Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — When you look around Pinellas County, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means real hunger.

In Pinellas County, 73,369 people (12.9 percent of residents) were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Pinellas County to 18.3 percent by the end of the year.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include Feeding Tampa Bay, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Some food pantries and other services available in Pinellas County are:

• World Outreach International, 304 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, 352-871-4387
• Eastside Baptist Church, 3333 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, 727-804-1120
• Clearwater 1st Church of the Nazarene, 1521 E. Druid Road, Clearwater, 727-446-6507
• Calvary Church Food Pantry, 1875 Nursery Road, Clearwater, 737-536-1498
• Helping Hands, 200 McMullen Booth Road N., Clearwater, 727-379-7562
• St. Mary Coptic Orthodox, 2565 Blackburn St., Clearwater, 272-709-3461
• Religious Community Services, 2930 County Road 193, Clearwater, 727-644-5190
• Bayview Baptist Church, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater, 727-385-9715
• United Family Outreach, 825 Howard St., Clearwater, 727-470-5809
• Clearwater Community Church, 833 Wyatt St., Clearwater, 727-515-8328
• Calvary Episcopal Church, 2897 Belcher Road, Dunedin, 727-799-4444
• St. Jerome Lifeline Ministry, 1614 1st St., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-418-1673
• Oak Ridge Wesleyan, 10895 Hamlin Blvd., Largo, 303-591-6606
• Beaming Hope Church, 11000 110 Ave. N., Largo, 727-393-9182
• St. Paul United Methodist Church, 11000 110th Ave. N., Largo, 727-524-7305
• H.E.L.P. Ministries Apostolic Church of Jesus Inc., 1199 Highland Ave., Largo, 813-735-4098
• Abundant Life Ministries, 1381 Church St., Largo, 727-542-3741
• Restoration Ministry Largo, 1550 S. Belcher Road, Largo, 7272-210-5433
• PEMHS, 160 6th St. S.W., Largo, 813-770-7033
• Beacon Street Ministries, 1614 Palm Way, Largo, 727-362-4289
• Oldsmar Cares, 3470 Adrian Ave., Largo, 727-278-2285
• Rock Church of Tampa Bay, 163 State Roa 580 W., Oldsmar, 727-748-9744
• World Wide Word of Faith, 3970 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, 727-657-4876
• Ozona Community Church, 1588 Klosterman Road, Palm Harbor, 727-784-3711
• New Journey Ministries, 610 Pennsylvania Ave., Palm Harbor, 727-785-9320
• 60th Street Baptist Church, 4090 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, 727-344-1063

RELATED:

• Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor
• Nonprofits In Crisis: Charitable Giving Down While Needs Up

Food insecurity is often thought of as a "poor people's problem," but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.

"Our members are reporting that many of the people they're serving have never sought food assistance before," Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America's chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance."

Patch News Partner Shutterstock

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.