University Community Ministries, Inc

University Community Ministries (UCM) 

A faith based IRS qualified Florida charitable 501c (3) organization that was established in 1995. UCM offers services to children and youth, the homeless, and the elderly in need of supportive services such as literacy skills, food and clothing distribution, counseling, and community referral to increase individual and family independence and self-sufficiency.

UCM agency mission is to address and meet the spiritual, social and economic needs of the Tampa Bay community. We communicate the message of God’s love of all people regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status. 

In order to accomplish our mission, we provide opportunities that promote dignity, independence and self-sufficiency in the lives of the homeless, the elderly, the frail, the disadvantaged, the under-served youth and persons with disabilities.

The agency vision is that all individuals who suffer spiritually, physically, mentally, financially or from some other burden in their lives, may find restored hope, a resiliency to cope successfully with a changing environment, and the strength to live independently and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ

UCM has three major and unique programs under its umbrella. 

First one is the Operation Jumpstart Program (OJ) that feeds the homeless on Saturday, Second is  the Friendship Bridge (FB) Program , a ministry to the senior adult community who are over the age of 60, and the third is the Family Literacy Program called Parents and Children Advance Together Literacy Intervention and Family Enrichment to instill literacy as a value.