Free grocery giveaway in Ruskin
Happening Saturday in Ruskin, Hillsborough County’s Healthy Living Program is making sure that folks can get the groceries they need to make ends meet. FOX 13’s Heather Healy reports
RUSKIN, Fla. -Around 800 people came to Southshore Community Retions. The event supplied meat, shelf-stable goods, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice and other food staples to local residents
Robert Mirlenbrink, senior wellness program coordinator for Hillsborough County, said workers usually go through the food within an hour to an hour and a half in the county
Ruskin food distribution, health services
Community members accessed free health screenings and vaccinations while learning about services offered through the Healthy Living Program
Mirlenbrink explained that the program visits underserved areas where high percentages of residents rely on the county health plan.
“You don’t know what you don’t know, right, some of those silent killers,” Mirlenbrink said regarding general medical services.
Partners also shared details about no-cost or low-cost assistance available outside the primary county plan
Feeding Tampa Bay partnership
The backstory:
Organizers host 16 food pantry events each year alongside volunteers and Feeding Tampa Bay. The event aims to help families secure food while connecting them to mental health support, county assistance and social services.
Mirlenbrink shared a personal connection to the initiative, noting that there was a time when his own family would have benefited from similar help
“And so, if I can help one person in a day, let them know, help them out finding health care, getting the assistance they need, mental health, whatever it is, food, then it makes my day,” Mirlenbrink said
Plant City event
What’s next:
The next event like this will be held next month, Sept. 19, at the Plant City Community Re
Event specifics & volunteer information
What you can do:
If you would like more information on next month’s event, click here
If you would like to volunteer, click here
The quotes and transcript logs provided by Robert Mirlenbrink, senior wellness program coordinator for Hillsborough County, as well as event summaries from the Healthy Living Program and Feeding Tampa Bay
Hillsborough County
