Metropolitan Ministries kicks off holiday campaign

TAMPA (FOX 13) - The holiday season is just around the corner.  But before the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, Metropolitan Ministries is asking the community to come together to help those in need.

As many as 20,000 families are expected to come through their football-field-sized tent this holiday season for help with food for Thanksgiving, or toys for the holidays.

It's all powered by community food drives and individual donations and 12,000 volunteers.

Today, they kicked off their holiday campaign with their annual tent blessing.  Leaders from different faiths gathered together to celebrate their mission, and join hands in prayer.

"The holiday season is a time of giving and receiving," offered Metropolitan Ministries' Tim Marks.  "But before we start any of the heavy lifting, if you will, of serving this community, we wanted to come together as a faith community to seek God's blessing on what goes on here, on the lives that will be coming here, and the hope that we hope to bring to this community and to individuals in crisis."

If you want to help, Metropolitan Ministries is in real need right now of turkeys, hams, stuffing, yams and cereal.  If you need help, there's still time to sign up.

For more information, visit their website at www.metromin.org or stop by 400 West Palm Avenue in Tampa.