Our History

Portamento of Hope’s story began in 2007 when Lela and Floyd Lilyquist purchased property at Parsons Avenue and Mason Street, intending to open another branch of their health food store, Nature’s Health Foods. Around the same time, Lela read a newspaper article about Hillsborough County’s growing homeless population—an estimated 9,500 individuals—and how Brandon lacked a soup kitchen to serve those in need. The numbers were staggering, and she couldn’t turn away. She saw an epidemic unfolding, worsened by a struggling economy, and felt compelled to act.

By 2008, Portamento of Hope was up and running, with volunteers cooking and serving donated meals three days a week. What started as a modest effort quickly gained momentum. Within a year, the kitchen was serving an average of 120 meals a week. Lela understood that while some individuals might not be able or willing to change their circumstances, many desperately wanted a way out of the cycle of homelessness. Portamento of Hope aimed to be that vehicle for change.

At the heart of this vision is the property at 107 Mason St., where the mission comes to life. A flourishing garden, maintained by Billy Bryant—a formerly homeless man who now resides on the property—provides fresh produce for the kitchen and a roadside stand, promoting sustainability. The front building, once meant for a health store, now empowers the community through education. It houses a tutoring center, a computer lab where recycled computers are distributed to children and nonprofits, and a classroom for nutrition education. High school students volunteer, teaching lessons while earning community service hours.

Lela’s impact extends beyond the kitchen. She delivers meals to low-income and migrant families in Valrico, ensuring no one is forgotten.