Did You Know…

¨     There are 20,000 homeless people in the Tampa Bay area

¨     That 80-100 people come to our door steps everyday in need of help

¨     We give out approximately 50 to 80 Boxes of Hope food boxes every day

¨     We provided more than 21,000 families with food boxes and over 30,000 children with toys during the holidays in 2006

Here’s What It Takes...

¨ It takes over $8 million dollars per year

Þ   5% comes from government funding

¨ It takes over $4 million dollars per year in donated goods, materials, and professional labor.

¨ It takes thousands of volunteers, over 74,000 hours of donated time per year; saving us over $2 million dollars in labor costs

Housing Program

¨ We offer housing on campus to 80 children and 40 adults upon admission into our UpLift U Program.

¨ We offer transitional housing for UpLift U graduates. 

¨ As part of our housing program, residents receive free childcare for their children so that they may work or attend school.

¨ We also provide counseling, health and nutrition classes

¨ Our residents have access to our on-site library with computer access and tutoring services

  Food Services

¨ We provide food boxes to those in need with enough food to feed a family of four for two to three days. 

¨ During the holidays we provide all families in need with holiday food boxes and Christmas toys for the children.

¨ We have 22 meal site partners throughout the community that help us to serve over 2,000 meals every day.

¨ We provide healthy and nutritious meals three times a day for our residents. 

¨ We offer meal vouchers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.   

Education      

¨ We have a Hillsborough County Charter School, called the Metropolitan Ministries Academy, for grades kindergarten through fifth grade.  The academy is fully accredited by Hillsborough County and open to all students.

¨ We coordinate with local educational, technical, and trade schools to help adults continue their education.

¨ We offer a mentor program where staff and volunteers take the time to mentor a child.

¨ We offer before and after school care to all MM Academy students.

¨ We provide brand new book bags and school supplies to those that are in need at our Back to School Fair. 

¨ We provide vouchers for free clothing, shoes, and other goods from our thrift store.

¨ We provide referrals for various goods and services such as bill payments, childcare, employment, and health care.

¨ Team building community service projects are available for your school, work, faith, and civic group both onsite and offsite.

 Future Plans

¨ Establish multiple hub-sites throughout the tri-county area to increase accessibility to our services

¨ Expand emergency shelter for 50 families and 20 women

¨ Expand housing for families and individuals who have recovery issues

¨ Strengthen our education, employment, counseling, and life skill services

¨ Provide more transitional housing options with supportive services

¨ Strengthen and expand our graduates program

What is the Bridge Builders Event?

¨ A spectacular annual event filled with inspiration and entertainment

¨ A portal to witnessing first hand the real stories of lives transformed - presented and enhanced in their portrayal by Broadway performers

¨ An opportunity to encourage your co-workers, family, and other associates to learn about the role of Metropolitan Ministries and how they can get involved with helping us to fulfill our mission.

Bridge Builders are the backbone of Metropolitan Ministries – they are philanthropists in their community that are committed to helping us reach our goals. 

By becoming a Bridge Builder sponsor you are:

¨ Part of a legacy of care to the Tampa Bay community

¨ Helping Bridge the gap between homelessness and self-sufficiency in the Tampa Bay area

 ¨ Gaining recognition for your organization

 ¨ Partnering not only with us but with high level community leaders in making a difference