Stick A Fork In It

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shirley Jump — New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author with 87 published books and 8 million copies sold — opens up about the time after her divorce when she couldn't afford food for herself and her teenage son. She volunteered at a food bank not out of charity alone, but because she was living the same reality.

She was a single mom. Two kids. Two jobs. And $37 left at the end of the pay period. Then she walked into a credit union — and everything changed. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shannon sits down with Bob Hyde of Suncoast Credit Union, one of Feeding Tampa Bay's most valued community partners. Bob shares what "people helping people" looks like beyond the tagline — from one family's journey...

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Thomas pulls back the curtain on what hunger really looks like in Tampa Bay — and why it's nothing like most of us imagine. We talk about the Causeway Center, the merger with Trinity Cafe that changed everything, why they just opened a medical clinic on campus, and the philosophy that drives everything Feeding Tampa Bay does: 51% dignity, 49% food.

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Ray talks about what it really feels like to own the paper you grew up reading, why Creative Loafing refuses to put up a paywall, and what he believes about the future of local journalism in Tampa Bay. Plus — what's happening with Restaurant Month, his unexpected dream concert, and why kindness is a muscle you have to train.

When Florida's schools and restaurants shut down, dairy farmers were forced to dump millions of gallons of perfectly good milk — while families just miles away went hungry. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Andrea McClellan from M&B Dairy pulls back the curtain on what really happens on a Florida dairy farm, and the bill that's finally fixing a heartbreaking problem.

Tampa Bay's most trusted meteorologist Denis Phillips joins Stick a Fork in It to cut through the fear, the hype, and the dangerous social media myths spreading ahead of hurricane season — and he has a message every Tampa Bay family needs to hear. From the tragic story of 12 lives lost in Pinellas County during Hurricane Helene — people who believed they had nowhere to turn — to the viral "Super E...

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, we sit down with Curtis — a Fresh Force program graduate who turned his life around through one of Tampa Bay's most powerful workforce development programs. Curtis shares the raw truth about his past, the moment he walked through the doors of Feeding Tampa Bay, and how a 10-week training program changed everything for his family.

Tampa food culture has a secret keeper — and his name is Jeff Houck. From Tampa Bay food trucks to the legendary Columbia Restaurant, this former Tampa Tribune food critic knows where every great bite in Florida is hiding. Now working inside the Columbia Restaurant Group, Jeff is on a mission to give back — literally.

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 brea...

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...

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...

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...

What if the most powerful prescription your doctor could write wasn't for a pill — it was for food? In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shannon 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 pa...

Every summer, children in Tampa Bay are afraid of school letting out because summer means losing the meals they depend on. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Jayci Peters, Chief Experience Officer at Feeding Tampa Bay, shares how Cereal for Summer is fighting child hunger for its 11th year running. In this conversation, we dig into how a simple box of cereal became the heartbeat of a community...

#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 i...

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...

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 worki...

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...

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...

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 Nic...

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...

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 episod...

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 serv...

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...

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 othe...