OUR VISION
"Together, we can feed those in need in our local community"
Feed in Need is a non-profit organization based in Tampa, Florida that works in conjunction with those in our local community to feed those in need. Founded in the wake of the 2017 hurricane season, we work with our Community Partners, donors, non-profit organizations, local businesses, and individuals to help provide meals for our neighbors.
Help us help your neighbors this holiday season!
“Growing up in Turkey, I experienced natural disasters from a young age and I was taught that you open your home to those who are in need.
When I saw on the news that my Tampa neighbors were being forced to evacuate their homes due to Hurricane Irma, I knew what I needed to do. I realized that my restaurant, Gengiz Khan Mediterranean Grill, was located in a non-evacuation zone and had plenty of space to offer shelter to those in need.
Hurricane Irma forced my Tampa neighbors to evacuate their homes and I knew what I needed to do. I opened my restaurant, Gengiz Khan Mediterranean Grill, as a shelter to those who needed a safe place to ride out the storm. We stocked up the kitchen with extra supplies, we laid down plastic for the pet area, and set up sleeping areas. We opened the restaurant to the community and welcomed over 150 people and 62 pets during the storm and in the days after.
It was this experience during Hurricane Irma that directly led to me founding Feed in Need, Inc. Read more in my Founders letter here … “
Feed in Need was founded by Tampa business owner Ergin Tek in 2017 after his first hand experiences helping those in need in the community when faced with a national disaster.
As Hurricane Irma took aim at Tampa, Tek stepped up and opened the doors of his South Tampa Restaurant, Gengiz Khan Mediterranean Grill as an evacuation shelter for those in need. People of all ages, and their pets had a safe place to stay during storm with water and healthy meals for free.
Once Hurricane Irma had passed and the power had been returned to Tampa, Tek kept cooking, sending meals out where they were truly needed. Working with Tampa non-profit Florida4Warriors. Tek provided food and supplies for mobile feeding sites as part of their disaster recovery efforts.
In November 2017, Feed in Need, Inc., was officially created and registered with the state of Florida as a not for profit organization. We shortly thereafter received our 501(c)3 not for profit designation from the IRS. We celebrated this occasion on Thanksgiving Day 2017 with the distribution of over 5000 free holiday meals at several locations throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Feed in Need finished the 2017 year with the distribution of over 1000 holiday meals in Tampa at the end of December.
During 2018 we have established partnerships with other organizations in the Tampa Bay Area who are also working to make our community a better place. Some of these Community Partnerships include:
- Providing food for Florida4Warrior’s mobile feeding sites during disaster recovery efforts and for their events that benefit our local veterans such as their annual Silkies Suicide Awareness Hikes.
- Providing food for the fundraising events held by Rebels Rescue, a local non profit that works to save the lives of unwanted and abandoned animals in our local community
- Supporting the Westchase Charity Foundation fundraising efforts.
- Providing food for the First Presbyterian Church Serve Day Tampa 2018.
- Donating food to many local churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples for them to distribute to their members
- Partnering with Dream Builders Mission and and MTC Downtown Cafe Homeless Outreach to get food and personal care items to the homeless living on the streets in downtown Tampa.
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