on finding ways to support the community of Feeding Tampa Bay when he arrived here from Lancaster, SC. Listen to learn how Markees went from playing 8th grade football to being one of the tiny percentage of players who actually make it to the big leagues, and how complicated that process actually is when you aren't drafted right out of college. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about the programs we collaborate on with partners like the Bucs, and how you can get involved in ending hunger in our community as well!

We're all aware that life can be difficult for an active duty soldier, but extreme difficulties can also pile up in different ways for retired veterans. Many of them struggle to reintegrate into normal, everyday life, and may not have enough money to cover food and housing costs. And that's not even mentioning the challenges they face from physical or mental trauma they've endured. On today's episode we hear from Dr. Chad Radwan, a veteran-care researcher from the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital, and his friend David Caras, a veteran who leads support groups and other programs to help men just like him lead healthy lives. Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn how we work with community partners to support veterans in and around Tampa, and how you can get involved to do the same.

One surprising fact that has become clear in all our decades of food banking is this: food alone can't end hunger. That's why our colleagues like Matt and Kaity work so tirelessly to develop and improve programs that provide people with access to more than a just a meal. Tune in to learn how our work provides neighbors in need with healthcare, shelter, and financial self-sufficiency -- and how absolute human gems like Kaity find their way to working alongside us on our mission! Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our programs in action, and learn how you can get involved in providing our neighbors with what they really need to thrive.

Our President and CEO, Thomas Mantz, is running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 10/8! He personally runs for better health, but this time he is running to better the health of others. And running right alongside him will be his daughter, Jessica -- who joins us on today's show to talk about her love of running and the training she and Thomas have been doing over the years. You can join them in helping to create memories around the table for families served by both Feeding Tampa Bay and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Go to https://donate.feedingtampabay.org/campaign/run-thomas-run/c522249 for more information, and thank you for supporting our mission to end hunger and build stability throughout our communities. You can also view the awesome fun-spirational video we recorded with Thomas about his training for the marathon on our YouTube! And see more of our creations and work in the community by following @FeedingTampaBay on social media.

Access to healthy food helps to prevent so many long-term medical issues, that's why BayCare works so closely with Feeding Tampa Bay to ensure that our neighbors can get that much-needed access. Whether they're funding school pantries, sending medical patients home with bags of food, or staffing an on-site clinic at the FTB warehouse, BayCare is in it for the long haul when it comes to ending hunger. Tune in to hear from Lisa Bell, BayCare's Director of Community Benefit -- as well as our show's own former host, Matt Spence! He and Lisa have been brainstorming together for years, and are excited to talk about the programs that have sprouted from all those conversations. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media to learn more about our many programs, and how you can get involved in the fight against hunger.

Growing up, many of us don't learn all of the ins and outs of what truly goes into a healthy diet. Then when money is tight and stress is high, it can be even more difficult to think about nutrition on a daily basis. That is why the Nutrition Education team was formed at Feeding Tampa Bay -- to ensure our neighbors are getting the healthy food, and the nutritional information they need when they visit our programs. On today's episode Kelley Brickfield and Samantha Wholley explain how their team works, and provide insight into some common misunderstandings about food and nutritional health. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platform for more healthy eating info, and even some in-house recipes based on food we regularly receive at our warehouse!

At Feeding Tampa Bay, we create opportunities for neighbors of all ages to get involved in helping their community. We even have specific volunteer groups composed of kids, teens, and young adults, to help them engage and learn at their level -- and that's the focus of today's show. You'll get to meet two of our Community Engagement team members, who create a fun and feel-good experience for the folks helping us end hunger. And they'll set the stage for the stars of today's show: The Cole family. This loving bunch of giving hearts have restructured their very lives so that they can be more intentional about their impact on the world. And they encouraged a whole army of volunteers from their children's school, Corbett Elementary, to do the same! Tune in to learn more about the variously aged affinity groups of Feeding Tampa Bay, and follow us on your favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay to see what kind of things you can do to get involved!

Last week we had a tasty conversation with Chef Marty Blitz of the famous Tampa restaurant, Mise en Place. And the multi-course meal wouldn't be complete without introducing you to Mise en Place's co-founder, Maryann Ferenc! Maryann has spent decades developing a recipe for success in the restaurant industry, and has shared in the journey of so many excellent chefs who have passed through their kitchens. Tune in to hear how she grew up in kitchens herself, has spent decades supporting our mission and the importance of including the Mise en Place philosophy in every part of your life!   Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media, and watch our Epic Chef LIVE on YouTube, Monday nights at 6:30pm until August 7th!

The legendary Mise en Place has been a leader in innovative dining for over 30 years in Tampa Bay. Meet the restaurant's Executive Chef, Marty Blitz, the creative driving force behind that reputation alongside his business partner, Maryann Ferenc. With Chef Marty's decades of culinary experience, he has mentored a multitude of celebrated culinary artists in addition to loyally lending his expertise to support hunger relief organizations like Feeding Tampa Bay. Epic Chef Showdown's coveted trophy for is named The Marty Blitz Award honoring his years of dedication to his craft and influence. Listen in to hear how his journey through kitchens around the country and a garage in Pinellas county brought him to where he is today. You too can experience the 8th Annual Epic Chef Showdown LIVE at feedingtampabay.org/epicchef Mondays through August 7th.

In case you missed it last year, we're re-sharing the episode with FTB Director of Disaster Relief Jim Carpenter! Want to know what weather channels to watch when a storm is brewing? Want to know how you can restock your fridge after a long power outage? Tune in and listen to Weatherman Jim. Remember, Feeding Tampa Bay is here for you in blue skies, and gray. Follow @FeedingTampaBay for updates about or disaster relief pantries this hurricane season, and stay safe, wherever you are.

Hurricane season is fast approaching here in Florida, and disaster relief is an important part of the food banking world. On today's episode we welcome back Robin Safley, Executive Director of Feeding Florida, to explain how food bank networks became a crucial part of the first responder teams in the U.S. But hurricanes aren't the only disasters we face every year -- check back in for our next few episodes to learn how our sister food banks in other parts of the nation help people survive through floods, fires, and more. Together, we can weather anything. Learn how you can help in blue skies and gray, by visiting FeedingTampaBay.org and following us on social media @FeedingTampaBay!

When addiction takes over the steering wheel of your life, you're bound to crash and hurt the people around you. On today's episode, our friend Joel Sittloh shares how he is recovering from decades of drug and alcohol abuse, finding refuge and recovery in community support and service to others who are struggling. As Joel says, he lives his recovery out loud to help those who are who are suffering on the inside. Tune in to meet this incredible human being, and hear the message he has for people who have been in his position, and the people who love them. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can personally get involved with our mission of ending hunger.

The people who dedicate their lives to helping others possess a strength that can be difficult to imagine. And few people embody that strength more than Yvette Carter, director of the pantry at Open Arms Ministry in Clearwater, FL. Having survived domestic abuse, homelessness, prison, and cancer, Yvette provides hope and support to her community every single day in the forms of food and honest listening. Tune in to hear about her turbulent journey through life, and how her mission of bringing people peace and comfort keeps her alive. Learn more about Feeding Tampa Bay and how you can help end hunger in our region by visiting FeedingTampaBay.org.

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 csibbick@feedingtampabay.org! 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!