ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Metropolitan Ministries’ St. Petersburg location is in desperate need of donations.
Right now they have 5,000 needy families signed up to receive food and gifts for Christmas and hardly anyone has donated.
"Those are Boxes of Hope, but they don’t have any hope in them yet," said Justine Burke of Metropolitan Ministries.
Empty boxes, empty shelves and an empty tent, it’s not what Metropolitan Ministries' St. Petersburg location was hoping for this close to Christmas.
"We’re calling on the community to rally and help up serve these families," said Burke.
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Last year 3,000 families in Pinellas County were signed up to receive help. This year more than 5,000 families in the county are hoping to get help with food and gifts this Christmas.
"It helps a great deal," said Orrick Wilson.
Wilson says because of the help, his family of 10 are able to have a Christmas dinner together, something they wouldn’t be able to do on his fixed income.
"Anybody that would want to give help to the ministry, it would be greatly appreciated from not only me but a lot of other families," said Wilson.
Metropolitan Ministries says they’re in desperate need of food like hams, yams, potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables and educational toys for small children as well as gifts for teenagers.
"It’s not just about the commodities, it's about the community and it's about loving your neighbor," said Burke.
Metropolitan Ministries is asking for the community to help serve these Pinellas family counties, who would otherwise not have a Christmas.
Donations can be dropped off from 10:30-5 pm at Positive Impact Church, 2750 34th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711.
