Stick A Fork In It

Our President and CEO, Thomas Mantz, is running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 10/8! He personally runs for better health, but this time he is running to better the health of others. And running right alongside him will be his daughter, Jessica -- who joins us on today's show to talk about her love of running and the training she and Thomas have been doing over the years. You can join them in h...

Access to healthy food helps to prevent so many long-term medical issues, that's why BayCare works so closely with Feeding Tampa Bay to ensure that our neighbors can get that much-needed access. Whether they're funding school pantries, sending medical patients home with bags of food, or staffing an on-site clinic at the FTB warehouse, BayCare is in it for the long haul when it comes to ending hung...

Growing up, many of us don't learn all of the ins and outs of what truly goes into a healthy diet. Then when money is tight and stress is high, it can be even more difficult to think about nutrition on a daily basis. That is why the Nutrition Education team was formed at Feeding Tampa Bay -- to ensure our neighbors are getting the healthy food, and the nutritional information they need when they v...

At Feeding Tampa Bay, we create opportunities for neighbors of all ages to get involved in helping their community. We even have specific volunteer groups composed of kids, teens, and young adults, to help them engage and learn at their level -- and that's the focus of today's show. You'll get to meet two of our Community Engagement team members, who create a fun and feel-good experience for the f...

Last week we had a tasty conversation with Chef Marty Blitz of the famous Tampa restaurant, Mise en Place. And the multi-course meal wouldn't be complete without introducing you to Mise en Place's co-founder, Maryann Ferenc! Maryann has spent decades developing a recipe for success in the restaurant industry, and has shared in the journey of so many excellent chefs who have passed through their ki...

The legendary Mise en Place has been a leader in innovative dining for over 30 years in Tampa Bay. Meet the restaurant's Executive Chef, Marty Blitz, the creative driving force behind that reputation alongside his business partner, Maryann Ferenc. With Chef Marty’s decades of culinary experience, he has mentored a multitude of celebrated culinary artists in addition to loyally lending his expertis...

In case you missed it last year, we're re-sharing the episode with FTB Director of Disaster Relief Jim Carpenter! Want to know what weather channels to watch when a storm is brewing? Want to know how you can restock your fridge after a long power outage? Tune in and listen to Weatherman Jim. Remember, Feeding Tampa Bay is here for you in blue skies, and gray. Follow @FeedingTampaBay for updates ab...

Hurricane season is fast approaching here in Florida, and disaster relief is an important part of the food banking world. On today's episode we welcome back Robin Safley, Executive Director of Feeding Florida, to explain how food bank networks became a crucial part of the first responder teams in the U.S. But hurricanes aren't the only disasters we face every year -- check back in for our next few...

When addiction takes over the steering wheel of your life, you're bound to crash and hurt the people around you. On today's episode, our friend Joel Sittloh shares how he is recovering from decades of drug and alcohol abuse, finding refuge and recovery in community support and service to others who are struggling. As Joel says, he lives his recovery out loud to help those who are who are suffering...

The people who dedicate their lives to helping others possess a strength that can be difficult to imagine. And few people embody that strength more than Yvette Carter , director of the pantry at Open Arms Ministry in Clearwater, FL. Having survived domestic abuse, homelessness, prison, and cancer, Yvette provides hope and support to her community every single day in the forms of food and honest li...

Few people understand the power of food better than professional chefs. That's part of the reason Chef Ferrell Alvarez, who partly owns some of the most celebrated eateries in Tampa, has directly supported the mission of Feeding Tampa Bay for years. This year he's lending his expertise to our annual Fork Fight gala event, coordinating top culinary artists from around Tampa Bay to create multi-cour...

Many of us don't actually know how to check in on our own mental health. Many more don't realize how much of an effect mental health has on every part of our lives. We're fortunate to have experts like Natasha Pierre to coach us through the confusion and struggle of understanding our minds — what they need, how to care for them, and the fact that we're rarely alone in these difficulties. Tune in t...

It takes an incredible emotional strength (and sometimes an incredible partnership) to turn personal tragedy into hope for others -- but that is exactly what Mike & Kathy Fooshee have been doing for years. After meeting online over 20 years ago, their blended family has weathered unbelievable challenges, and made a mission of sharing their story with others to spare them from suffering through...

For nearly 30 years Sweetwater Organic Community Farm has educated Tampa residents about easy farming techniques, by inviting them to plant and harvest crops alongside their neighbors. Everyone from kindergarteners to senior citizens are welcome to come and learn how to care for plants and animals from the community that has kept the farm thriving all this time. On today's episode we talk with Chr...

What happens when a father of 7 breaks his back on the job, and is unable to continue working, while the cost of rent and groceries rises all over the country? He leans on the support of community, family, and maybe even a furry new friend who can pull him out of the depths of despair. Meet David Brown, one of the brave, big-hearted guests who has visited the partner pantries of Feeding Tampa Bay....

How do you plan for the most ambitious social project ever undertaken in Tampa Bay? With the help of experienced, dedicated people like Todd Wickner, who's managed successful restaurants and arenas across the United States. As a member of the Board of Directors of Feeding Tampa Bay, Todd has helped guide us through all of our trials, successes, and growth over the past 10 years, and he joins us on...

As a widow and mother, Barb is back to work at 71 and still struggling to make ends meet. She has been a lifetime caregiver and loyal volunteer, making asking for help extremely difficult and emotional. In a time where choices were being made between transportation, food and medicine, having food available was an unexpected relief.   To learn more visit FeedingTampaBay.org or to find a food bank n...

With so many sources of news available on TV and online, it's difficult to know what to trust. We invite the Emmy-award-winning duo Michael Paluska and Reed Moeller from ABC Action News to pull back the curtain a bit on journalism, and share with you what it's like to brainstorm, write, and record the stories that inform you about your world. Tune in to learn about twin-tuition, the art of videogr...

We're fortunate to have had the support of Tampa's Mayor, Jane Castor, through thick and thin in recent years. She stood by us during the pandemic, providing Feeding Tampa Bay the attention and resources we needed to ensure nobody went hungry while businesses were closing. And now she's helping guide us through the process of expanding our capability, as we begin construction on a new facility off...

There was so much more to discuss with our recent guest, Katie Fitzgerald, that we just had to have her back on the show. Last time we talked about the ways that food banks are evolving to address root causes of hunger -- but on today's episode we discuss how that evolution is made possible, and how it's already making regions around Feeding America food banks truly hunger-free. To learn what it r...

After spending years teaching students directly, Addison Davis finds himself in charge of all the school's in one of the nation's largest counties. How does someone in that position ensure that children are getting what they need to be well-adjusted, successful adults? By working tirelessly to get teachers and parents what they need, and remembering that every child has a story. Tune in to learn h...

General Mills is the company that produces many of your most favorite, most iconic cereals -- but they're also responsible for TONS of other beloved breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods that you can find in any grocery store. On today's episode we're grateful to have Scott Nevitt (Sr. Customer Mgr.) and Katie Fenech (Brand Experience Asst. Mgr.) join us to marvel at the lifelong impact foods like br...