Food Pantry To Host 6th Annual ‘Everything But The Turkey’ Event

TAMPA, FL – For the sixth straight year, the Community Food Pantry will help supply all the trimmings for area residents in need of help getting Thanksgiving dinner to their tables.

The Carrollwood Village food pantry will host its Everything But the Turkey distribution event on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at its home, Village Presbyterian Church, 13115 S. Village Drive.

Monica Wilson, the director of the Community Food Pantry, said Everything But the Turkey is open to anyone in need of assistance for Thanksgiving, not just their registered clients. The event typically draws people from northwest Hillsborough and southern Pasco counties, Wilson said.

For the most part, Everything But the Turkey uses drive-through distribution. Attendees are asked to enter through the church’s circular drive on the east side of the building. Volunteers at the stations will bring bags to attendees in their cars. There will also be a walk-up table for people who walk or ride the bus. Organizers asked attendees not to show up before 9 a.m.

The Community Food Pantry, which started as a mission of Village Presbyterian, focused on giving away turkeys for many years. The congregation would help provide small gift carts to the pantry’s clients for a turkey. But as the need for holiday assistance has grown, Wilson said they wanted to do more.

“We provide just about every side you can imagine for your meal and even some bags are filled with plates, napkins or holiday tablecloths.”

Last year’s event brought in more than 400 families, and Wilson said they’re expecting between 400 and 500 again this year. The pantry is still collecting donations for Everything But the Turkey, as long as the items are nonperishable, including canned corn, canned green beans, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, corn bread, canned cranberry sauce, canned/jarred gravy and Cream of Mushroom Soup.

“Although we serve clients perishable items such as bread, produce, meat and dairy, we cannot accept these donations from individuals due to food safety guidelines,” Wilson said.

However, thanks to some of their community partners, the Community Food Pantry expects to have around 200 turkeys to give to participants. This year, organizations who also are donating food, volunteers, space and/or talent to the 2017 Everything But the Turkey event include:

• Breezin’ Entertainment
• Publix, Allegany Franciscan Ministries Tau Grant
• Feeding Tampa Bay
• Joy FM
• Tampa Catholic SHAPE
• Sickles High School National Honor Society
• Dr. Tommy Lane, Lane Family Chiropractic
• Carrollwood Area Business Association
• Corbett Preparatory at IDS
• Village Presbyterian Church
• Together in Peace
• Tampa Bay Antique Vehicle Association
• Carrollwood Service League
• Cheer Express
• Moffitt Cancer Center
• Kiwanis of Carrollwood

Pantry Seeks Money, Other Donations For Year-End

While Everything But the Turkey is a popular event for the Community Food Pantry, Wilson said she also has to think about her ever-expanding client base. The pantry is facing a 70 percent increase in the numbers they serve, Wilson said.

“We see clients from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and a great deal of ‘working poor’ who have jobs but still cannot make their dollars stretch to the month end,” she said.

While 2017 has been a year of growth, Wilson said they’ve also seen an increase in vendor donations and community support. Right now, the Community Food Pantry is working on its year-end push to raise money for its increased numbers, as well as regular staple items.

“We are collecting items to fill holiday meal bags, but are always in need of a variety of foods this time of year to satisfy the increase in families at the pantry,” Wilson said.

Community Food Pantry’s list of basic staple items includes:

• Beans (dried or canned)
• Breakfast, granola bars, Pop Tarts
• Canned fruits
• Canned meat (tuna, chicken, salmon, ham)
• Canned soups
• Canned vegetables
• Cereals, oatmeal
• Hearty meals (stew, chili, Beefaroni)
• Jelly
• Macaroni and cheese
• Mashed potatoes
• Pasta
• Peanut Butter
• Rice
• Shelf-stable milk (including powdered milk)
• Tomato products (diced, sauce, etc.)

Businesses and organizations currently hosting ongoing holiday food drives for the Community Food Pantry include:

• Fountain Group, 10012 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 211, Tampa
• Book Swap, 11738 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• Title Boxing Club, 14338 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• Joint Chiropractic, 15215 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• Carrollwood Elementary School, 3516 McFarland Road, Tampa
• Northside Dolphins (TBYFL)
• Learning Gate Community School, 16215 Hanna Road, Lutz, or 207 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
• Patron Chiropractic and Sports Medicine, 24722 State Road 54, Lutz
• Primrose Carrollwood Kindergarten, 1770 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa
• Yarborough Orthodontist, 16688 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• All Children’s Dentistry, 16688 N. Dale Mabry Highway
• Gaither High School Student Government, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway

“We can’t thank the community enough for their generosity in helping local families this holiday season,” Wilson said.

Images courtesy of Community Food Pantry