Metropolitan Ministries

IN MEMORIAM Rev. Morris E. Hintzman, Guiding Light of Metropolitan Ministries, Passes Away With heavy hearts, Metropolitan Ministries announces the passing of Reverend Morris E. Hintzman, who entered eternal rest on September 1, 2024, at the age of 82. A visionary leader, compassionate advocate, and devoted servant of the Lord, Reverend Hintzman leaves behind a legacy of profound impact through his work as the CEO of Metropolitan Ministries. For over four decades, he led Metropolitan Ministries with an unwavering commitment to helping those in need. His influence led to over 47 million meals served, 2.8 million nights of shelter provided, half a million families helped with holiday assistance, 2.2 million volunteer hours logged, and more than 3 million children’s lives impacted. "Morris was a friend, mentor, pastor, a visionary leader, a doer of the Word, and a relentless advocate for the poor and homeless. It’s been my highest honor to be a small part of his legacy and witness the ripple effects of one man’s compassion and vision. He touched our community like no other, and we sorely miss him,” said President & CEO, Tim Marks. Morris was a tireless advocate for social justice, frequently collaborating with local government, businesses, donors, volunteers, and faith-based organizations to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty. His compassionate, humble approach, combined with his deep faith, inspired those around him to join in his mission to make the Tampa Bay area a better place to live, work, and serve. His family was the cornerstone of his life, and he cherished every moment spent with them. Morris’s love of family and his faith fueled his passion to help any struggling or homeless family have a Merry Christmas, food on their table, or a safe place to find hope. Reverend Morris E. Hintzman’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the community he helped build. May he rest in peace, knowing his work on Earth made a lasting difference. #HopeLivesForever

What an amazing feeling to turn over the Residential building to Metropolitan Ministries! ❤️ 24 additional families will now have a place to call home! 🎉 Next up-Daycare Facility. Stay Tuned!! 📍 Metropolitan Ministries-Holiday, FL #EvolutionContractingLLC #ExperienceExcellenceEverytime #HopeDoesMore

Honoring big hearts in our community 💙 The Golden Barrel Awards celebrate the incredible generosity of our drive donors who faithfully support us year after year. Their contributions make it possible for us to serve the community in profound ways. From food and holiday toys to baby products and hygiene essentials, without their unwavering support, our mission would not be possible. "Some of the things we provide to the community, like backpacks and school supplies, are 100% community funded, meaning we can only give to the community what we get from the community," said Michelle Hogan, Associate Director of Community Donations. "They are crucial to what we do here." This year, we honor the outstanding contributions of Cox Media Group Tampa, Oldsmar Cares, Cigna Healthcare, NLG Divorce and Family Law, and Indian Rocks Christian School. Thank you! Without the dedication and generosity of organizations like our Golden Barrel Award winners, many in our community would go without the life essentials they desperately need. These five outstanding organizations have shown up every year and make a tangible difference in countless lives. Together, we are building a strong, caring community. Will your organization be next to answer the call? Learn more about hosting a Community Drive here: https://lnkd.in/dH2JTSjm #VitalContributions #Grateful #CommunityFunded #HopeProvidesTheEssentials #GoldenBarrelAwards #CommunityChampions #CommunityDonations #HopeDoesMore

We had the joy of moving families with no place to go into brand-new residential housing on our newly redeveloped West Pasco campus! It’s been a pleasure witnessing the smiles and hope on our residents' faces as they embraced what we’ve all worked so hard to achieve. One family even shared, “Wow, it’s like our own little neighborhood.” 🏘️ But as we celebrate this milestone, our work is not done yet! We can't ignore the growing affordable housing crisis that so many families are facing. The need for shelter and supportive housing is more urgent than ever, and we need your help to continue making a real impact. Whether it’s volunteering your time, donating resources, or spreading the word, every bit counts in providing relief and hope for those struggling to find a safe place to call home. A heartfelt shoutout to the incredible Metropolitan Ministries' staff, volunteers and each of YOU who played a part in making this happen! This moment is a powerful reminder of the sense of community we strive to build for our residents. 💙 #PascoCounty #HopeDoesMore #HopeProvidesShelter #ResidentialBuilding

Success Stories Like This Fuel Our Mission! Meet one of our incredible GED graduates—a bright young woman, Amara, who overcame bullying and financial barriers to achieve her dreams. She left school due to teasing and couldn’t afford another GED program, but her determination never wavered. After just a few tutoring sessions, it was clear she had the talent to ace the exam. With practice tests in hand, she passed with flying colors and nailed every exam on the first try! 🎓 "Seeing her walk into my office with her entire family, including her grandmother who brought a cap and gown, was a moment I’ll never forget," says Associate Director of Adult Education. "It’s stories like these that show the power of a little support and the generosity of donors who make these resources possible." But there’s more work to be done. With continued support, we can help even more residents, like Amara, navigate the system and succeed. She’s now on her way to pursuing a degree in veterinary science—proof that with the right help, anything is possible. 🐾 This achievement is made possible thanks to the outstanding efforts of Metro’s Adult Education team and the generosity of our donors who provide these essential resources. Join us in making more success stories happen. Your support can change lives. ✨ #MetroAdultEd #CommunitySupport #GEDSuccess #EducationMatters #HopeDoesMore #PascoCounty

