WellCare Employees Help 200 Kids With Back-To-School Needs

As part of Metropolitan Ministries’ annual Backpacks of Hope collection drive, employees of WellCare Health Plans Inc. donated more than 3,000 school supplies that will help approximately 200 local students during the new school year.

A team of WellCare volunteers joined Metropolitan Ministries’ staff to prepare the backpacks and landscape the nonprofit’s Tampa campus. 

“WellCare has made a commitment to serving our communities and helping Floridians in need,” said David McNichols, president of WellCare of Florida and a member of Metropolitan Ministries’ board of directors. “Through our collaboration with Metropolitan Ministries, we are able to provide basic tools children need to not only succeed in school, but to succeed in life.” 

WellCare and Metropolitan Ministries have engaged in a public-private collaboration since 2008 to address the needs of underserved residents in Tampa Bay. 

“Metropolitan Ministries strives to be known for our compassion and innovation in helping struggling families and individuals achieve their highest potential for self-sufficiency,” said Tim Marks, president and chief operating officer of Metropolitan Ministries. “With the support of companies like WellCare, we are able to provide assistance to the community in times of need and help change people’s lives for the better.” 

Metropolitan Ministries distributes the collected school supplies through its community partners. To learn about the eligibility requirements to receive a free backpack and school supplies, parents or guardians should contact their child’s school or Taking it to the Street Ministries at 727-546-5767.

To organize a collection drive, individuals or organizations should contact Metropolitan Ministries at 813-209-1271. 

WellCare serves approximately 472,000 Medicaid members, 73,000 Medicare Advantage members and 38,000 Prescription Drug Plan members in Florida.