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Holiday Relief Under The Big Top

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By GEORGE WILKENS The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

TAMPA PALMS - Now in its fifth year, Metropolitan Ministries' New Tampa Holiday Donation Center almost qualifies as a holiday tradition.

The large red-and-white tent on the grounds of St. James United Methodist Church reopens Sunday to collect food and toys for the 15,000 Tampa Bay area families that will seek Metropolitan Ministries' assistance this holiday season. The tent will remain open for collections until 6 p.m., Dec. 23.

The tent is staffed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by a corps of 100 volunteers - St. James members - first for 10 days of Thanksgiving collections, then 15 more for Christmas.

For a while, it appeared the Thanksgiving drive would fall short of its goal, said Jo Ann Lee of Pebble Creek, the 13-year church member coordinating the holiday drive.

"It was slow until the last couple of days, and it then went wild," she said. "I could not believe it. It was wonderful. You know, God works miracles in different ways."

Donations were still being delivered the day after the tent's temporary closing Nov. 20, Lee said. For sheer pounds of food collected, the New Tampa collection center was slightly over its Thanksgiving goal, but donations of cash and turkeys fell a little short, she said.

For 35 years, Metropolitan Ministries, a faith-based and community-supported nonprofit, has served homeless men, women and children in the Tampa Bay area
The organization's Christmas drive also emphasizes the donation of holiday gifts for everyone, from infants to adults.

When it comes to food, the turkey is king, of course, but the nonprofit organization's Boxes of Hope also include potatoes, beans, canned fruit and dessert.
Monetary donations and gift cards also are welcomed, as are batteries of all sizes.

Some New Tampa area donors conduct drives in their neighborhoods or workplace and deliver the bounty to the tent, Lee said. "One of my neighbors has a Christmas party every year, and to come to the party, she says, guests have to bring a toy or some food. It's kind of neat to see people doing that."

Because some find it difficult to shop for teenagers, that age group traditionally gets shortchanged in gift donations, Lee pointed out. Metropolitan Ministries offers suggestions for age-appropriate gifts for all groups.

Volunteers report they, too, benefit from the annual humanitarian effort.

"Last year, my 94-year-old dad did this with me," Tampa Palms resident Mary Sommer said recently as she sorted Thanksgiving food. "He's gone to the Lord, but he just loved it," she said of her father, Stan Pienkowski, and his 2006 volunteer experience.

Lee said she hopes the collection that begins Sunday goes smoothly. "We're looking forward to Christmas and hoping we'll get enough to take care of all the people who need it," she said.

TO HELP

WHAT: Metropolitan Ministries New Tampa Holiday Donation Center

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 23

WHERE: Outside St. James United Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 209-1034 or visit www.metro min.org.

DONATION GUIDELINES

•Food should be canned or boxed (no glass).

•Requested items: gift certificate or frozen turkey, hot/cold cereal, cranberry sauce, dessert mixes (pies, cakes, cookies), bag or box of dry beans (1 pound size), canned black beans, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned yams, canned or packaged gravy, boxed or canned potatoes, bag or box of rice (1 pound), bag or box of stuffing mix, family-size box of gelatin or pudding.

•Monetary donations and gift cards are welcome.

•No bicycles.

•For infants: rattles, early learning toys, cribs, bath toys.

•For ages 1 to 4: preschool play sets, toy cars/trucks, blocks, dress-up clothes, baby dolls (the organization serves a racially diverse population), make-believe play sets.

•Ages 5 to 11: clothing, action figures, board games, arts and crafts, fashion and baby dolls, play and building sets.

•Ages 12 to 17: sports equipment, art supplies, CDs, CD players, headphones, DVDs, electronic games/toys, gift sets (makeup, cologne, bath and body, manicure), watches, jewelry, cameras and film, clothing.

•Adults: gift sets, art and craft supplies, shirts/blouses, sweaters, shoes, wallets/purses, watches, pocket New Testament Bibles, spiritual bookmarks, books/Books on Tape.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4847 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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