Feeding Tampa Bay is engaging with city, county, state and federal elected officials to ensure our neighbors’ needs are met. We strive to clearly communicate how existing policies and legislation impact our work while engaging the public and encouraging their participation in our advocacy efforts. Together, we can build flourishing communities, today and for generations to come.
why advocacy matters
advocating for funding and resources +
Nutrition programs and health policy impact our neighbors
addressing root causes of hunger +
Hunger is a symptom of larger systemic issues
improving food access and quality +
Increase access to nutritious food, reduce food deserts, invest in food is medicine initiatives
happening now
The recently enacted Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) law includes major revisions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), introducing stricter work requirements for more adults, removing utility and internet costs from benefit calculations, and eliminating the SNAP-Ed nutrition education program. These changes are projected to cause a reduction in monthly benefits for over a quarter of a million households in our 10-county region alone.
Simultaneously, the law suspended enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care insurance, which will likely lead to higher premiums for many Floridians starting in 2026, and jeopardize health coverage for an estimated 2.2 million people in the state.
As these shifts take effect, the need for our services will be greater than ever. See how you can take action below.
policies impacting our neighbors + how you can help
FTB plays a vital role in our communities, but we can't solve hunger alone. Real change requires systemic solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity. You can help us advocate for policies that increase access to nutritious food and funding for school meal programs, and expand access to affordable housing, child care and living wages. Together, we can build an equitable food system where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.
supporting healthcare needs
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides healthcare coverage for millions of families across the state of Florida.
supporting
SNAP
SNAP strengthens the local economy and supports healthy food incentive programs that increase access to fruits and vegetables.
supporting farmers
The Farm Bill is legislation that funds federal nutrition programs and supports farmers.
supporting our military
Many members of our military do not qualify for safety net services. Legislative changes to policy can help improve access to social services.
supporting families
Nearly half of Florida families struggle to afford basic needs despite earning above the poverty level. Let's invest in programs that ease the burden.
learn more about our efforts
Podcast
Leveling Up the Fight Against Hunger with Roberto Torres of Blind Tiger Cafe
We’re grateful to have such a wide range of expertise and such a depth of commitment from our FTB board members. And that members like Roberto Torres (owner of The […]
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Podcast
Taking Care of Kids in Hillsborough County with Rob Kriete
According to today’s guest, Hillsborough County has more teacher vacancies than any other county in the state. And as President of the Hillsborough Classroom Teacher’s Association, Rob Kriete knows what […]
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Podcast
Are You Ready to Vote? with Lorena Hardwick
If we want life to improve for ourselves and our neighbors, we’ll need to get involved in the conversations that can change that for us. And one of the many […]
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Podcast
Understanding that Food is Medicine with Phil Lee of Florida Blue
In Phil Lee’s own words, Florida Blue is a “health solutions company” — not just an insurance provider. On today’s episode he explains what it means to focus on preventive […]
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Podcast
Organic Farming Leads to Changing a Community with Jenise Carr
If you’ve spent enough time around Feeding Tampa Bay then you already know that food IS medicine! And the TampaWell project, created by our partners at Tampa General Hospital, is […]
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Podcast
Catching Up on Advocacy with Lorena Hardwick
Awareness of and involvement with the community around you is the most important part of advocacy work, according to Lorena Hardwick, our own Chief External Affairs Officer. It can be […]
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Podcast
Student Ambassadors Stepping Up for Feeding Tampa Bay
Did you know that Feeding Tampa Bay has programs for volunteers of all ages? On today’s episode, we talk about the Student Ambassador program, and meet two of the local […]
Listen Nowbecome a hunger advocate
We are committed to raising the profile of our collective voice to create opportunities that improve the lives of those we serve. If you are interested in learning more about our efforts, please contact our Chief External Affairs Officer, Lorena, at lhardwick@feedingtampabay.org or 813-710-1369.