Hearts filled with hope

Local families say thank you to the Tampa Bay community for their generosity, compassion, and inspiration.

This year has been challenging for local families in Tampa Bay due to COVID-19. Families faced hardships like unexpected job loss and financial strain during the crisis. But in the face of fear, hope remained. When local families needed it the most, the community’s compassion Spread Hope to each family served by Metropolitan Ministries. 

By joining forces with 65 corporate, church, and nonprofit partners in Tampa Bay, almost 50,000 families received the help they desperately needed. 

One of these families includes Carmen, a hardworking mother of two who lost her job when the pandemic hit and struggled to make ends meet. This year, Carmen was able to provide a Christmas meal for her children through your support. Caring for her kids and giving them a holiday meal and gifts to open on Christmas morning was a challenge, but it was made possible because of you. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, Kara’s home flooded out. As a single mother of four, this meant additional bills when she was already struggling to put food on the table. Through the support of generous donors like you, Kara was able to find hope again right in time for Christmas. “This makes my heart filled with happiness,” said Kara. “It is truly a blessing.” Despite an uncertain future, this holiday season, struggling families like Carmen and Kara’s remained hopeful, and most of all, thankful for you.

“It’s been such a fulfilling experience to witness Jack’s transition from living outside to moving into his apartment.” When Savannah from the Metro BridAIDe Mobile Outreach team met Jack, he was living on the street. 

Metro helped Jack apply for Social Security Disability benefits and move into a house of his own just in time to celebrate his first Christmas there. Jack is one of many whose lives have been transformed thanks to your support. 

Olga, who turned to Metro for help when she had nowhere else to go, is now back on her feet. She would not be where she is today had it not been for your help: “The program was a true blessing for my family and me financial assistance and counseling,” said Olga. “With their help, we are back on our feet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all that believed in me and supported me when I needed it most.”

While the need far exceeded any other holiday season in history, so did the generosity of the Tampa Bay community. All of this is made possible due to your continuous support. Metropolitan Ministries looks into 2021, knowing that although the most challenging holiday season for families is over, the hardship will continue into the new year. Their mission to Spread Hope required your partnership, and because of you, every family who came to Metro received hope this holiday season and beyond. They invite you to continue to Spread Hope today to transform lives in the New Year. 

Metropolitan Ministries’ Tampa campus is located at 2002 N. Florida Ave. The West Pasco campus is located at 3214 US Highway 19 in Holiday, FL.