Free Church Job Fairs Come to Tampa Bay This Fall: Better Together's October and November Dates
TAMPA, FL — Some of the most useful job fairs in Tampa Bay this fall won't be in a convention hall. They'll be in church fellowship halls, from Tampa Heights to Pinellas Park, Brandon and Lutz. Better Together, the Florida nonprofit that works to keep families together through jobs, childcare and mentoring, has five free hiring events on its Tampa Bay calendar between October 1 and November 7, each built around face-to-face interviews with hiring managers.
Five free church-hosted job fairs, October 1 through November 7; four have already taken place. Second-chance employers are welcome, and registration is required.
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| Organizer | Better Together, with host churches |
| Dates | October 1, 6, 8 and 20 (passed), and November 7, 2026 |
| Where | Tampa (two), Pinellas Park, Brandon, Lutz |
| Cost | Free for job seekers |
| Registration | Required, on each event's page |
| Who it's for | All job seekers, including people with barriers to employment |
| Questions | Better Together hotline, 239-470-2733 |
📅 Table of Contents
- October 1 — Tampa Job Fair at Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church (passed)
- October 6 — Tampa Job Fair at Crossover Church (passed)
- October 8 — Pinellas Park Job Fair at First United Methodist Church (passed)
- October 20 — Brandon Job Fair at New Hope Church (passed)
- November 7 — Lutz Job Fair at Heritage Christian Community Baptist Church
🏆 Who's Behind These Tampa Bay Job Fairs
Better Together started in Florida as a volunteer safety net for parents in crisis. When a job loss, eviction or medical emergency threatens a family, the group lines up short-term host families and mentors so kids can stay out of foster care. Steady work is the other half of that plan, so the group runs job fairs with local churches. The format is simple: employers come ready to interview, and job seekers are encouraged to apply online ahead of time so they can spend their time talking with hiring managers.
Two things set these fairs apart. Employers who hire people with barriers to work, including a criminal record, are specifically invited. And the Tampa events note short-term childcare for kids during the fair, which matters for a parent who can't find a sitter for a Tuesday morning.
Tampa Job Fair at Exciting Central — Thursday, October 1
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church, 2923 N. Tampa St., Tampa, FL 33602
This event has passed.
This is the first one on the calendar and the one with the clearest employer list. The organizer names Publix, Panera Bread, Kane's Furniture, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART), Park Home Care, Scotlynn USA Division, Superb Staffing Solutions, HSS, Pura Vida Miami and OnBoard Tampa Bay. That spans grocery, restaurant, retail, transit, home health, freight and staffing, so most entry-level and hourly job seekers will find someone to talk to. The church sits just north of downtown, a short hop off I-275. Short-term childcare is offered. Register for October 1.
Tampa Job Fair at Crossover Church — Tuesday, October 6
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Crossover Church, 1235 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33612
This event has passed.
Tampa's second stop is on East Fowler Avenue near USF and Tampa's Uptown district, which makes it an easy trip for North Tampa and Temple Terrace residents. The organizer now lists Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Chapters Health System, Home Instead, Park Home Care, Kelly Education, AWP Safety, Kane's Furniture, Panera Bread, Hospitality Staffing Solutions and OnBoard Tampa Bay. That's theme park, hospice, home care, school staffing, traffic safety and restaurant work under one roof, with face-to-face interviews with hiring managers. Employers can mark whether they hire people who don't speak English fluently, a real help for Spanish-speaking job seekers. Childcare is available. Register for October 6.
Pinellas Park Job Fair — Thursday, October 8
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | First United Methodist Church Pinellas Park, 9025 49th St., Pinellas Park, FL 33782
This event has passed.
The only Pinellas County date in the series. The organizer lists Kane's Furniture, Panera Bread, AutoZone, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), the City of Largo, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Hospitality Staffing Solutions, Wholehearted Divine Home Care, WIS International and Express Employment, which gives this fair a mix of retail, restaurant, transit, government, home care and staffing jobs. Apply to the employers online before you go, so the conversation at the table is a real interview and not a pitch to visit a website. The event page doesn't mention childcare, so plan for it. Register for October 8.
Brandon Job Fair at New Hope Church — Tuesday, October 20
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | New Hope Church, 121 N. Knights Ave., Brandon, FL 33510
This event has passed.
