Fueling the Future: July 5th Event Delivers Food, Fellowship & Community Impact in Belmont Heights

On July 5, 2025, the Ivy Enrichment Foundation of Tampa Bay and the Gamma Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. hosted their highly anticipated Fueling the Future food distribution event in the Belmont Heights Estates community. The event aimed to support children and families facing food insecurity during the summer months, and its impact was nothing short of extraordinary.

Through a collective effort—including two in-organization cereal drives and significant support from community partners—the initiative served 47 families, including 88 children, with shelf-stable, no-cook meals and a day full of joy, care, and connection.

The community gathering featured:

• Face painting and balloon artistry for children

• A shared lunch for families

• Smiles, fellowship, and warm interactions with volunteers and partners

The Cereal Impact

The numbers speak for themselves. Hundreds of boxes of cereal and other shelf-stable items were collected, sorted, and donated through the dedication of our stakeholders and community supporters. With contributions gathered across multiple households, the total donations are estimated to have surpassed 500 boxes. Belmont Heights families alone received dozens of those boxes, ensuring children had access to quick, nutritious meals during the summer months.

This tremendous outpouring ensured that children could access quick, easy meals—no stove or adult required—during a time when food access is often limited.

Community Partnerships That Made It Happen

We are deeply grateful to our partner organizations whose collaboration helped bring this event to life:

• Brown Memorial Church of God in Christ (COGIC)

• The Senior Women’s Auxiliary of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

• T.G. Lee Dairy, coordinated through the dedicated efforts of Director Brenda Jackson Lee, for the donation of 500 cartons of milk—a contribution that will now continue weekly to further nourish the community

Looking Ahead

Beyond food distribution, the event opened doors for future engagement. Many parents expressed interest in enrolling their children in youth groups and enrichment programs offered by the Ivy Enrichment Foundation. Follow-up outreach is underway to keep these families informed and involved.

The July 5th gathering was a powerful reminder that when community, care, and service come together, lives are truly touched. Through Fueling the Future, we are not only feeding families—we are strengthening them.

Want to support future efforts? Contact Vice President, Patrice Joseph by emailing ief1vicepresident2025@gmail.com.