Latest news with #MetropolitanMinistries
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay food banks bracing for cutbacks under Trump
Food banks and nonprofits supplying meals to low-income people across Tampa Bay are bracing for potential cutbacks to federal programs that supply them with food or money. The changes being pushed by Donald Trump's administration come at a time when the cost of living, including groceries, is getting more expensive, pushing demand for affordable food higher. And the price of distributing that food is getting more expensive, too, advocates say. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in March cut more than $1 billion in federal funding when it canceled two programs that gave money to schools and food banks to buy food from local ranchers and farmers. Because of these cuts, food banks nationwide have lost access to millions of meals. In Central Florida, an organization that distributes meals to seven counties lost more than $1 million worth of food, according to news reports. And it's continuing to struggle with federal funding losses. Some nonprofits in Tampa Bay said they are still waiting to see whether the programs they use will get cut. But as the Trump administration looks to reduce other federal assistance programs, local food banks are worried the issues may compound. Feeding Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that serves 10 counties in the region, receives about 20% of its meals from a federal program, amounting to 20 million meals. Thomas Mantz, president and chief executive officer of Feeding Tampa Bay, said he's unsure if the program will get cut next year. 'We're going to do everything we can, but I don't suspect that we can make up that gap,' he said. 'We are a charitable-based organization, so all of what we do comes from the goodwill of the community, so that would be a big impact.' Metropolitan Ministries, a Tampa-based nonprofit providing services for people without homes or at-risk of losing housing, serves nearly 133,000 meals a month across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Ten percent of its budget comes from federal funding sources. The nonprofit also relies on the federal AmeriCorps program, which connects volunteers with communities in need. This year, the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to staff and funding for AmeriCorps. Two dozen states last month sued the federal government over those changes. Christine Long, chief programs officer for Metropolitan Ministries, said she and her staff are regrouping after losing 30 volunteers from the AmeriCorps program. Now, they're monitoring potential funding changes affecting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 'Anytime there's a crunch on somebody's budget, oftentimes food is one of the first things that they lose the ability to purchase,' Long said. 'People who help folks with hunger issues are so critically important.' Inconsistent federal funding has long been a challenge to operating a nonprofit, said David Lomaka, executive director of Neighborly Senior Care Network in Pinellas. The nonprofit provides services for older residents, including Meals on Wheels home delivery and group dining. It gets federal funding from the Older Americans Act, which Congress passed in 1965 to provide social and nutritional services to seniors. Nonprofits have to pay up front for their services and repayment isn't guaranteed. 'The money starts and stops,' Lomaka said. 'Starts and stops.' Neighborly Senior Care Network bills the state for the cost of its services, and the state then bills the federal government. Once the expense is approved, it has to go back down the ladder. As layoffs began in D.C. earlier this year, Lomaka said he heard there could be delays in receiving those reimbursements. 'It's just very ineffective, inefficient,' he said. 'But it's the government, so this has been going on for a while.' Trump's fiscal year 2026 recommended funding puts some services under the Older Americans Act at risk because of proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' budget, according to the National Council on Aging. Local leaders are also keeping a close eye on cuts and restrictions to government assistance programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provide health care and grocery money for low-income households. These programs are a part of the public health ecosystem. When people struggle to access food, they are also likely to have barriers to health care, said Erica Monet Li, a health policy analyst for the Florida Policy Institute, a nonpartisan advocacy organization. 'Health care and nutrition absolutely intersect,' Li said. 'When people are properly fed and can feed their children, they have better health outcomes in general.' Medicaid and food assistance have been prominent policy issues for Republicans this session, who want to reduce spending on these programs. The House on Thursday passed a sweeping bill, dubbed the One Big, Beautiful Bill, that would make more stringent work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance. In Pinellas and Hillsborough counties alone, 26,000 people in households with children could lose some amount of food assistance benefits if these work requirements are enacted, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Long, with Metropolitan Ministries, and other food bank leaders said these restrictions could push people further into the safety net of government assistance. 'These types of government changes are going to impact their daily life,' she said. 'I think we're going to see a big increase in people coming to us for our services, yet our services are dwindling as well.'
