Started as an idea for a soup kitchen, Trinity Café in Tampa has transformed into a completely complementary restaurant and feeds over 500 people a day across the region.
Seventeen years ago, founder Jeff Derry had the idea for a soup kitchen, but after realizing the importance of dignity and respect in all interactions, began what is now known as Trinity Café / Feeding Tampa Bay. Since its establishment, Trinity Café has become a full-service restaurant that serves the community in more ways than one, and all with the dignity and respect its foundations were built upon.
“We believe in the potential of every single person that walks through our door. When you treat someone with dignity, respect and compassion, it is natural for them to give it back. Even if they have that for one minute or one hour around our table, it’s the best that we can give them- in addition to the food,” says Shannon Oliviero, External Affairs Officer of Trinity Café and Feeding Tampa Bay.
In 2018, Trinity Café merged with Feeding Tampa Bay and has since then gone from serving 120,000 meals, to nearly 200,000 meals a year. There are two primary locations, thirty-two school pantries, and their outreach expands to ten counties here in South Florida, with plans to expand in the near future. Funded by Florida Blue, a free fresh produce pantry has also been implemented as a part of their “Food for Tomorrow” campaign, and is available to anyone in need every Saturday. While Trinity Café continues to be an extended helping-hand for all those food-insecure, they also have multiple outreach programs to help their guests long-term, once they leave their table. Making food for today, tomorrow and a lifetime, a pinnacle of their mission.
“We see a healthy, capable and hunger-free Tampa Bay by 2025.”
Ensuring their guests have success once they leave the dinner table, Trinity Café has a training program in place, called Fresh Force, that offers training certificates in warehouse management, culinary cohort, and truck driving. The Fresh Force Program has been life changing for people like, Carmella, a young lady whom found herself seeking assistance, and who has become a great example of the long-lasting impact Trinity Café takes pride in leaving their guests with.
“Carmella found herself seated around one of our tables because she couldn’t make ends meet…someone let her know about our work force program… she applied to our culinary cohort…and graduated with flying colors… Now if you ever go to The Blind Tiger in the West Shore Mall, she is actually the manager there and is highly celebrated,” Shannon pridefully notes.
Those at Trinity Café/Feeding Tampa Bay urge all in need to utilize the many resources available and to allow their life to be positively impacted as well. Whether through a warm meal, a training program, or just a sense of family, Trinity Café offers a promising experience.
Trinity Café has left the belly of Tampa Bay full of dignity, respect, and great food. Their third location is expected to open in Pinellas Park, Summer 2020. Volunteering is encouraged and registration is made readily available online at their website: trinitycafe.org.
