The board and all of us at UMCM and throughout the district extend a warm welcome to Pamela Qualls, UMCM's new Executive Director.  We also welcome Ed, her husband of 27 years, and Joe and Kimberly, their son and daughter.  Joe is a recent Stetson University graduate and Kimberly attends Kenyon College. 

Pam was born and raised in Indianapolis and is a graduate of University of Indianapolis, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Music Performance.  "I prepared for a career in Art Administration, but soon found a deeper interest in Human Services, Education and Development."  Pam spent 10 years as a professional musician and over 15 years in marketing, non-profit management and music education.  

A lifelong Methodist, Pam has served in a variety of roles in the church: missions, trustees, boards, worship, youth, and various teaching roles.  She plays the flute in the orchestra at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, where she and her family are members.

UMCM recently received a grant from United Way of Tampa Bay to expand their Food Pantry Services to low-income families in Pinellas County.  The Phase 27 grant is part of the national stimulus package and will be used to purchase food and supplies for the food pantry at Clearview United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. 

Several fine teens (and a couple of wonderful adults) are spending their summer vacation helping the young students in our Summer Learning Camp retain the advances they made during the PASS+ After-School Tutorial Program this past year.  When asked why they chose to give their time, the unanimous answer was, "It's fun!"
Our Union Street administrative offices have been blessed with twice the help this summer as twin sisters Lisa and Dana Battistella have been copying, packing, cleaning and filing.  We'll certainly miss them when they return to school. 

At the Children of The World Preschool summer camp, another group of teens worked with the youngest of our students as they created art projects from recycled trash and visited the Pier Aquarium to learn about sea life.  The high school students learned a lot about themselves, too, as they developed the patience and gentleness needed to be effective preschool volunteers. Teens volunteering at the preschool include Omar Flores, Whitney O'Keefe, Andrea Schmidt, and Lena Sayavongkeo.

We are especially proud to have Yezet Cerrito, pictured above, and Lena Sayavongkeo, picture unavailable, as volunteers with us this summer.  Yezet was among the first students to join the PASS+ After-School Tutorial Program at Union Street and is now giving back to the program through her time and talents.  Lena is doing the same as a former student of the Children of The World Preschool.  It's exciting to see that both girls have grown into amazing young women who care about reaching out to others. 

A new UMCM poster is coming to a Methodist church near you!  Posters are being distributed to Gulf Central District churches throughout July.  Check your United Methodist church bulletin board to see the incredible work we are all doing - together!

Call our offices at 727-442-6881 Ext 5 or pam.umcm@verizon.net if you have not received a copy yet, or if you need extra copies. 

You are personally invited to help in any of the UMCM's Ministries.  Here is a partial list of the places and ways you may volunteer: 

•  ESOL volunteer tutoring 
  
•  PASS+ After-School Tutorial Program
  
•  Assistance at our Computer Labs
•  Children of The World Preschool
•  PACK-A-SACK 4 Kids
  
•  Ditty bags and backpacks
•  Contributions to the collaborative food pantries 
•  Donations of clothing, food or cash for the food pantry and for the needy families in our programs
•  Supplement a child's tuition in our Summer Learning Camp
•  Check umcm.info for many more opportunities, or see Volunteer Match.

Check out the Needs List and How You Can Help regularly.
To donate now by credit card, use the secure website,
Network For Good, or you may send a check directly to
UMCM, 1625 Union St., Clearwater, FL 33755. 
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Starting now, you can make a difference in someone's life!
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Can you help?
Program Needs
   *  Color laser printer (about $650) folding machine, copy paper
   *  Gift certificates to Wal-Mart, Sweet Bay, Winn-Dixie and Publix
   *  Computer needs: Laptops or notebook computers with VISTA or XP, CD-DVD drives, memory sticks or cards (2 GB or more), USB,  and headphones (with or without mics)
   *  Food needs:  fresh apples and bananas, health bars, gallons of Hi-C or other fruit drink, individual boxes of fruit juice, fruit/pudding cups, large cans of fruit, large bricks of cheese, string cheese and microwave popcorn
   *  Clorox wipes, paper towels, small bowls, 5-oz cups (not foam)
   *  Money or gift cards to purchase items for cooking class
   *  Sewing machine, air popcorn machines

Collaborative Food Pantries (Clearview and Sylvan Abbey) need nonperishable food items and cash for perishable items.