East Hillsborough got its turn in the heart of Brandon, handy for job seekers in Valrico, Seffner and Riverview. The organizer listed 84 Lumber, AdventHealth, HART, RaceTrac, Steak 'n Shake, Kane's Furniture, All Ways Caring Home Care, PCS Civil, Labor Finders and One Touch Direct, so building supply, hospital, transit, convenience store, restaurant, construction and call center work were all on the table. The format matched the others: face-to-face interviews, second-chance employers welcome, and online registration required for job seekers.
Lutz Job Fair at Heritage Christian Community Baptist — Saturday, November 7
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Heritage Christian Community Baptist Church, 14801 N. 15th St., Lutz, FL 33549
The last event, and the only one on a Saturday. That makes it the best pick if you already work weekdays and are hunting for something better. The church sits east of I-275 on the Lutz edge of North Tampa. Employers haven't been named yet, so check the event page again before you go. Register for November 7.
⚠️ Read This Before You Go
- Register first. The event page asks job seekers to sign up online. It doesn't say whether walk-ins will be admitted, so don't count on it. If you're unsure, call the 24/7 hotline at 239-470-2733.
- Childcare isn't listed for November 7. The two Tampa fairs that offered it have passed, and the Lutz page doesn't mention it, so confirm before you bring kids.
- No employers named yet. The November 7 page doesn't list employers, and no employer has posted a number of openings.
🔎 How to Pick the Right Ones
- Anyone still looking this fall: Saturday, November 7, in Lutz is the last date in the series.
- Already working weekdays: the same Saturday fair, which is the only weekend date Better Together scheduled.
- People with a record: November 7, since second-chance employers are invited.
- Parents with young kids: the Lutz listing doesn't mention childcare, so call the hotline at 239-470-2733 first.
- Brandon and Pinellas job seekers who missed October: work the job links below; the Lutz church is a short run up I-275.
What to Bring to Any of Them
- Several printed copies of an up-to-date resume
- A photo ID and your work history with dates, so applications go fast
- A list of references with phone numbers
- Confirmation that you registered on the event page
- Clean, neat clothes you could interview in, because you might
🔎 Where to Aim Before the Fairs
Applying online before you walk in turns a quick hello into a real interview. These searches cover the employers named so far and the kinds of hourly jobs these fairs usually bring.
Start here:
- Publix jobs in Tampa
- Panera Bread jobs in Tampa
- AutoZone jobs in Tampa Bay
- Bus operator jobs in Tampa
- Home health aide jobs in Tampa
- Retail sales associate jobs
- Warehouse jobs in Tampa
- CDL driver jobs in Tampa
- Entry-level jobs in Tampa
FAQ
Are the Better Together job fairs in Tampa Bay free?
Yes. Registration is free for job seekers at all five events. Employers may make an optional donation.
Do I have to register ahead of time?
Yes. The event page asks job seekers to register online, and it doesn't say whether walk-ins are accepted. Register on the November 7 page if you plan to attend.
Can I attend with a criminal record?
Yes. Better Together invites second-chance employers, meaning companies open to hiring people with barriers such as past incarceration.
Is childcare provided?
The two Tampa events that listed short-term childcare, October 1 and October 6, have passed. The Lutz listing doesn't mention it, so call 239-470-2733 before you bring children.
Which employers will be there?
The November 7 fair hasn't named employers yet. Check the event page before you go.
Will this guide be updated?
Yes. We'll update it as employer lists are posted or if any date changes. Check back before you go.
Walk In Ready, Walk Out Hired
Register on the event page and apply online before the fair. Create your free LocalJobPage account to save searches and get new Tampa Bay openings as they post, or browse every Tampa job now.
Employers: Hiring in Tampa Bay? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local job seekers before they walk into a fair.
Related Reading
The last stop is a Saturday morning on North 15th Street in Lutz, where this fall's next job offer might come with a church parking lot and a handshake.
Updated September 29, 2026: employers are now named for the October 6 Crossover Church fair and the October 20 Brandon fair. The October 8 Pinellas Park list has changed: PSTA, the City of Largo and the Department of Children and Families are on it, and St. Petersburg College no longer is.
