The rise of the pandemic also brought the rise of food hunger across the globe, and Tampa is no different.
Feeding Tampa Bay says the need for food assistance is 35% higher than it was before COVID-19, with over 1 million people with food insecurity. In order to combat this, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers teamed up with Feeding Tampa Bay and The Mosaic Company to help raise money for those in need.
The Buccaneers and Mosaic created a program where they will donate $20 for every tackle that the Buccaneers make this season. So far, the “Tackling Hunger fueled by Mosaic” program has donated over $9,900 with the Buccaneers making over 495 tackles throughout eight games. All of the proceeds will be donated to Feeding Tampa Bay to ensure that anyone with food insecurity will receive help.
Feeding Tampa Bay Development Officer Jason Prado is proud of the success of the program and acknowledges that it’s only the beginning.
“To speak to where we are right now with tackles and where we could be, you know, by the end of the season. Our job is to provide and break down barriers for those that need food,” Prado says.
With the money raised, Feeding Tampa Bay has been given the opportunity to open its first food pantry at Broward Elementary School in Seminole Heights. 90% of the students at Broward Elementary can qualify for free or reduced lunch, with over 300 families in the area attending the school.
The owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Glazer family, are advocates to fight against world hunger and they helped donate five million meals across Tampa Bay toward pandemic relief in 2020. “Tackling Hunger fueled by Mosaic” continues to work together to raise money and awareness to those with food insecurity and they hope to feed someone new with each tackle.
To learn more about this partnership, visit the Feeding Tampa Bay website.
