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

Abe Brown Ministries compassionately demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ by helping offenders, ex-offenders, and their families achieve productive and fulfilling lives. 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.

For more information or to get involved contact the agency’s liaison, Robert Blount at 813.247.3285, ext. 203 or email. More information is available at the Abe Brown Ministries website.

Cornerstone Family Ministries’ mission is to make a lasting and positive impact on children and families in our community by nurturing bodies, developing minds and fostering hope through Christ. Cornerstone accomplishes its mission through two primary programs: the Rosa Valdez Early Childhood Learning Center and the Cornerstone Children’s Nutrition Connection.

The Rosa Valdez Early Intervention Center provides nationally accredited, developmentally appropriate childcare and early school readiness programming to inner-city, at-risk children.

The Cornerstone Children’s Nutrition Connection sponsors 120 childcare centers in five surrounding counties through the Florida Child Care Food Program, so that they can afford to serve 6,000 children nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks each day.

For more information or to get involved contact Leslie Berlin, agency liaison, email, or 813.248.3379. More information is available at the Cornerstone Family Ministries website.

Feeding America Tampa Bay works with more than 600 partner charities in 10 counties in and around Tampa Bay to distribute more than 20 million pounds of food, helping to alleviate hunger in our area. Please join us in our mission, “Ending hunger, nourishing hope.” Feeding America Tampa Bay also partners with our Open Arms ministry to provide low cost foods for our Sunday morning breakfast.

For more information or to get involved contact the agency's liaison, Ashton Connell at 813.254.1190, ext. 212 or email. More information is available at the America’s Second Harvest Food Bank website.

One Sunday every other month, members of Hyde Park roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life by donating blood to the Florida Blood Services. Donations made at other sites may also be credited to Hyde Park, if donors indicate they are member so this congregation.

2012 Blood Drive Dates:
Feb. 19, April 15, June 10, Aug. 5, Sept. 30, Dec. 2

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 website.

The Society of St. Andrew — Gleaners 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 pick and deliver fruit and vegetables to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry.

For more information or to get involved contact the agency’s liaison, Margie Lewis. Margie can be reached at 800.944.6923 or email. More information is available at the Society of St. Andrew - Gleaners website.

Read about and listen to the story about gleaning on NPR.

Good Samaritan Mission ministers to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of farm worker families and those at or below poverty level. The Mission offers a variety of services: outreach services and community services referrals, a daycare center, food and clothing distribution, educational opportunities, and a scholarship fund for students.

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. You do not need to speak Spanish to volunteer!

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Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County Florida Inc., is a nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing decent, affordable housing in partnership with the community and deserving families in Hillsborough County. In order to volunteer to help create these homes, a willing spirit — not skill level— is what matters!

For more information or to get involved contact church liaison Harris Halverson at 813.786.7670 or email; or contact the agency liaison Kathy Brogli at 813.239.2242 or email.  More information is available at the agency's website www.HabitatHillsborough.com.

Hillsborough House of Hope (HHH) opened its doors in 2003 as a Christian Residential Program for formerly incarcerated 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.

For more information or to get involved contact the agency’s liaison, Linda Walker at email. More information is available at the Hillsborough House of Hope website.

The Judeo Christian Health Clinic was founded in 1972 to provide free health care to the medically indigent of Tampa Bay. 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.

For more information or to get involved contact the agency’s liaison, Kelly Bell at 813.870.0395 or email. More information is available at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic, Inc. website.

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 five days a week. A typical route takes 60 minutes; individuals can serve as often as they would like.

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

For 30 years, Metropolitan Ministries has served poor and homeless men, women and children in the Tampa Bay region. Serving 100-150 families daily through Outreach and Prevention Services, Metropolitan Ministries remains committed to breaking the cycle of poverty - today, tomorrow and always.

Metropolitan Ministries’ facilities include Uplift U residential housing, a full-service kitchen that prepares more than 1,700 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 website.

The Pre-Release Orientation Program (PROP) promotes Christian beliefs and values through teaching Social Reintegration (Extended Life-Skills) Education at two correctional institutions, two probation offices, Abe Brown Ministries and to court-ordered offenders. PROP provides counseling for offenders who have requested assistance or offenders who have been court ordered to the program.

For more information or to get involved contact Doug Egan, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Ted Kori, can be reached at 813.205.0975, or email.

The Salvation Army offers multiple ways to serve those in need in the Tampa Bay area. Volunteers can serve at their facility on Florida Avenue, where the Salvation Army feeds and houses the homeless and helps them get a new start in life. In conjunction with Hyde Park, volunteers can ring the bell for the Red Kettle Drive or staff the emergency overflow Cold Night shelter.

For more information or to get involved contact Fran Westbrook (Kettle Drive Liaison), email; Richard Howard-Allen (Cold Night Shelter Liaison), email. More information is available at the Salvation Army website.

Steppin’ Stone Farm provides a home for 27 girls, from the ages of 13 through 17, who arrive by recommendation from 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.

For more information or to get involved contact Suzanne Gainer, 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 website.