Facebook Votes Add Up for Feeding America Tampa Bay

Tennis great Chris Everett is set to be at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo on Sept. 28 to present a $5,000 check to Debbi McCarthy, director of development for Feeding America Tampa Bay, which at its warehouse off North 50th Street stocks food for Brandon's Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO).

McCarthy won the prize after representatives from selected charities were pitted against each other in a contest for online votes on Hood Simply Smart Milk's Facebook page for the second annual "Make a Difference, Taste a Difference" campaign.

The company on Aug. 16 posted on its Facebook page the following campaign message:

Thank you to everyone who voted for the amazing women in our "Make a Difference, Taste a Difference" campaign! We are delighted to announce our winners: Samantha Eisenstein Watson of the SAMFund (Boston); Carla Miklos of Operation Hope (CT); and Debbi McCarthy from Feeding America Tampa Bay! YOU helped determine these great leaders. Congrats to these $5,000 winners! For the full releases, visit: http://www.hood.com/about/news.aspx

“The entire Board and staff of Feeding America Tampa Bay are so grateful to Hood Simply Smart Milk and Chris Evert for this unique opportunity to mobilize the Tampa Bay community in our mission of ending hunger and nourishing hope,” McCarthy reportedly said. “ 'Make a Difference, Taste a Difference' is a theme that resonates especially well with our hunger-relief efforts as we strive to provide the most nutrient-rich products to children and families struggling with hunger. The $5,000 donation will provide 20,000 meals.”

Evert is set to deliver both a speech and a check to McCarthy on Sept. 28 at Lowry Park Zoo. The morning event is scheduled for 10 to 11:30.

“It’s a true honor to recognize Debbi as part of the Hood Simply Smart ‘Make a Difference, Taste a Difference’ program with a $5,000 donation to Feeding America Tampa Bay," Evert said in a news release. "It is important for everyone to not only make a difference in their community but also for their families in their everyday choices. The women being recognized by Hood for their efforts are true examples of how their dedication and hard work are leaving a lasting imprint on their communities.”

Feeding America Tampa Bay is at 4702 Transport Drive, Building 6, in Tampa, 33605.