University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC)

Who Can Visit?

Everyone is welcome. UACDC hosts a free weekly hot meal called Thursday Harvest and a free weekly grocery pickup called the Kinship Free Market. Both are open to the public with no income test or sign-up required. A Feeding Tampa Bay mobile pantry also comes to the park once a month. Most programs are free of charge, funded through grants and donations.

Good to Know

UACDC is a nonprofit community center, not a traditional food pantry. Food is distributed outdoors at Harvest Hope Park (13704 N 20th Street, Tampa, FL 33613), which is a short distance from the main Victor Crist Community Center at 14013 N 22nd Street. Both locations are in the University Area near USF.

Food & Essentials

Thursday Harvest serves a free, hot meal every Thursday. The Kinship Free Market, a mobile market operated by Well Fed Community, shares free groceries each Friday at Harvest Hope Park. The site describes it as "a mobile market sharing free groceries with those in need."

How to Pick Up

Thursday Harvest is a walk-in dinner held outdoors at Harvest Hope Park every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The Kinship Free Market runs every Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the same park. The Feeding Tampa Bay Mobile Pantry distributes food on the third Wednesday of each month from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, also at Harvest Hope Park.

Additional Support

UACDC offers a wide range of free programs at the Victor Crist Community Center, including:

• STEPS for Success: One-on-one case management and wraparound support for motivated adults 18 and older who are Hillsborough County residents, aimed at improving housing, employment, and education. Contact Jaime Sanchez at (813) 501-3067 or jsanchez@uacdc.org.
• INVEST Workforce: Job training, certifications, and employment placement, including food handler certification classes.
• Get Moving: Free fitness and wellness classes for adults including cardio, yoga, and martial arts.
• Prodigy Cultural Arts: Free arts and dance classes for youth.
• Community Resources: UACDC lists partner organizations on its community resources page including Feeding Tampa Bay, Trinity Cafe (free daily meals), and local medical clinics.

Facilities

Programs take place at two locations. The Victor Crist Community Center (14013 N 22nd Street) is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It includes a main office, fitness center, and gymnasiums. Harvest Hope Park (13704 N 20th Street) hosts outdoor food distributions, a community garden, and wellness events.

Ways to Give

Donations can be made online at UACDC's donation page. Sponsorship opportunities are also available through the annual report and sponsorships page.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers can sign up through two forms on the website: one for one-time special events and one for ongoing recurring opportunities. For questions, email volunteer@uacdc.org or call Julian Gines, Community Engagement and Outreach Manager, at (813) 558-5212 x 401. Garden volunteering happens every Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at Harvest Hope Park.