Teaming Up to Face Hunger

May 10, 2021

Sometimes it takes a small first step to create a wave of positive change.

The Yerrid Foundation made a generous donation to Metropolitan Ministries to fund the creation of 5,000 nonperishable ‘We Care’ food boxes to be distributed by patrol officers and deputies to families in crisis, as well as 500 backpacks filled with food, hygiene products and resource materials individuals experiencing homelessness.

“It could not be at a more opportune time to let the community know law enforcement on a personal level.”
Steve Yerrid

This project will allow officers and deputies to spend time with residents, giving them an opportunity to focus on shared beliefs to help re-establish personal relationships.

Each ‘We Care’ food box contains roughly 25-30 meals and is designed to feed a family of 4-5 people for up to three to four days.

Each family’s specific needs will be assessed, and larger families can receive more than one box per household. Boxes will be delivered to district offices for both Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police Department, and shipments will be replenished on an ongoing basis.

“We are so proud to deepen our commitment to serving Tampa Bay’s hardest-hit neighborhoods through collaborative partnerships,” said Metro’s President and CEO Tim Marks.

Addressing hunger is the first step to changing someone’s life.