Met Ministries needs food desperately

Tampa - Volunteers at Metropolitan Ministries are sorting and packaging what they can, but unfortunately the donations are not coming in fast enough.

And there's very little to sort and package.

"I know it's tough this year, and some can't help, but anyone that has helped us in the past we could use you again," said Tim Marks, chief operating officer of Metropolitan Ministries

It's now two weeks before Christmas, and Metropolitan Ministries says the organization is down 100,000 pounds of food. Not to mention many toy shelves are bare.

"It's a long run, 12 and a half days of meeting the need and every day we are restocking and trying to meet the need on a going forward basis," Marks said.

Cars are stopping with bags of donations.

"It makes you feel better inside, and it make[s] someone else feel so much better and helps them with their lives," Deborah Ciampa said.

Ciampa said she needed help from Metro Ministries a few years ago, so now has a tradition of giving back.

"I myself am not in the best situation either, but I just say that's no excuse not to give," Ciampa explained.

There are empty boxes and bins all over Metropolitan Ministries. The organization is desperately in need of turkeys, toys and volunteers. Organizers are just not sure they're going to be able to fill all the empty bins by Christmas.

"My boss actually decided that instead of a holiday part she asked if everybody would donate our holiday party time to Metropolitan Ministries," Sam Kohler said.

Kohler said he has now made three trips to Metro Ministries with donations and is hoping he and his co-workers can do even more.

"Especially in this economic time, I'm appreciative to have a job and happy to help those who don't right now," he added.

Metropolitan Ministires is working on a day-to-day basis of supplies.

"What's also really great about our community is that we rally behind our neighbors. It's neighbors helping neighbors that's what we're all about," Marks said.

Workers and volunteers are just hoping more people can help, so no one is turned away.

To make a donation or volunteer, click on over to www.metromin.org.