Bowling Green Food Pantry Opens

The Mosaic Company and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue the effort to fight food insecurity in Tampa Bay. On March 7, 2024, we opened the third food pantry at Bowling Green Elementary School in Hardee County, Florida as part of the Tackling Hunger partnership. 

In an effort to reduce the stigma of utilizing food pantries, Mosaic, the Bucs, and Feeding Tampa Bay hosted a field day for the students at Bowling Green Elementary. Watch the video below featuring a recap of events through the 2023-2024 season.  

Locally managed food pantries are an important resource. Families struggle with food insecurity for a variety of reasons - lack of availability, access, financial challenges, and even inequality and discrimination. Bowling Green has a diverse population with a large Hispanic community. In Hardee County, over 14% of children are food insecure and 73% qualify for federal nutritional programs based on income eligibility.* The pantry at Bowling Green Elementary affords easy access to the more than 300 students and families in that underserved area. 

Since the partnership began in 2021, more than 200,000 meals have been provided to those affected by food insecurity through donations and access to the food pantries. 

It is part of Mosaic’s mission to not only help the world grow the food it needs but provide access in underrepresented or underserved areas. We continue our commitment to have a positive impact in the community. Alongside the Buccaneers commitment for social change and support youth. 

You can join the team and help tackle hunger by donating as well, Buccaneers.com/tacklinghunger  

*2021 Map the Meal Gap Feeding America study.