Axios
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Unhoused teens become playwrights through Straz partnership
Nine teens stand in a circle. Erin Lekovic, a playwright and community engagement instructor at the Straz Center, is in the middle, leading a round of "Fortunately, Unfortunately." "Unfortunately, I lost my car," one teen begins. "Fortunately, I had wings," another offers. "Unfortunately, I flew too close to the Sun," a third chimes in. Laughter spreads. The warmup ends. The teens sink into gray couches and open their scripts for today's rehearsal: a comedy they wrote about a gold-digging leprechaun. Why it matters: The youngest in the room is 13; the oldest, 18. All of them are experiencing homelessness and live at Metropolitan Ministries with their parents. But through a partnership between Metropolitan Ministries and the Straz, for 90 minutes each week, they're not case numbers — they're actors and playwrights. What they're saying: Justine Burke, vice president of marketing for Metropolitan Ministries, noted that many kids the nonprofit serves have never experienced Broadway-style theater. "It brings them a lot of laughter, a lot of joy. It relieves their stress and exposes them to things that they might otherwise not be able to do." Zoom in: Lekovic grew up in Tampa and is a product of the Straz's community engagement program. Her mom dropped her off in the summers while she worked. That's where she first learned that not all plays were written by "dead white guys." They could be made in a room with kids like her. And that stuck with her. She studied musical theater, started a theater company in New York, worked on stages in Chicago and wrote screenplays in Los Angeles. But her roots were in Tampa, and she returned in 2022. State of play: The teens have written two plays since January. One is a dark reimagining of "Little Red Riding Hood." The other started as a joke on St. Patrick's Day. Some of the teens miss classes, but they always come back. Over time, the talkative ones quiet down; the quiet ones speak up. Lekovic has watched them grow into an ensemble. She hopes a few keep writing. Maybe a few keep acting. But mostly, Lekovic hopes they remember what it felt like to build something together. What's next: Tonight, the teens have a stage reading. Not all of them will be there — some have jobs, some have SAT prep. Life.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nations largest single-day food drive returns to Tampa Bay for 33rd year
The Brief The 33rd Annual 'Stamp Out Hunger' event was held in Tampa Bay on Saturday. Residents across Tampa Bay left non-perishables in their mailboxes for letter carriers to pick up and bring to local food pantries. According to the NALC, food insecurity has reached a 'crisis level' in the nation with more than 44 million people unsure where their next meal will come from. TAMPA - The largest single-day food drive in the nation returned to the Tampa Bay Area on Saturday as the National Association of Letter Carriers held their 33rd Annual 'Stamp Out Hunger' event. Residents across Tampa Bay left non-perishables in their mailboxes for letter carriers to pick up and bring to local food pantries. Metropolitan Ministries and The Hope Villages of America were among some of the contributing food banks. Big picture view According to the NALC, food insecurity has reached a 'crisis level' in the nation with more than 44 million people unsure where their next meal will come from. Metro Ministries joined the event on Saturday for the eighth year and nine Bay Area post offices participated. What they're saying "This drive really helps us and boosts us, especially in the summertime. We start to see donations slip in the summertime. People are on vacation, the snowbirds go back," said Brensey Thompson, Director of Marketing & Communications. "We're super thankful for all of our volunteers who are helping us and very appreciative of the letter carriers. They are doing double duty today." Hope Villages of America in Clearwater collected more than 80,000 pounds of food. Melvin Thomas, Senior Vice President of Operations said, "We really depend on this because it's the largest food drive or us throughout the whole year." Thomas said the event couldn't have come at a better time. He said, "Our shelves were empty, as you can see, so this is crucial for us. Whatever we have on hand that day, that's what we're able to give out." READ: Pinellas County could bring Cross Bay Ferry service back by buying two of their own boats Thomas said so many families are facing roadblock after roadblock. "First, we had the hurricanes. We saw an increase after that. Now we have the loss of jobs with the reorganization of things." In addition to inflation. "The cost of groceries are going up so that's less that they can buy so the need is more," he added. What you can do For more information on how to get involved, you can visit their website. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
