Tampa Bay Lightning to Volunteer, Collect Food for Metropolitan Ministries

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning have racked up 100 assists so far this season on the ice. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the team will give Metropolitan Ministries a huge assist off the ice.

The two organizations will partner for a pair of events in preparation for Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday. Twenty members of the Lightning staff will start off Wednesday volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent, located at 905 N. Governor St. in Tampa.

During their 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. volunteer session, the Bolts representatives will assist with client shopping, parking, wagon-pulling, donation drop-offs, café operations, childcare all while providing holiday meals for thousands of families throughout the Tampa Bay area.

That evening, the Lightning will host a holiday food drive benefiting Metropolitan Ministries on Amalie Arena’s Ford Thunder Alley prior to their game against the Philadelphia Fliers at 7:30 p.m. Metropolitan Ministries has an urgent need for donations of yams and/or canned beans, but all non-perishable food donations are needed as well.

Fans who donate non-perishable food items will receive a retail coupon good at Tampa Bay Sports, located at Amalie Arena. The Bolts Better Halves, the wives and girlfriends of Lightning hockey personnel, will be on hand to help collection efforts.

“The Tampa Bay Lightning organization is a tremendous partner during the holidays and year-round,” said Metropolitan Ministries CEO and President Tim Marks. “When we engage the community through an organization like the Lightning, we are able to reach far more families in the Tampa Bay area through our hunger and volunteer programs.”

While they won’t receive a coupon for Tampa Bay Sports, Lightning fans who can’t make it to the game against the Flyers can also donate food to Metropolitan Ministries at the following locations:

Hillsborough County

• Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent, 905 N. Governor St., Tampa, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.
• St. James United Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pasco County

• Metropolitan Ministries Pasco, 3214 U.S. Highway 19 N., Holiday
• Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, Lutz
• Trinity Presbyterian, 4651 Little Road, New Port Richey

Drop-off times: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 3 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 24, closed Nov. 25, 26, 27, resuming Nov. 28 through Dec. 24.

Pinellas County

• Abundant Life Ministries, 1550 S. Belcher Road, Largo
• Taking it to the Street Ministries, 7320 47th St., North Pinellas Park

Drop-off times: TBD

Metropolitan Ministries serves homeless and at-risk families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties.

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or register for assistance from Metropolitan Ministries, visit its Holiday Central site at http://www.metromin.org/holida....

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