The Tampa Education Center is partnering with The Tampa Writers Harvest event on Nov. 20 to
help with food insecurity. Donate food or make monetary donations to receive a Zoom link to attend
this poetry, fiction, and spoken-word event.

Saint Leo University-Tampa Collecting Food for Metropolitan Ministries Nov. 1-18

Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center is collecting food for Metropolitan
Ministries, November 1-18. The mission of Metropolitan Ministries is to care for the homeless
and those at risk of becoming homeless “through services that alleviate suffering, promote
dignity and instill self-sufficiency as an expression of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ,” the
nonprofit organization’s mission states.

In keeping with the university’s core value of “community,” the Tampa Education Center is
holding this Thanksgiving holiday food drive in connection with The Tampa Writers Harvest, a
poetry and fiction reading and performance to be held 1-3 p.m., Saturday, November 20, via
Zoom.

Saint Leo University-Tampa is in the former Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory building at 1403 N.
Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33607. Canned goods and nonperishable food may be dropped off 8
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Gianna Russo, the city of Tampa’s first Wordsmith, is organizing the event. Russo is an
assistant professor of English and creative writing at Saint Leo University.
The Tampa Writers Harvest will feature Tampa’s favorite poets, writers, and spoken-word artists
from across the city including from Saint Leo University, the University of Tampa, Black on
Black Rhyme, University of South Florida, Tampa Bay Poetry Alliance, Heard ‘Em Say, and the
community. The performances will take place live on Zoom and will be available for viewing
after the event on YouTube. Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center will provide the
venue for recording the performances.

The national Writers Harvest launched in the early 1990s as a fundraiser to support
organizations that address food insecurity. Russo organized Tampa’s first Writers Harvest in the
mid-1990s, and she said she is thrilled to bring the event back and to “contribute to the welfare
of our fellow citizens.”

To receive a link to attend this event, participants are asked to drop off canned and
nonperishable food items or checks made payable to Metropolitan Ministries at Saint Leo’s
Tampa Education Center. Donations also may be made online to Metropolitan Ministries via
Facebook at www.facebook.com/donate/628423621478213/

For more information about the event, contact Gianna Russo at (813) 817-6824 or
Rgianna15@gmail.com. For more information about how to donate food or the Tampa
Education Center, contact Rod Kirkwood, center director, at rod.kirkwood@saintleo.edu or (813)
743-3228.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 57
undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs to more than 18,200 students each year.
Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a
values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition.
Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of
Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The
university is home to more than 98,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.