Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 attacks, United Way Suncoast is giving the Tampa Bay community a chance to turn remembrance and gratitude into something tangible: a simple thank-you for the first responders who continue to serve and protect local communities.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the public can stop by Lykes Gaslight Square Park in downtown Tampa to help put together First Responder Appreciation Kits ahead of United Way Suncoast’s annual 9/11 Week of Service. The volunteer activity will be held during the Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta, so you can grab a bite and lend a hand while you’re there. No registration is needed.

The completed kits will be delivered to local first responders as a small gesture of appreciation for the work they do every day. Local fire department leaders and other first responders have also been invited to join the event.

What:
United Way Suncoast First Responder Appreciation Kit Build

Volunteers will put together kits with practical items such as pocket hand sanitizer, a cooling towel, a hydration packet, a beef stick snack, a magnet featuring a QR code with links to available resources, and a note card.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Lykes Gaslight Square Park, 400 N. Franklin St., Downtown Tampa

Who: United Way Suncoast staff, volunteers, community members and invited local first responders. The event is free and open to the public, and there’s no need to register in advance.