TAMPA (970 WFLA) -- Metropolitan Ministries is opening its holiday tent for the first time this season. The tent opens to accept donations Friday (2nd) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours begin November 15th.
Actually, there are two tents. One is near the intersection of Cass Street and Nebraska Avenue in downtown Tampa. The other is at the Metropolitan Ministries campus in Holiday, 3214 U.S. 19 North.
Spokesperson Justine Burke says they get a lot of toys for small children... but not as many appropriate gifts for teenagers. One potential solution, gift cards. Metromin encourages cards from Walmart, Target, Amazon and local movie theaters. Supermarket gift cards are also a good idea, as they help stretch out food supplies.
This year Metropolitan Ministries expects to serve 20,000 families and 200,000 meals in four counties: 12,000 in Hillsborough, 5.000 in Pasco, 3,000 in Pinellas.