Real Life Stories
Click on the photos to here their stories.
...And Gives Back
Angelo was a drug addict for 16 years until he discovered Metropolitan Ministries. He was penniless and homeless, but today his life is complete. For the past nine years, he has been making a valuable contribution to our community by serving as Director of Nutrition at Metropolitan Ministries. Angelo offers guidance and inspiration to others who are homeless or struggling with addiction.
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Not Blu Anymore...
"I'm not embarrassed anymore. I see self-sufficiency for me and my children in our future."
Blu's son needed constant care...
Jevon has an extremely rare neuro-muscular disease that forced Blu to move her two children from Texas to Tampa in search of specialist capable of helping him. But moving to a new city-a new state- brought a whole new set of challenges. Blu couldn't find work because there was no one to help care for Jevon. Soon, she ran out of money, and was facing the choice of feeding her children-Jevon and his 15-year-old sister, Jazmine...or paying rent.
That's when she heard about Metropolitan Ministries. "This place is amazing," says Blu, who has graduated from the Uplift U® residential program and is living in Metropolitan Ministries Permanent Supportive Housing. "This is the best thing that has ever happened to me and my family."
Here's why: through the H.O.M.E.S Program, Blu and her family are being mentored by a couple through Hyde Park United Methodist Church. They are available to help the family make the transition into self-sufficiency. One of the many things the couple has helped Blu with is making and sticking to a budget. "Ihave a savings account now," says Blu, proudly. With the help of the staff at Metropolitan Ministries, Jevon received the initial medical testing he needed and Blu has received the support she needed to better care for a disabled child.
"Right now he's being referred to a special school," says Blu, "He's like a different kid now." Jazmine is thriving in school, and with the help of a social worker at the Ministries, has almost completed an internship at Lowery Park Zoo. She dreams of being a veterinarian someday and can now see the possibility of realizing that dream. And Blu has hope again.
Since graduating from Brewster Technical School's Adult Education classes, Blu has been working in Janitorial Services at MacDill AFB and is the group leader of her team. "I'm not embarrassed anymore," says Blu, "I see self-sufficiency for me and my children in our future."