TAMPA, Fla. — Metropolitan Ministries says the need to keep people fed after the hurricanes have increased and this Thanksgiving, they’re in need of more donations and help.

“I get excited to come here every year and just give back to our community,” said Renee Chang with the team Floodgate Medical, a group that has volunteered with Metropolitan Ministries for several years.

She was also displaced after the storms, but is sticking with her goal to make sure other can have a happy Thanksgiving.

“When they saw how many potatoes they could get, they felt so amazing to be able to receive food and not have to pay for it to provide for their family,” said Chang.

With more people in need of help this year not only are more helping hands needed, Metropolitan Ministries officials say they’re also dealing with fewer donations, currently seeing a 23% drop from last year.

“Because of the hurricanes we have noticed that some of those donors have not been able to give this season or have had to pull back giving as much as they normally do, so that is also affecting our donations and what we see coming in to help us support the community,” said Brensey Thompson, the organization’s marketing and communications director.

Metropolitan Ministries had planned to help 30,000 families with holiday assistance, but because of the hurricanes, they had to add 3,000 spots.

It’s why volunteers like Chang are needed to get those families the help they need.

“It’s just rewarding to see the faces of the people that you impact,” she said.

Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Hot Meal Partner Locations:

Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28
Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Hillsborough County

The Portico Café
1001 N. Florida Ave
Tampa, FL 33602
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Pasco County

Healing Hearts Cafe
6436 12th Street
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pinellas County

Christ United Methodist Church
467 1st Avenue North 
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.