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Brandon group preps to feed hungry

Staff photo by YVETTE C. HAMMETT

Cynthia Pinckney of Cynthia Pinckney Ministries is constantly coordinating volunteer efforts to feed the hungry and homeless.

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT

yhammett@tampatrib.com

Published: November 25, 2009

BRANDON - It's crunch time for Cynthia Pinckney Ministries, expected to feed some 1,000 for Thanksgiving.

And it's not just the homeless anymore, Pinckney said. "It's families. Some have places to stay, and some are living out of their cars. It's really tough out there," she said.

The ministry has been preparing for months to serve this meal, beginning with training for volunteers in May, followed by calls for turkeys, yellow rice, red beans, cranberry sauce and more.

"It takes a lot to bring something like this together," Pinckney said. "And we are seeing so many more families at risk this year. It's not just the homeless, it's everyone. We are finding we have lots of elderly people that do not have families in town, and they want to have fellowship, so they come too."

Even some of her longtime volunteers "find themselves on the other end of it right now," she said.

Reservations for this holiday meal are not necessary. All are welcome Thursday, Pinckney said.

Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, located at 213 N. Knights Ave., Brandon, next to First United Methodist Church of Brandon.

The menu includes turkey, ham, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed salad, cranberry sauce and many more sides and desserts. Caterer Kaye Marshall and her team will cook the entire meal at Catering by the Family in Tampa. Volunteer Bonnie Mac Sharry of Seffner will help set up desserts on site.

"We have lots of volunteers," Pinckney said. "I've trained over 250 people this year."

They'll hand out shoes, clothing and groceries, in addition to dinner. "We'll give out socks and blankets. We are giving out school supplies and toiletries," Pinckney said.

"You'd expect people to come in and get right in the serving line," she said. "But last year they went straight to the clothes." This year, the line will be split up, so half the crowd can collect donated items while the others eat.

There will also be plenty for the youngsters to do, from arts and crafts to fun houses and face painting.

Cynthia Pinckney Ministries, a nonprofit group, runs off tax-deductible donations of food, clothing and furniture items, as well as monetary contributions.

"A lot of organizations are trying to fill the gap this year," Pinckney said. Brandon chiropractor Jeff Davis, Chick-fil-A at the Westfield Brandon mall and Music Showcase are among those that have held food drives. The ministries also obtained a substantial amount of canned goods and staples from the Feed the Bay effort this year.

"I give out weekly, and there's a lot of food going out to families," she said. "We also have a connection with the Dover school, where we give out food when students aren't in school, where they'd normally get breakfast and lunch."

HOLIDAY NEEDS FOR CYNTHIA PINCKNEY MINISTRIES

•Socks (men, women, children)

•Underwear (men, women, children)

•Deodorant (family and travel size)

•Lotion (family and travel size)

•Shampoo (family and travel size)

•Razors (men and women)

•Toothbrushes (adult and children's sizes)

•Toothpaste (family and travel size)

•Toilet paper (individually wrapped)

•Soap (family and travel size)

•Alcohol swabs

•T-shirts (men and women)

•Combs (assorted sizes)

•Hairbrushes (assorted sizes)

•Blankets/Throws

•Washcloths

Donations can be taken during regular business hours to the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, at 330 Pauls Drive, Suite 100 or to Pac Mail in the Regency Square Plaza across State Road 60 from the Westfield Brandon mall.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 627-4763.

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