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Stepping Up To The Plate

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Volunteers Ruth Baker, left, her sister, Eva Almon, and Tina Walton take a break during work at United Food Bank. Baker and Almon are heading into their third year of volunteer work at the food bank.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: January 28, 2009

PLANT CITY - The demand at the United Food Bank of Plant City has never been greater.

Fundraisers and contributions are more important than ever, food bank officials said. An upcoming event to benefit the charity, the Celebrity Chef Dinner, features the internationally renowned and widely travelled Chef Jon Ashton from Liverpool, England.

"This promises to be a great event, with good food and fun," food bank Executive Director Kelleigh Klein said.

The dinner is 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Trinkle Center on Hillsborough Community College's Plant City campus, 1206 N. Park Road. Tickets are $75 each.

Sponsorships are available from $800 to $5,000.

The downturn in the economy has led to record demand at the food bank at 712 E. Alsobrook St., Suite 9. The nonprofit organization helped 12,484 clients in 2008, a 36 percent jump over the previous year, Klein said.

"Working families who never imagined they'd be in this situation find they do not have enough money to make ends meet. Without the United Food Bank, many would go hungry," she said.

United Food Bank also provided Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to more than 1,200 clients.

"We are fortunate that we have such a giving community that enables the United Food Bank to keep our doors open and continue to feed those in our community who are at risk of going hungry," Klein said.

The food bank depends on donations of food and non-perishables, but it also needs cash to operate. The Celebrity Chef Dinner is expected to go a long way toward giving the food bank the money it needs to meet the challenges it faces, Klein said.

Klein hopes the fundraiser generates at least $40,000.

Ashton, nicknamed "The Mad Chef," graduated in 1994 from St. Helens College in Great Britain and worked in several noted restaurants, according to his Web site, www.jonashton.com. His flair in the kitchen led to appearances on British cooking shows.

Now based in Orlando, he has been a frequent guest on network news programs including the "Today" show. He is the food correspondent of the nationally syndicated morning show "The Daily Buzz" and is the in-house chef for Relish Magazine.

"Jon Ashton is a recognized celebrity who gives us great drawing power for this fundraiser," Klein said.

Ashton will be cooking with culinary arts students from Durant and Plant City high schools to cater the dinner.

"This will be a great opportunity for our local culinary programs to showcase their culinary skills," Klein said.

Jeff Houck, Tampa Tribune food writer, will be the emcee.

Klein, 45, took over the management of the food bank when its founder, Linda Lawson, retired from the executive director's position in December 2007. Lawson founded the food bank Sept. 1, 1999, to help consolidate efforts of local churches and other organizations that wanted to help the needy

The food bank strives to screen clients to avoid those who may try to take advantage of the community's generosity. Its motto is "A hand up not a handout."

Klein is the only full-time employee. Part-time employees are storeroom supervisor Cindy Everly and Judy Reynolds, the client intake supervisor and food pickup coordinator.

Everly is responsible for quantifying and stocking all foods and supplies and supervises the volunteers who are so important to the organization.

"We try to make it a fun place to work around here," Everly said. "There is plenty of work to be done. But we share the load to make it so the volunteers want to come back and help some more."

Volunteer Gerald Hicks, 27, was born and raised in the Plant City area and has lived most of his life here. He works as a volunteer almost every day the food bank is open.

"It's pretty cool working here," Hicks said. "No one bosses you around. We all just do what we need to do to help out."

Hicks works mainly in the warehouse, receiving goods and stocking shelves.

Tina Walton, 48, is a flight attendant with Air Tran who moved to Plant City from Atlanta. She and her husband moved here to be near her father.

"I have volunteered as a caregiver almost all my life. I'm able to give about four hours each day when I'm not flying. It means a lot to be able to help people in need. I find that I enjoy it. Actually, I thrive on it. I feel blessed to be able to offer my time to help out."

Christopher Ross, a sales and leasing consultant for Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge, volunteers four hours on his day off.

"I think you should give back to a community that has been good to you," Ross said. "If each of us would give just a little time back to the community then towns like Plant City, the county, the state and the country will be a better place for the effort."

Ruth Baker and her sister Eva Almon are going into their third year volunteering at the food bank.

"You get a lot of satisfaction working to benefit others," Baker said. "You can get a little aggravated too when people that come to us for help don't appreciate what they can get."

"But this isn't a grocery store where you buy all you want. We determine each person's needs and do our best to meet them with a predetermined formula," Baker said. "It's just one in a hundred that tries to manipulate the system. We just won't let them."

Klein said the food bank has about 20 regular volunteers who work there each week. In addition, students volunteer there to earn community service hours.

Courtney Singletary, a teacher and Leo Club advisor at Durant High School, said her club members help unload and shelve products each Tuesday and Thursday.

One of the six Durant Leos at the food bank in early January was 16-year-old sophomore Cole Costello.

"All of the Leo members enjoy giving back to the community," Costello said. "Seeing the need felt by other families that depend on the food bank makes me realize how fortunate I am and makes me appreciative of what I have."

CELEBRITY CHEF DINNER

WHEN: Feb. 7; VIP reception is at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Trinkle Center at the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College, 1206 N. Park Road.

TICKETS: $75 each

SPONSORSHIPS: Various levels of sponsorship packages are available for the event. They include a $5,000 presenting sponsor package that includes two reserved tables for eight, recognition on promotional materials, VIP reception tickets, eight passes to a private Feb. 6 Cooking with the Chef event at the home of Mayor Rick Lott and his wife, Diana, and more. Other sponsorship packages are available for $2,500, $1,250, and $800.

UNITED FOOD BANK

WHERE: 712 E. Alsobrook St., Suite 9, Plant City

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday

CONTACT: Call (813) 764-0625 or e-mail unitedfoodbank. ofplantcity@verizon.net.

WEB SITE: www.ufbpc.org

ITEMS OF GREATEST NEED

Even if you can't attend the Feb. 7 fundraiser for the United Food Bank, you can still help with donations of money or food to help keep the shelves stocked.

Here are the items the food bank needs the most:

Diapers

Formula

Toiletries, such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes

Macaroni and cheese (canned or boxed)

Pop-Tarts

Cereal

Canned soup

Canned fruit

Canned vegetables

Cookies

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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