Stick A Fork In It

Can food actually help cancer survivors heal? A research chef at one of the nation's top cancer centers says yes — and she's putting it to the test in a groundbreaking 12-week clinical study. In this episode, we sit down with Chef Jules, a research chef working in Moffitt Cancer Center's Population Engagement and Research Laboratory (PEARL), designing medically tailored meals specifically for breast cancer survivors battling chemo fog and inflammation. She breaks down the science behind food as medicine, why an anti-inflammatory, high-fiber diet can change outcomes for cancer patients, and what it actually looks like to cook healing food at a clinical level. What you'll learn: - How diet directly impacts cancer recovery and gut health - What the MIND study is testing with breast cancer survivors - Why an anti-inflammatory diet matters more during treatment than most people realize - How to make cancer-fighting foods accessible and affordable at home Whether you're a cancer survivor, a caregiver, or just someone who believes food is medicine — this conversation will change the way you think about what's on your plate.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of pounds of fresh produce were about to rot in farmers' fields — because the restaurants that bought them had shut down overnight. Then Publix spent $10 million to change that. And they never stopped. That has helped feed thousands of people, through their partnership with the Feeding Tampa Bay food bank. It’s part of their combined efforts to end hunger. In this episode of Stick a Fork In It, we sit down with Brian West, Community Relations Manager at Publix, to hear the story behind one of Tampa Bay's most powerful community partnerships. As of May 2024, Publix has donated over 100 million pounds of produce to families in need — and Brian shares what drives a company that large to keep giving. From their founder's legacy to the moment a child cried happy tears over a carton of milk, this conversation will remind you why community partnerships matter — and how ordinary people inside big companies make extraordinary things happen In this episode: • The behind-the-scenes story of how a $10 million food rescue started in 2020 • Why produce was rotting in fields while families went hungry — and how supply chains failed everyone • The "Cereal for Summer" program and how it reaches kids across multiple counties • Brian's message to any nonprofit: "Don't be afraid to ask. The worst I can say is no." • How Publix's commitment to giving goes all the way back to founder George Jenkins in 1930 Publix and Feeding Tampa Bay have been partners since 2009. This is what that partnership looks like from the inside. If you care about hunger in our community — or you've ever wondered whether big companies can really make a difference — this episode is for you.

Grace Sepulveda started a food pantry in her closet. She noticed the neighbors in her apartment building struggling to afford basic groceries. Since then, she has expanded it into multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Grace doesn't make a single dollar running her food pantries. She never has. She does it because her mother taught her one truth: "If you put food on someone else's table, the Lord will always put food on yours." Fourteen years and nine pantries later, Grace is still living that legacy — serving thousands of neighbors across Pinellas and Pasco counties with something most food banks don't offer: a choice. No pre-packed boxes. No impersonal handouts. Grace's Pantry sets up like a farmer’s market, because she believes people facing hunger still deserve their dignity. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Feeding Tampa Bay's podcast, Grace and her daughter-in- law Larissa share the real story behind nine pantries, 80 volunteers, and one unforgettable can of ravioli. In this episode: - Why Grace set up her pantries like a farmers market — and why it changes everything - The story of a young man, one can of ravioli, and a hunger that broke her heart - How a 200-car funeral procession shaped everything she does today - What "a good tired" means to the people showing up week after week - The raffle system that turned scarcity into community celebration Grace's Pantry partners with Feeding Tampa Bay to serve nearly one million neighbors facing hardship across West Central Florida. Learn more at https://gracesfoodpantry.com

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shirley sits down with Lisa Bell, Director of Community Benefit at BayCare Health System, to explore one of Tampa Bay's most innovative healthcare partnerships. BayCare has invested $500 million in community benefit in 2025 alone — and a big piece of that is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to tackle hunger head-on. They're not just talking about it. They're doing it:

#blackhistorymonth Highlighting a leader who began as a temp driver and is now director of warehose and logistics 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.

Cold or flu? Our chat with BayCare is just too good to not reshare!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.

The Tampa Bay Lightning aren't just two time Stanley Cup winners — they're also a powerhouse of community connection and support. Elizabeth Frazier, VP of Community Relations, joins us on today's episode to share the team's philosophy of philanthropy, and the ways they strive to make their arena a home for every neighbor and cause.Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see all the ways our partners are working to improve our community!

