|
|
|
|
|
|
A Hope and A Future
United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc. |
|
|
|
| Greetings! | |
The children are back to school, there's a slight nip in the air, and the holidays are approaching! Here at UM Cooperative Ministries we are back in full swing in all of our programs. Before we move forward into the holidays, though, we'd like to give you a brief glimpse of some of the ways we spent our summer. I hope you enjoy reading those stories and look forward with us to our upcoming events.
|
|
Families Learn English and More at the Farm
|
Students in UMCM's Families Learning Together Program at the High Point YMCA site had a great time when they visited Gateway Organic Farm owned by Hank and Pamela Sindlinger.
 | A mother and her daughters
learn about growing squash.... |
Thanks to the High Point Neighborhood Family Center's Seeds to Soup project, which made the trip possible, parents
and children had the opportunity to learn
about growing organic vegetables and herbs.
After that, they took on the role of the farmer and got their hands dirty doing some planting. Best of all, everyone got to take home their own fresh vegetables!
 | | and then do a little seed planting themselves! |
The farm is located near the neigh-
borhood where the families live and attend English class, so many more visits are expected. Students who continue to visit the farm will learn about using vegetables, both raw
and cooked, as part of a healthy
diet. They'll also learn where to find vegetable recipes and how to buy
and eat "in season" to keep food costs down.
If you'd like to learn more about the Families Learning Together Program, click here.
|
|
 |
Upcoming Events
| |
Community Service Event |
| Our Programs |
Suncoast Community Citizenship Project
Backpacks 4 Success Project
|
|
|
|
UMCM's Children of the World Preschool Celebrates the 4th of July
| |
 Ask the preschool students what they liked most about their summer camp this year, and you'll hear two answers - the 4th of July Celebration and visiting the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
US Independence Day was great fun for the children as they made flags and other decorations and read stories about the holiday. There were no fireworks at their party (safety first, of course!), but they had a great time.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium trip was the highlight of the summer. The youth group of First UMC of High Springs spent the week volunteering in UM Cooperative Ministries programs, and on their final day they chaperoned the children as they visited Winter the Dolphin and the other sea life at the aquarium. The toddlers and teens all enjoyed the experience!
For more about the Children of the World Preschool, click here.
|
|
UMCM's PASS "Engineers" Have a Great Time at Summer Camp
|  During this year's Summer Learning Camp, PASS students were able to begin using their new curriculum, Engineering is Elementary, from the Museum of Science in Boston. Designed to introduce students to the way various forms of engineering impact our world everyday, the curriculum also develops English language, math, and social studies skills and knowledge. While enjoying field trips, science experiments, and enrichment activities, students learned about careers that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We hope that getting kids excited about pursuing higher education in these fields will open doors for their future! According to the 2012 National Math and Science institute and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: - 8 of the 10 fastest growing occupations in the U.S. are science, math or technology related
- the increase in jobs that demand technical training is five times that of non-technical jobs
- American demand for scientists and engineers is expected to grow four times faster than all other professions over the next decade
- While the unemployment rate remains around 8-10% in most areas, for those with an engineering degree the unemployment rate is 1%.
If you'd like to learn more about the PASS Program, click here. |
Join us for our "Share the Dream" Celebration! 
| 
If you Share the Dream that all children will live in peace, have plentiful food and safe shelter, and get a good education,
join us for a gala evening of international cuisine,
fantastic entertainment, and silent auction excitement!
"Share The Dream"
Thursday, November 8, 2012
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Ruth Eckerd Hall
1111 McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
Doors open at 6 p.m. for Registration and Silent Auction;
Dinner and Program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tickets are $50 per person. Table sponsorships available from $500.
Reservations required by November 1.
Proceeds will go to UM Cooperative Ministries' programs for children and families.
