Hyde Park United Methodist continues its support of several local mission agencies:

Abe Brown Ministries’ mission is to compassionately demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by helping offenders, ex-offenders, and their families achieve productive and fulfilling lives. Outreach is provided to evangelize, counsel, and restore families that are broken as a result of incarceration. Comprehensive services allow patrons to make their freedom in Christ a reality. Helping ex-offenders establish an intimate relationship with Christ gives them hope for sustaining their families, occupations, and futures while they learn life skills and the value of gainful employment. This results in more productive citizens throughout our communities, improving the quality of life for all.

Abe Brown Ministries continues to strengthen its position as a master referral agency by identifying churches, organizations, and agencies in the community that can provide ex-offenders with basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), housing, education, employment, health care (especially treatment for substance abuse, mental-health, and HIV/AIDS issues), legal assistance, and discipleship.

For more information or to get involved contact Rich Allen, church liaison, email or phone 813.253.5388 ext. 236. The agency’s liaison, Robert Blount, can be reached at 813.247.3285 ext. 203 or email. More information is available at the Abe Brown Ministries web site.

Cornerstone Family Ministries, founded as Tampa United Methodist Centers, is a non-profit, faith-based organization with a heritage dating back to 1892. The Cornerstone mission is to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of families, empowering them to improve all aspects of their physical, social, educational and spiritual lives - building the foundation for a strong community. Cornerstone Family Ministries’ programs touch more than 25,000 families each month.

The Rosa Valdez and Cuscaden Early Intervention Centers provide nationally accredited, developmentally appropriate child care and early school readiness with family support services. SHARE Florida Food Network provides low-cost, nutritious food distribution to more than 300 sites each month. Housing Management Services provides volunteer opportunities through neighborhood revitalization. Acorn Trace Senior Housing, funded by HUD (202/8), is a 100-unit subsidized housing complex for the elderly and mobility-impaired.

For more information or to get involved contact Shanna Hathorne, agency liaison, email, or 813.248.6259, ext. 225. More information is available at the Cornerstone Family Ministries web site.

“Feeding the hungry today, ending hunger tomorrow” is the mission of Feeding America Tampa Bay. It provides a warehouse for donated food made available to other food pantries that serve the thousands who are hungry in our community. Feeding America Tampa Bay also runs a Kids Cafe’ in several locations in Tampa, where children receive a warm meal after school. 

For more information or to get involved contact Brenda Menendez, church liaison, email. The agency's liaison, Willene Hayward, can be reached at 813.254.1190, ext. 201 or email. More information is available at the America’s Second Harvest Food Bank web site.

One Sunday every other month, members of our congregation roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life by donating blood to the Florida Blood Services. The Bloodmobile will be at its usual location on Azeele Street from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates in 2010:

• Sept. 5
• Oct. 31
• Dec. 26

Donations made at other sites may also be credited to our church. When you give blood, tell them you are a member of this congregation.

For more information or to get involved contact Charley Sims, church liaison, email. To avoid waiting to donate blood, contact Charley for a courtesy appointment.

The agency’s liaison, Evelyn Rogers, can be reached at 727.568.1198 or email. More information is available at the Florida Blood Services web site.

Click here to view members of Hyde Park's honor roll.

The Society of St. Andrew — Gleaners is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to meeting both spiritual and physical hungers. The Society feeds the hungry all year long by saving fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and giving it to the needy.  This is accomplished through “backyard gleanings.” Volunteers of all ages pick and deliver fruit and vegetables to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry. The produce is never sold, but is given to those in need by caring volunteers.

For more information or to get involved contact Kim Allen, church liaison, email or phone 813.832.3153. The agency’s liaison, Margie Lewis, can be reached at 800.806.0756 or email. More information is available at the Society of St Andrew - Gleaners web site.

Click here to see the tentative gleaning schedule through May 2010.

Good Samaritan Mission is a locally based  nondenominational Christian ministry in southeastern Hillsborough County that ministers to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of farm worker families and those at or below poverty level. Our Christian outreach services and daycare center offer opportunities to introduce people to the transforming power of a relationship with their creator, as well as the spiritual tools to navigate through this sometimes difficult, confusing journey with grace and mercy.

The Mission continues to meet the physical needs of the people we serve through the food pantry and clothing portions of our ministry, our advocacy department where community services referrals and more are made.

This year marks the start of The Seeds of Change Program at GSM. We are excited to announce that through the avenues of discipling, mentoring, apprenticing and other educational opportunities (sewing, GED, English as a second language, re-design classes), those in need can be given a hand up, the tools to improve their lives in many ways.

