Feeding Tampa Bay updates from the Rays

Lot 4 of Tropicana Field (1st Avenue South and 17th Street) will be used as a drive-thru mobile pantry for Feeding Tampa Bay’s Pinellas clients beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m., and continuing all Saturdays in April while supplies last.

People in need of food can come to Lot 4 to pick up a pre-packaged box of groceries free of charge—and no ID, papers or pre-screening are required.

To honor social distancing regulations, mobile pantries are transitioning to a drive-thru model to eliminate crowds and minimize contact. For any updates to the distribution schedule, visit feedingtampabay.org/mobile-pantries.

Meanwhile, the team’s virtual food drive has reached $238,000 in donations and counting.

Last week the Rays announced that the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund would donate up to 2.5 million meals to Feeding Tampa Bay to help those in need during the COVID-19 crisis, beginning with an initial donation of 1 million meals to kick off the campaign, with a pledge to match all donations made through the virtual food drive webpage up to an additional 1.5 million meals.

While the team has not asked fans to donate to the Seasonal Employee Assistance Fund, fans are encouraged to join the campaign by visiting donate.

Visit feedingtampabay.org/TeamingUp to purchase essential food items from a shopping list or make a monetary donatios. As of this morning, this drive has collected $238,500 of its possible $400,000 goal.