Mobile mission delivers necessities to homeless and working poor in Odessa

ODESSA, Fla. (FOX 13) - An Odessa man is going on the road with his mission to help the homeless and working poor.

Bob Gardner runs Messengers of Hope Mission, a mobile food pantry that delivers necessities, and hope, to those who need it most.

"We're a mobile food pantry for low-income families. We're kind of a Meals on Wheels for the homeless," Gardner explained.

The traveling mission started four years ago and now has three locations in the Bay Area.  

"We do a pantry in Odessa, we do one in New Port Richey, and one in Port Richey," Gardner said.

They started by handed out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but quickly realized that they needed to do more.

"We provide bread and pastries that are fresh," said Bob. "We give out drinks, toiletry kits, clothing, shoes, pet food, laundry soap."

Kimberly Zaino's husband died last year. She has five children to raise. Food is a much-needed lifeline.

"I'm eternally grateful for them helping me out like this. Thankful for sure," she said. 

Gardner says there is a bigger mission at work: "The best joy is not giving people food, it's not taking care of people's needs. What it is becoming friends and family with these people."