Through Hyde Park’s support of the Good Samaritan Scholarship fund, students Miquel Galvan and  Iyari Villanueva will receive $1,000 for continuing their educations. To read Iyari's story, please click here. For Miguel's, click here.

For more information or to get involved contact Vern and Diane Dykema, church liaisons, email or phone 813.641.2737. The agency’s liaison, Billy Cruz, can be reached at 813.634.7136 or email. More information is available at the agency's website and newsletter. You do not need to speak Spanish to volunteer!

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County Florida, Inc., is a volunteer, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing decent, affordable housing in partnership with the community and deserving families in Hillsborough County.

Habitat Hillsborough builds affordable homes with dedicated volunteers and our partner families. Habitat homeowners must donate 500 “Sweat Equity” hours, helping build their own homes, as well as the homes of others.  Each home is sold at no profit utilizing an interest-free, 30-year mortgage. With our wonderful home sponsors and dedicated volunteers, Habitat Hillsborough builds homes…builds lives…and builds hope.

Habitat Hillsborough has increased its home production every year since 2005. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, Habitat Hillsborough built 10 homes - more homes than ever before. With special event builds like Suzie Q Blitz Build for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and SuperBuild 2009, Habitat Hillsborough continues to bring awareness for the need for affordable housing in Hillsborough County.

We need your help to give families in Hillsborough County a hand up, not a hand out! Your willing spirit—not your skill—is what matters! We are seeking home sponsors and families for this year. You can sign up for the newsletter, donate or register to volunteer online at www.HabitatHillsborough.com.

For more information or to get involved contact church liaison Chris Harrell at 813.805.0777 or email; or contact the agency liaison Ralph Jackson at 813.239.2242 or email.  

When a woman walks out the door of the Hillsborough County Jail to freedom and a new opportunity, where does she go? Many no longer have a home or family they can rejoin. Few have strong job skills or support networks to launch a new life. Who will reach out to a woman on the edge of opportunity and crisis? Hillsborough House of Hope (HHH).

HHH opened its doors in 2003 as a Christian Residential Program for these women. The program offers Bible study and development of a Christian lifestyle, helps with job searches, teaches life skills, offers seminars to develop self-esteem and contracts with The Centre for Women for outpatient drug treatment. The HHH program is six months long and carefully tailored to fit the needs of each individual woman.

In the past year HHH opened the Pat Cook House, which provides permanent housing for women after they graduate from the transitional housing program. HHH also started a new enterprise called Hands of Hope, a greeting card business.

Keep HHH in your prayers; they have a wish list of items needed for a new house in the residential program:
 
1.    5 energy efficient light bulbs (100 watt equivalent) for lamps.
2.    4 9-volt batteries for the smoke detectors (they are hardwired in, but
       batteries not included for power failures.)
3.    1 kitchen fire extinguisher - to wall-mount in the laundry room
4.    Two sets of bed linens for double beds.
5.    One set of twin bed linens.
6.    Patio furniture for front porch.
7.    Pots and pans for kitchen.
8.    2 small night stands
9.    1 dresser - light wood color
10.  1 microfiber floor duster that would work for hardwood floors.
       The kind with washable covers, not disposable.  Clorox brand has a really
       nice one.
11.  Floor Mate brand cleaner for hardwood and linoleum floors
       (someone donated a brand new "Floor Mate" floor cleaner, but we need
        the cleaning product that goes with it.)
12.  Microwave
13.  Toaster

If you are able to make a donation of any of the items on the wish list, please contact Linda Walker.

For more information or to get involved contact Margaret Palmer, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Linda Walker, can be reached at email. More information is available at the Hillsborough House of Hope web site.

The Judeo Christian Health Clinic was founded in 1972 to provide free health care to the medically indigent of Tampa Bay. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive clinics of its kind in the Southeast.

Clinic patients are generally considered “working poor.” They have no insurance, do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or any other public assistance program and lack the funds to pay a doctor or purchase health insurance. Hyde Park United Methodist refers patients to the Clinic, where they are screened and provide proof of income.

Hundreds of health care professionals donate their time and their compassion to the work and mission of the Clinic. Doctors also treat Clinic patients in their private offices free of charge on a referral basis. Additionally, administrative and support responsibilities are managed by countless volunteers.

Staff and volunteers attended to more than 28,000 patient visits last year. All funding is raised through the private sector.

