OTBB Day 2: Collaboration in Action Across Tampa’s Urban Farm and Children’s Center

On the second day of Operation Tampa Bay Blitz, nearly 200 veterans and volunteers rolled up their sleeves once again. This time, to serve not one but two impactful community spaces, the Sustainable Living Project and Sunrise Children’s Services. From urban agriculture to early childhood development, today was all about partnership, purpose, and people coming together to do more together. 

This day’s success was made possible through seamless collaboration—not just among volunteers, but also with community partners like The Salvation Army, which opened its doors for equipment staging and lunch between project sites. It was a true reflection of what happens when organizations unite around a shared mission. 

Sustainable Living Project: A Deeply Rooted Impact 

Nestled in central Tampa, the Sustainable Living Project is an urban farm and education center dedicated to exploring what it means to live sustainably—both personally and environmentally. The site includes 34 grow beds (10 of which are dedicated to veterans), a greenhouse with aquaponics, a chicken coop, compost stations, and more—all operated by a single, passionate staff member. Today’s efforts made a powerful impact on this one-woman operation, helping restore and expand her ability to serve the community. 

Accomplishments included: 

• Refurbished 27 raised garden beds, preparing them for a new season of planting 

• Built and stained four new worktables and one ADA-accessible raised planter bed 

• Constructed six vegetable-washing tables and rebuilt the fire pit 

• Deconstructed and rebuilt the aquaponic beds, installing a new sail shade to protect sensitive plants 

• Refurbished the flower garden, adding native Florida plants and installing a beautifully designed business sign—the first one for the space 

• Gave new life to two previously dilapidated picnic tables 

• Took on the challenging task of deconstructing and rebuilding the site’s outdoor bathroom, including digging a 70-foot trench for plumbing 

These upgrades weren’t just about function—they were about capacity, visibility, and honoring the space for what it is. With the gift of a brand-new sign and hours of labor poured into her farm, the owner now has an even stronger foundation to grow her mission. 

Sunrise Children’s Services: Brightening Spaces for Growth 

Across town, another team of volunteers was hard at work at Sunrise Children’s Services, one of the country’s largest nonprofit organizations serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At this site, volunteers helped refresh, protect, and make the space more welcoming for the children, families, and staff who use it every day. 

Accomplishments included: 

• Painting indoor classrooms to give them a fresh, inviting new look 

• Installing privacy slats in the chain-link fence to create a more secure and nurturing environment 

• Creating a new sitting area for parents and staff 

• Building a new basketball hoop and picnic tables 

• Pressure-washing sidewalks and building exteriors, leaving the space cleaner and brighter for all 

Today’s theme was clear: collaboration creates capacity. Whether supporting a one-person operation at an urban farm or enhancing the daily experience of children and caregivers, every action was rooted in partnership and shared purpose. 

We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors, ToolBank, CarMax, and The Coca-Cola Company, for supporting our work and helping make today’s impact possible. Most importantly, thank you to our volunteers whose dedication, teamwork, and heart made every project completed today a success. 

The momentum continues tomorrow at MLK Recreation Complex, where we’ll also be supporting the mission of West Tampa Grows Healthy. To read more details and to register, click here. Join us for another day of hands-on impact! 

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