Job fair to benefit food bank

TAMPA - At a time when many people are being laid off, about a thousand jobs will be up for grabs at a job fair in Tampa this weekend.

About 50 different companies will be at the former Circuit City on Bruce B. Downs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Sunday. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Macy's, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are just a few of the companies and organizations looking to hire.

There will also be people on hand to help you in your search if you don't get one of the jobs at this fair.

"We have a job library, we have resume experts. Someone will sit down with you and go over your resume free of charge. This is a service for the public," stated job fair organizer Keith Middlemark.

Your chance to have a face to face meeting with a prospective employer will also help out a local food bank. Admission is $3, $2 with a student ID or a few cans of food for Second Harvest of Tampa Bay.

"What we're seeing of course with the situation out there in the economy that a lot of folks are struggling. This might help them get a leg up," said Marc Sutherland of Second Harvest.

Sutherland says they've been hit by the tough economy just like the people they serve.

"The National Feeding America Food Bank network, which we're apart of, tells us that for every one per cent increase in unemployment in Florida, the need for food goes up by two million pounds," he said.

"Jobs for Tampa" is also providing a job library that includes jobs not listed on the internet with employers not represented at the fair. Experts are on hand to review resumes and, a childcare center company is providing one-day vouchers for parents who land an interview, but need someone to watch their kids.