When a family receives the keys to their Habitat for Humanity home, it marks the beginning of a new chapter — one filled with hope, stability, and opportunity. But as Feeding Tampa Bay’s leadership once noticed at a home dedication, there was something missing: food in the kitchen.
“We took a tour of a new Habitat home, and it was completely empty. Beautiful, but no food in the pantry,” recalls Shannon Hannon Olivero, Director of Public Affairs at Feeding Tampa Bay. “Our CEO looked around and said, ‘We should stock all your houses.’ That’s how it all started.”
That moment, born during a press conference with Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, sparked a partnership that has grown into a tradition spanning multiple affiliates — including Manatee County Habitat for Humanity.
What began as a simple gesture — filling the shelves with pantry staples — quickly became a program that Habitat homeowners could count on. For the past four to five years, Feeding Tampa Bay has been providing boxes of food at home dedications at Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, making sure that families walk into kitchens stocked with essentials from day one.
The program has only expanded since then. “It started small, but it’s now much bigger than just handing a box of food at a press conference,” Olivero explains. “We’re serving more Habitat affiliates and trying to find sustainable funding because the need keeps growing.”
Feeding Tampa Bay’s support goes beyond food. In some areas, they are piloting a new model that connects homeowners with navigators — team members who help families access additional services like employment support, healthcare, or financial resources.
“If a family is struggling with food insecurity, chances are there are other challenges too,” says Olivero. “Our navigators are there to make sure they know where to turn. It aligns perfectly with our mission.”
The effort complements Habitat’s homeownership education, which equips families with the knowledge to budget, maintain their homes, and plan for the future. Food security is a natural extension of that stability.
Each stocked pantry reflects a mix of what Feeding Tampa Bay has on hand, items purchased in bulk, and generous donations from grocers like Publix. Staples such as rice, beans, pasta, and canned goods are common, but when possible, the boxes are tailored to the family.
“We try to honor cultural preferences, especially for Hispanic families,” Olivero says. “For example, we’ll make sure there are black beans and rice — because in Tampa, that’s a staple.”
The generosity doesn’t stop with food. Sometimes, families receive unexpected extras like pet food, bicycles for children, or other donated goods. “It’s all about making the house feel like home,” Olivero adds.
For Manatee County Habitat, this partnership adds an invaluable layer of support for families moving into their homes. Instead of facing the stress of an empty pantry, homeowners can take a deep breath, settle in, and enjoy a fresh start.
“This partnership is such a beautiful example of what happens when organizations come together to look at the whole picture,” said Emily Lane, Director of Development at Manatee Habitat. “We know families work incredibly hard to earn their Habitat home. Having a stocked pantry waiting for them means they can start this new chapter with both dignity and peace of mind.”
“The long story short is this came about by two organizations naturally helping each other,” Olivero adds. “It was a good fit in the moment, and it’s grown into something much bigger. At the end of the day, we just want families to have what they need to succeed — and food is one of the biggest parts of that.”
As Feeding Tampa Bay and Manatee Habitat continue to build this relationship, one thing is clear: together, they’re not just constructing houses. They’re filling homes with nourishment, dignity, and hope for the future.