Many of you know Ty Pennington from shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition — but did you know that he cares just as much about taking care of our furry friends as he does about our families? That's why he partners with PetSmart Charities to ensure that our four-legged family members always have enough food to eat, too. Tune in to hear about his philosophy of what makes a home special, including the pitter patter of paws up and down the hallways.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how our other partners continue to help the community, too!

Feeding Tampa Bay is more than just a mission. It's a collection of people with so much heart, talent, and history they could have their own award-winning podcast. But since they're so busy providing help and hope to our community, we'll have to settle for meeting a few of them here. Welcome to Heroes of FTB, 2025 edition.On this week's episode you'll meet James, Kristin, Zachariah, Kim, and Kate — who each share the unexpected journey that brought them into our world, and the meaning they find in the work each and every day. Tune in, and get connected with the people connecting our neighbors with the help they need.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to meet more of our amazing teammates!

Feeding Tampa Bay is more than just a mission. It's a collection of people with so much heart, talent, and history they could have their own award-winning podcast. But since they're so busy providing help and hope to our community, we'll have to settle for meeting a few of them here. Welcome to Heroes of FTB, 2025 edition.On this week's episode you'll meet Dan, Ashley, Marcellus, Toneice, and Nicole — who each share the unexpected journey that brought them into our world. And that's only half the fun! Next week we'll bring you five more teammates, with five more stories to sink your teeth into. Stay tuned, and get connected with the people connecting our neighbors with the help they need.Follow @feedingtampabay on social media to learn more about the team and the mission!

If you feel like the crises of the world are growing and multiplying lately, you're not alone. Clara Reynolds, President & CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, recognizes how people are struggling with more and more problems, but don't have the tools or support needed to handle them. So what do we do? First, she says, we need to listen. Tune in to hear how her own journey through trauma led to helping others, and how the Crisis Center is changing the typical approach to social services in our community.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to give or receive help during times of crisis, and help our community build the tools it needs to thrive.

If you want to plan out the future of food relief in America, all you need is a background in fundraising, an infectiously positive attitude, and a cello degree from Northern Illinois University. Or at least, those are the ingredients that have helped Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, become a celebrated leader in the Feeding America national network. On today's episode Julie teaches us how to learn from the experience of others, how to energize the people we work with, and how to lean into the positive side of life while we do it.Learn more about the future of food relief by visiting our website at FeedingTampaBay.org, or following our social media @FeedingTampaBay.

What does a "think tank" actually do? Well, in the case of the Urban Institute, they compile tons of research about and testimonials from actual community members, and use that information to improve programs and policies that serve them. Alexis Weaver joins us today to explain how important it is to ensure that the things we think are helping people, are actually helping them. And how social services and governments can learn and grow from this work.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can help us grow from this work, too!

How is it possible that food banks are providing exponentially more meals to the community each year, but food insecurity is still growing all across the country? Brian Greene, President & CEO of Houston Food Bank, explains the problem in eye-opening detail. Tune in to learn how some nonprofits are changing their philosophy and approach to keep more people from slipping through the cracks.And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how you can help us do just that.

Our dear friend Yvette Carter, Director of Open Arms Ministry and their food pantry, recently passed. So we're honoring her story and all of the endless love that flowed from her into the community by re-sharing the episode we recorded with her in 2023. If you're looking for some inspiration to lift you out of despair, tune in to hear her story of a journey from homelessness to giving hope to others. And let's keep building the world she envisioned together.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can lean in to help build a stronger community.

The safety and comfort of home is a feeling we can all relate to, and an experience every person deserves. That is why, even as housing prices soar, Habitat for Humanity continues its mission of building prosperous and vibrant communities. Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, joins us to explain how affordable housing improves the very fabric of communities, and how the people who need it most are often those caring for us, our families, and our children.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn more about our partners doing amazing work in the community, and how you can get involved.