For more information or to get involved contact Lia Schmidt, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Kelly Bell, can be reached at 813.870.0395 or email. More information is available at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic, Inc. web site.

To see the latest newsletter, click here.

Meals On Wheels of Tampa has been serving freshly prepared hot, nutritious meals to homebound residents of Tampa since 1975. In addition to the hot meal, recipients receive freshly made soup twice a week. A dedicated corps of over 600 volunteers delivers meals across 48 routes throughout the Tampa area. A typical route takes 60-90 minutes; individuals can serve as often as once a week or just once a month. The mission of Meals On Wheels of Tampa is to nourish and enrich the independent lives of the homebound. Over 117,000 meals have been delivered in the past year.

For more information or to get involved contact Celia Ferman, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Nancy Drour, can be reached at 813.238.8410 or email. More information is available at the Meals on Wheels web site.

 For over 35 years, Metropolitan Ministries has served poor and homeless men, women and children in the Tampa Bay region. Metropolitan Ministries has gone from a single-room food pantry, to one of America’s most effective and innovative caregivers. Serving 100-150 families daily through Outreach and Prevention Services, Metropolitan Ministries remains committed to breaking the cycle of poverty - today, tomorrow and always.

The facilities include Uplift U residential housing, a residence day care, an elementary school, adult training opportunities, a full-service kitchen that prepares more than 1,300 meals daily and a thrift store that provides clothing for those in need and to the general public.

For more information or to get involved contact Kim Lewis, church liaison, email, or phone 813.964.6481. The agency’s liaison, Scott Bedrosian, can be reached at 813.209.1251 or email. More information is available at the Metropolitan Ministries web site.

The Pre-Release Orientation Program (PROP) is a Christian faith-based organization. It is our goal to promote Christian beliefs and values through the task of teaching Social Re-Integration primarily to convicted offenders, but not limited to them completely.

We do this by teaching Social Reintegration (Extended Life-Skills) Education at two correctional institutions, two probation offices, Abe Brown Ministries and court-ordered offenders. We provide counseling for offenders who have either requested assistance or offenders who have been court ordered to the program.

Accomplishments in 2009:
Presented Life Skills to over 400 offenders within the Florida correctional system
Counseled 4 offenders on probation and expecting several more next year
Wrote and copyrighted a life-skills manual
Conducted a 20-hour marriage and family class at Sumter Correctional for over 100 inmates
Served as the Chaplain at Sumter Correctional

Goals for 2010:
Build a new chapel at Sumter Correctional
Acquire the funding to start a Delancey Street model where offenders are taught work ethics and business management

For more information or to get involved contact Laurel Moore, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Ted Kori, can be reached at 813.961.5555 or 813.205.0975, or email. More information is available at the PROP web site.

The Salvation Army is active in 119 countries and serves 4.5 million people each year. Here in Tampa, the Salvation Army has a modern facility on Florida Avenue where it feeds and houses the homeless and helps homeless men, women and children get a new start in life. Each Christmas, more than 300 members of Hyde Park United Methodist participate in the Red Kettle Drive. In 2009, Hyde Park United Methodist Red Kettle bell ringers collected $8,825.

Since 2003, our church has partnered with the Salvation Army to serve as an emergency overflow Cold Night shelter. Cold Night emergencies are designated by the Hillsborough County EOC, and the Salvation Army staffs the program.
Hyde Park United Methodist’s Tuesday Morning Men’s Group has taught Life Skills classes to the men of Hope House.

For more information or to get involved contact Fran Westbrook (Kettle Drive Liaison), email; Richard Allen (Cold Night Shelter Liaison), email.

Major Moira Hinson is the agency's liaison and can be reached at 813.224.9119 or email. More information is available at the Salvation Army web site.

Steppin’ Stone Farm, located in eastern Hillsborough County, is a Christian home-away-from-home where girls with emotional problems are able to find love, understanding and guidance to live a better and more productive life. The farm provides a home for 27 girls from the ages of 13 through 17. Girls are recommended by courts, social workers, doctors, and schools. They stay for a minimum of one year in the hope that after living in a wholesome Christian atmosphere, they will be able to return to their homes ready to meet the challenges of life.  Cynthia Churchill originally came to the farm as a troubled teenager. There she turned her life around, went on to college, and earned an advanced degree in Psychology. She is now serving as Director of Steppin’ Stone Farm.

For more information or to get involved contact Karen Crawford, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Cindy Churchill, can be reached at 813.650.8700 or email. More information is available at the Steppin’ Stone Farm web site.