40,000 Pounds of Food Delivered to Feeding Tampa Bay as Part of National America250 Campaign
A national food drive tied to America's 250th anniversary made a major stop in Tampa — and tens of thousands of families will feel it.
A national food drive tied to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary rolled through Tampa this week, dropping off a significant haul for area families struggling with food insecurity.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in partnership with the America250 initiative, delivered 40,000 pounds of food to Feeding Tampa Bay on Thursday — one stop in a coast-to-coast campaign aiming to send 250 truckloads of food to communities across all 50 states.
Forty thousand pounds. That’s not a donation — that’s a statement.
“We decided to send 250 truckloads out to all 50 states to commemorate the America 250 celebration,” said Casey Hess, president of the Tampa Florida Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “All year, we’re sending out truckloads of food to different cities across America.”
The shipment included pantry staples — macaroni, beans, corn, dry milk and other household essentials — that Feeding Tampa Bay will sort and distribute across its full service area, stretching from Citrus County through Hillsborough, Pasco, and beyond.
Why Tampa, and why now? Organizers say the timing is intentional — building community momentum ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026 while making a practical dent in local hunger numbers. The donation is expected to translate into hundreds of thousands of meals for families in need.
Hess framed the effort in straightforward terms: “We get the opportunity to serve our neighbors and love one another. No matter our religious, political backgrounds, we’re all in this country together, and we need to serve our neighbors.”
Residents looking to get involved can find volunteer opportunities at JustServe.org as the campaign continues rolling through the calendar year.
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