Our Counseling and Resiliency Center has been buzzing with activity over the past few weeks! We’re thrilled to share that we’ve successfully wrapped up another semester with our amazing interns, who have been hard at work since July celebrating their graduations. 🌟 We’re incredibly proud of our interns from USF, NOVA, St. Leo and FSU, who have earned their Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Clinical Social Work. Their dedication is inspiring—with over 900 individual counseling sessions, nearly 3,000 internship hours, and 50+ group sessions under their belts, not to mention their vital contributions to our Intake Department! 🙌 A huge thank you goes out to our intake team for their unwavering support, and to our counseling team for providing top-notch training, supervision, and guidance every step of the way. On the next slide, we’re excited to welcome our next group of interns next week! At our Counseling and Resiliency Center, experienced counselors help families overcome toxic stress by teaching new skills, building support networks, and fostering trust. We empower families to thrive independently. 💪💙 Who We Serve: Our affordable services are available to individuals and families in the community, including adults, children (7+), and families. You don't have to be a Metropolitan Ministries client to receive help. ADA access is available, and counseling is offered in Spanish and other languages. Visit https://lnkd.in/eAby6cUp or call us at (813) 209-1006 to learn more about the services we offer and to schedule a visit! #CounselingInterns #GraduateInternship #CounselingServices #CommunityCare #ThrivingTogether #StressRelief #ResiliencyCenter

The Gift of a Home ✨🏠 John Dillon, at the age of 92, made a profound decision while living in his Carrollwood home—a decision that would change lives. Through his will, John gifted his home to Metropolitan Ministries, and just one month later, we were able to sell it, with the kind assistance of Robbie Henderson from Bell Henderson Team | Keller Williams Realty, who waived his commission. The proceeds from this sale will now provide hope and care for families and children facing homelessness or the threat of it. Imagine the impact—John’s incredible generosity means that families who once lived in cars or on the streets now have a chance at a new life. What a beautiful legacy he leaves behind. We are deeply grateful for John Dillon and his heartwarming gift. Did you know August is Make-a-Will Month? Taking steps to secure your legacy can bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones. To learn how you can make a lasting impact, visit https://lnkd.in/gP9DpyGz. And when you include Metropolitan Ministries in your will, a generous donor will give $1,000 in your honor to help families in crisis today. #HOPELivesForever

Hope begins with a meal, and on Wednesday nights at our meal site partner, Temple Terrace United Methodist Church, we're reminded of the power of community. With over 4,000 hot meals served daily across 4️⃣1️⃣ partner locations in Tampa Bay, we're not just feeding bodies—we're nourishing souls and uplifting those in need. Every plate we serve represents a story of resilience and your support helps us keep writing those stories. Hunger doesn't take a day off and neither do we. Join us in the fight to end hunger and bring hope to our neighbors. Because together, we can ensure that no one goes to bed hungry. Want to help us making a difference? Learn more about our mission at metromin.org. #HopeDoesMore #HungerRelief #MetropolitanMinistries #HopeStartsWithAMeal

✨MiraclePlace Pasco✨ 43 members of the community and some of our staff came together (on their day off) to make a house a home for families experiencing homelessness. They carried 26 sets of bunkbeds up 2-3 flights of stairs, assembled 20 sets of bunkbeds, installed mattresses, hung shower curtains and brought #Hope while infusing the care of a community into our newly expanded residential building. #Pasco caring about our neighbors! And 24 additional families are already waiting to move in, for a total of 48 families residing safely on our West Pasco campus. #HopeDoesMore 💙 #Community #homelessbutnothopeless THANK YOU 🙏 VOLUNTEERS: Pasco County Government #PascoCountyUtilities, including Customer Information & Services, Engineering and Contract Management Dept. #pascocountypublicsafety #pascocountycorrections #pascosheriffsoffice #pascocountyfirerescue #pascocountycommissioners

With your incredible support, we’ve kicked off the school year in style! 🎒👟 The children residing on our Tampa and Pasco campuses along with our Sabal Place affordable housing community were filled with smiles as they received new backpacks, picked out fresh shoes, and got ready for a healthy, positive year ahead. THANK YOU to our amazing donors and community partners for making this possible! As we unite in purpose, we’re empowering the future, one step at a time. #CommunitySupport #BackToSchool #PositiveVibes #SupplyingTheNeed #HopeDoesMore #PascoCounty #HillsboroughCounty #PinellasCounty #SabalPlace