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A Hope and A Future
United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc. |
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Great Beginnings
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A brand new collaboration between Cooperative Ministries and the YMCA is already bearing fruit.
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High Point YMCA site. |
The partnership began when both organizations conducted needs assessments in the High Point area of PInellas County. Cooperative Ministries concluded that there was a need for our Families Learning
Together program to teach English language skills, parental involvement in children's school work and intergenerational
literacy activities. At the same time, the High Point YMCA completed a survey of the area and received a large number of requests for an English language and literacy program. Cooperative Ministries needed a site, and the YMCA needed a program. On a community development visit in July, the two groups found each other and our work began.
An informational meeting for families was held September 19 and registration began in October. Now, two nights per week, three classrooms of adult students receive tutoring while their children participate in age-appropriate activities. Parents also spend time each night helping their students with homework or reading to their children under the guidance of trained child-enrichment professionals. The
program is going so well that the YMCA has asked Cooperative Ministries to provide tutoring opportunities at its Highland Avenue location, as well.
In addition, Jan Setzekorn, Director of Literacy Services, was honored for outstanding volunteer service and support to the High Point YMCA Branch at the organization's Taste of Hope event on October 27.
Click here to learn more about Families Learning Together.
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Coming Events
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November 12, 9:00 am Community Service Day Ditty Bag Stuffing First UMC Dunedin November 17, 6:00 pm Share the Dream Banquet Ruth Eckerd Hall
November 24-25 Office closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
December 23-26 Office closed for Christmas Holiday
December 30-January 2 Office closed for New Year Holiday
March 31, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Walk-A-Thon More details to come |
| Want to Help? |
Would you like to be a part of one of the programs or projects of Cooperative Ministries? Click on one of the links below to get involved in the way that's best for you!
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Share the Dream
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Share the Dream A Multi-Cultural Celebration of Thanksgiving November 17, 2011 6:00 - 8:30 pm Ruth Eckerd Hall If you Share the Dream - that all children might live in peace, have good nutrition and safe shelter, and get a good education - join us for our exciting celebration! We'll have a silent auction, enjoy great food, and our emcee for the night is Yolanda Fernandez of Channel 8 News! All proceeds will benefit Cooperative Ministries' programs for children and their families. We are especially excited to be able to honor some outstanding volunteers who are making a difference in our community. - Joe and Mary Ann Brito, Bradenton, Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids Team Leaders
- Cris Wolfe, St. Petersburg, Families Learning Together Site Coordinator
- Rev. Gene Watson and Rev. Lois Rogers-Watson, Palm Harbor, Program Support Volunteers
- Betsy Kenas, Dunedin, P.A.S.S. Tutorial Aide and Cooperative Ministries Ambassador
- Marion Lucciola, St. Petersburg, Board Member Emeritus
Registrations are coming in quickly and tables are filling fast, so if you plan to attend please send in your reservation right away. For more details on how to attend or to send a donation in honor of an outstanding volunteer, click here. |
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Settling In
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The move to our new administrative offices is complete - well, except for the unpacking still to be done! A huge thank you goes to all of the volunteers, over 100 in all, who played a part in making the move possible. We couldn't have done it without you!
Just as a reminder, our new addresses are:
Mailing Address: Physical Address: PO Box 1561 403 1st Avenue SW Largo, FL 33779 Largo, FL 33770 On the Faith Community Network Mission Campus
Special thanks go to the leadership of the Faith Community Network, our hosts at our new home. They have gone above and beyond to welcome us and prepare the building for our use, and we truly appreciate all of their hard work. |
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Volunteer Spotlight
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UMW Members from Allendale involve the whole church in their project.
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For over 25 years, the United Methodist Women of the Gulf Central District have provided leadership for our district Ditty Bag mission project. From stitching to stringing to stuffing, the women have spent hours lovingly creating these bags full of personal hygiene items that are distributed to individuals who are homeless, families in transition, and migrant farmworkers' children. Over the years, their work has touched more than 100,000 people facing difficult times in their lives, providing them with the ability to keep themselves clean and healthy during a time of instability.
The UMW units that are especially successful in the Ditty Bag Project are those that rise to a higher level of leadership by involving their entire church. Click for more.
Watch Michelle Bearden on Channel 8 News tonight at 5:30 pm or Sunday at 9:00 am for a feature about the Ditty Bag Project!
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Community Service Day
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The need for Ditty Bags is strong and growing, and you can help us meet the need!
All members of the community are welcome to join us as we stuff ditty bags with
personal care items for the homeless.
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Place: First United Methodist Church of Dunedin
421 Main Street
Dunedin, FL 34698
We'll begin by stuffing the bags, and then load them into vehicles for distribution. This is a great project for all ages, so bring the whole family - kids love stuffing the bags!
For questions and more information, call (727) 442-6881 x9 or email contact@umcm.info.
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In the News
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Tune in to Channel 8's newscast at 5:30 pm tomorrow night (Friday 11/4) or 9:00 am Sunday morning (11/6) to see Michelle Bearden's report on the Ditty Bag Project and upcoming Community Service Day!
October 4: Yolanda Fernandez (our emcee for the "Share the Dream" Celebration, see above) came to the Children of the World Preschool to do a feature for Channel 8 news. Take a look at the video.
October 12: The Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids Program was mentioned in a St. Petersburg Times article about food programs in Pasco County. Click here.
October 18: The Golf for Education Open held by First United Methodist Church of Clearwater and the P.A.S.S. Tutorial Program were featured on Channel 10's morning show, Studio 10.
Click here to see the video.
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Christmas Cards Available
|  Once again this year, we have Christmas Cards available for you to purchase and send to family and friends. The cards feature students from the Children of the World Preschool, and all proceeds from the sale go to the Vanessa Petrie Scholarship fund to provide opportunities for low-income children to attend the preschool. Cards are $10 for a dozen and include mailing envelopes. There are two styles to choose from.
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Calling all Crafters
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Is it time to clean out your craft supply closet? If so, please think of us!
The Children of the World Preschool and the P.A.S.S. Tutorial Program are in need of some craft and school supplies. Check out our needs list and see if you are ready to pass on any of the items listed. If so, we'd love to have them!
Donations can be dropped off at our main office at 403 1st Avenue SW in Largo, or at the preschool at 1801 62nd Avenue N in St. Petersburg. If you are not able to drop them off, just give us a call at (727) 442-6881 x5 or email at contact@umcm.info and we'll make arrangements to pick them up. |
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We're moving into the holiday season with all of its anticipation and joy. As we
 work to reach out to the people of our community, we once again want to thank you for the joy you bring others through your support of our ministries. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and we hope to see you at our Share the Dream Thanksgiving Celebration! Sincerely, Pamela Qualls, Executive Director
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| Info | United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc.
Mailing Address: Physical Address: PO Box 1561 403 1st Avenue SW Largo, FL 33779 Largo, FL 33770 (727) 442-6881
www.umcm.info
contact@umcm.info |
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