United Ministries

ANNUAL REPORT: FY 2009

 In the year 2009 (fiscal year Oct. 08-Sept. 09), United Ministries helped 1,319 families and spent $301,000 in program expenses for our clients’ needs.  We spent $178,000 for utilities, $92,000 for rent, $144 on medicine, and $7,000 for food. We spent an average of $228.00 on each family we assisted.  These numbers represent the most funds spent per client in our 23 years of existence. Our total expenditures were $349,000.  Ninty percent of our donations went to program expenses for our clients.  Only ten percent of our donations are for Administrative expenses.  United Ministries is supported by 25 highly trained volunteers who make our services a reality.  Our volunteers help to keep our operating expenses very low.  United Ministries’ fundraising expenses for 2009 totaled $14,507, which is four percent of our total expenses.

In December of 2007, our community’s economy began a recession, as did the rest of our nation. We saw an increase in the number of clients who had not asked for help in the past seeking assistance with basic living expenses due to a loss of or reduced income. Many families had to absorb higher rent amounts for housing after the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season.  So a decrease in income for these families made survival even more difficult. These are working families struggling to make ends meet.  Our mission is to help these families who “fall between the cracks” of the existing social service system. The need for assistance remains a challenge.  The numbers of clients helped has declined due to our budget limitations,  however, we are proud to continue the increase in amount per client assisted.  

United Ministries received grants from the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families,  Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, Society of the Debutante Cotillion, Baroco Foundation, and the Kerrigan Family Foundation.  The grant income supplements the amount of service for our clients.

In combination with our partner churches, grants foundations and individuals, our contributions totaled $333,000 in the fiscal year 2009. United Ministries was awarded a one-time $25,000 grant through United Way from the Boroco Foundation in the summer of 2009.  Otherwise, our contributions would be down for 2009.    We hired a part time Manager of Development in 2008 to spend more time increasing our church support and to increase the awareness of United Ministries in the community.  New activities such as United Ministries Sunday and A Drop in the Bucket program helped to increase awareness in churches.

 Working together with all of our contributors, volunteers and staff, we are making a difference…one family at a time.