Thanksgiving's busiest kitchen: Metropolitan Ministries

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Today is all about giving thanks. But for some in our community, it's hard to celebrate when you're just trying to survive.  That's why the people at Metropolitan Ministries spent the morning hard at work, getting ready to feed the less fortunate today.

Metro Ministries has already fed 20,000 families through the big tent off Florida Avenue.  They’ll feed 6,000 more today.

To make that happen, workers and 30 volunteers are whipping up 1,200 pounds of mashed potatoes, another 1,200 pounds of stuffing, 1,500 pounds of turkey, then topping it with 80 gallons of gravy and finishing with over 1,000 pies.

“So much work. The kitchen staff is non-stop.  We’ve been working two months every day, seven days a week,” offered Metro’s Justine Burke.

The hard work doesn’t end after today.  Metropolitan Ministries is still collecting food and supplies for the rest of the holiday season – especially gifts for needy kids.

“If people are out shopping and getting in the giving spirit, if they can think about the toys for the kids, we have 10,000 toys and we need 30,000 more,” Burke added.

Donors can bring the toys to the holiday tent starting on Giving Tuesday next week.

LINK: More ways to help at www.metromin.org