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Ministries Sends Out Call For Help As Need Grows

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By NATALIE SHEPHERD

News Channel 8

Published: November 8, 2008

The shelves at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent aren't as full as Chief Operating Officer Tim Marks would like them to be. With just a few weeks left until Thanksgiving, donations are not keeping up with demand.

"Right now we're desperately short, and we have families coming that need help right now," Marks said.

Marks estimates Metropolitan Ministries will feed up to 13,000 families this Thanksgiving. More than 15,000 families have signed up to get help so far. That's a 20% increase from last year.

Marks says one thing that's surprised him is that 5,000 of the families that signed for assistance are new clients.

"Obviously the economy has been a real blow to a lot of people," he said. "And here in Florida we've been talking about that for a couple of years now, and now it just seems like it's really across all segments of the population."

On a daily basis, Metropolitan Ministries prepares 2,200 meals in its kitchen. Angelo Fluker is the food services director. He says clients keep them busy from 4:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night. But he encourages new families to get the help they need.

"It can be one little situation that sets you back and as you know, the way the economy is, it's hard; there's no such thing as catch up," Fluker said.

Marks' only hopes that more people find a way to make a donation, however small.

"There's going to be a lot of people who can't give what they gave in the past. So I'm asking for those who can give just a little come on board and help us out," Marks said.

Volunteers are at the Holiday Tent, 2002 N. Florida Ave., seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. to accept donations.

Natalie Shepherd can be reached at (813) 225-2703 or at nshepherd@wfla.com.

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