What is a "community partnership school"? A hub for helping EVERYONE from students, to parents, to teachers themselves! The Children's Home Society of Florida and its community partners are focused on expanding school offerings to include things like medical and dental care, mentoring, parenting classes, and even housing resources.They understand how hard it can be for children to get a good education when they're hungry or struggling at home, and how hard it can be for many parents to make ends meet. Join us on today's episode to learn how Mary Brown, Senior Director of Community Partnership Schools, sees this model as the future of successful schooling in our state.Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn about our other child-centered programs, and how you can help us grow them!

News is changing just as much as the world that it reports on, but is still a fundamental source of information for us and our neighbors. That's why we invited Natalie Taylor (ABC News) and Walter Allen (FOX News) onto the podcast, to talk about what it's like working in broadcast media today — especially as a couple on different sides of the local news fence. Tune in and learn with us!Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how we're evolving with the times as well, and how you can get involved.

Do you remember how exciting it was as a kid to get a new jacket or new shoes, and to show them off at school the next day? For over 20 years, Clothes to Kids has been making that feeling possible for children who have often had to go to school without socks, or wearing pants and shirts that don't fit. Jennifer Jacobs, Executive Director of Clothes to Kids, joins us on today's episode to tell us the story of how their journey started, and the joy she's helped bring to children all across Tampa Bay. Visit clothestokids.org to learn more and help them grow their wardrobe!And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to get involved with good people in your community.

In just a couple weeks you can watch our 10th Epic Chef event LIVE on YouTube (streamed by our partners @MORTampa)! Co-host Rachel Bennett returns to the podcast today to talk about what makes Epic Chef so special, and to enlighten us about the culinary scene of Tampa Bay. Tune in to learn more, and if you want to attend this year's Epic Chef event in person, visit FeedingTampaBay.org/EpicChef!As always, be sure to follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media for more updates.

How do you know which news sources to trust, and what stories are important for the community to hear? Conan Gallaty, CEO of the Tampa Bay Times, joins us on today's episode to talk about the history and importance of journalism in our country, and the state if digital information today. With so much information being blasted out at such high speeds, we're grateful that the staff of the Tampa Bay Times is so committed to getting the story right, and telling the stories that help keep us informed.Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your fav social media to find out how you can help your community, too!

As a professional meteorologist and certified "weather geek" -- Denis Phillips is the man to turn to when skies are looking stormy. Many of you stayed tuned into his broadcast on ABC Action News during the hurricanes last year, and on today's episode he tells us what's most important to keep in mind for future hurricanes. If you haven't already heard our past episode with Denis, check it out to learn where his famous "Rule #7" came from, and how you can use it to stay safe this season!Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how else you can prepare for storm season, too.

Seven months after hurricanes Helen and Milton devastated the West coast of Florida, many residents still have not been able to move back into their homes, or afford the expenses to get their lives back on track. That is why our friends at Grow Financial stepped in to provide direct support to our community in the form of direct recovery funding.Tune in to hear how credit unions like Grow Financial are geared toward community service, offering things like financial literacy programs to their members. And listen to the uplifting story of our neighbor Julia, who was helped by our re-Grow program after hurricane damage completely drained her savings.The program is closed for now, but follow @FeedingTampBay on your favorite social channels to stay up to date on future services like it!

One of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and the environment is support local industries -- and that's especially true when it comes to farmers! Andrea McClellan of M&B Dairy joins us today to share how her family provides milk to millions of families across Florida, and how partners like Feeding Tampa Bay ensure that milk gets distributed during summertime, storms, and even a pandemic. Tune in to learn how you can support local farmers, and stick around for the end of the show where we recap the most important takeaways!Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our partnerships in action, and get involved in our family-fun volunteer opportunities.

For decades Metropolitan Ministries has been giving people hope in our community by providing food, shelter, and human dignity. That is why our growing partnership with them is so meaningful, and why we're so grateful to have their president, Tim Marks, as the very first guest for our show's visual re-launch! Tim is entering a much-deserved retirement, and shares with us the importance of being a "servant leader". His journey is as unusual as that of many non-profit leaders, but his passion for telling human stories is familiar to us. Listen (and watch on YouTube or Spotify!) as he and our own president, Thomas Mantz, reflect on their many years of collaboration, and the new collaborations to come. Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can get involved in supporting your community!

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!