Reservations may be made through UM Cooperative Ministries
or by clicking here. For details, call 442-6881, ext. 5.
|
|
Volunteer Spotlight |  Judy Szypot of Palm Harbor has been cheerfully and enthusiastically volunteering in our administrative offices one morning a week since July of 2010. She has put her 32 years of experience in administrative work with Eastman Kodak Company near Rochester, NY, to great use, helping with a wide variety of tasks, especially volunteer and donor relations and data entry. Judy is very adept on the computer and willing to take on any challenge. "Volunteering at UM Cooperative Ministries allows me to use some of the skills I used in the workforce," said Judy. Click here for more. |
Help Raise Money for UMCM's Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids!
| |
The Home Party Divas are at it again! They are hosting another exciting event to
raise money for UMCM's Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids Program.
You don't have to be a diva to attend!
20 Fabulous Companies showcasing
their brand in a unique and fun atmosphere.
Win great products for just Quarters.
Wear a masquerade mask & get entered into our
DIVA GIVEAWAY!
Wear your FAVORITE costume & WIN BIG!
Reserve a table for you and your guests TODAY! RSVP to Alishia
|
Community Service Event -UMCM's Ditty Bag Project Stuffing Day
| 
Ditty Bag? What is a ditty bag?
Soldiers and sailors have used ditty bags for years to carry their personal hygeine items with them no matter where they serve. These simple cloth bags with drawstring tops also come in handy for those who are homeless or in transition between living facilities.
On November 17 at 9am, come out to our main offices and join with other volunteers to sort, count and stuff ditty bags at UMCM's Ditty Bag Project Stuffing Day. By the end of the day, we will have over 4,000 to distribute to agencies that serve the homeless on the west coast of Florida. For more details and to register for the event, click here.
Donations of funds as well as the hygiene items themselves are welcome. For a complete list of items, click here. Items or donations may be delivered or mailed to the UM Cooperative Ministries' Administrative Office, 403 First Avenue SW, Suite 102, Largo, FL 33770.
|
Become a Volunteer!
| |
Citizenship Project Tutors
Tutors help students successfully master the English language skills and knowledge needed to become US Citizens.
Banquet Committee Members
Our second annual Share the Dream Banquet will be held November 8. Volunteers work on sub-committees for the silent auction, decorations, entertainment, volunteer recognition, etc.
To volunteer for these opportunities or to learn more, contact Kitty Carpenter, kcarpenter@umcm.info, 727-442-6881, Ext. 5
|
|
Welcome New Tutors
| 
The following volunteers were trained as tutors for UMCM's Suncoast Community Citizenship Project. Welcome to the team!
Herbert Ray Terry Ridenour
John Gee Terry C. (TC) Lonor
Amy Katsouris R. Alan Martin
|
|
Welcome New Staff Members
| |
Joyce Morris has joined our staff as Finance Manager. She has a degree in Christian Education and continuing education in administration and finance. She has worked in program and administration throughout her professional life with a variety of ministries and missions, including 11 years each in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Brigitta Gahr is now on staff as a Suncoast Community Citizenship Project teacher. She has over 8 years experience working with students from around the world, and is currently an ESOL Instructor with Pinellas County Schools. She will be teaching citizenship classes on the south side of Pinellas County.
|
|
And a Fond Farewell | |
Andrea LaRochelle, Director of the PASS Program, has resigned her position to pursue other opportunities. She will be living in Mexico for the next few months working to establish technology programs in rural schools. We wish her all the best! |
| Want to Help? |
The programs and projects of UM Cooperative Ministries benefit over 15,000 people per year. You can help by donating items on our needs list or making a financial gift. Click on the links below to learn more.
|
| | |
I hope that your summer was as rich and rewarding as ours. We certainly had a lot of fun with all of our students!
Make sure to register to join us for the "Share the Dream" Celebration and/or the Ditty Bag Project Stuffing Day. We look forward to seeing you there! Grace and Peace, Pamela Qualls, Executive Director
|
| Info | United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc.
403 1st Avenue SW, Suite 102 Largo, FL 33770 (727) 442-6881
www.umcm.info
contact@umcm.info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
