The "Fishing for Hope" food drive for the holiday season is underway in Tampa.
The Bay area's fishing community has come together this morning at Metropolitan Ministries' new holiday tent at 400 West Palm Avenue to show support for poor and homeless families.
The goal is to fill a boat with more than 10,000 pounds of food. Celebrity anglers Capt. Bill Miller, Mike Anderson and Bright House Sports Networks fishing analyst Glen Pla are on site until early this afternoon to greet supporters and collect donations.
Also participating in today's drive are representatives of the the Laser Spine Institute, which brought large bus and has collected and donated 800 turkeys.
The “Fishing for Hope” Drive has grown each year, and has become an important part of Metropolitan Ministries’ holiday assistance for 25,900 families.
Tampa Bay Times Forum is also offering ticket vouchers to see the Florida Gators play Middle Tennessee in basketball in exchange for a donation of at least 10 non-perishable food items to Metropolitan Ministries.
Each donation of 10 food items entitles the donor to one ticket voucher, with a limit of four vouchers per household. Vouchers can be redeemed at the Tampa Bay Times Forum ticket office for Sunday's 4 p.m. game and are available while supplies last.
Besides today's drive, donations can be made at Metropolitan Ministries new holiday tent Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. (except for extended hours today, Dec. 15 and Dec. 22).
Organizers are looking for donations of turkeys and canned goods and other non-perishable items.
The food tent is located here in the Tampa Heights area.