Since 1919, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church has been making an impact on Clearwater and the surrounding area. As a welcoming community of faith, Mt. Zion has a longstanding commitment to radical hospitality and justice. Mt. Zion is not just a place of worship, but also a community hub serving as the main campus of dePaul School for Dyslexia and a meeting space for organizations like Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, Disabled American Veterans, Whispering Souls African American Cemetery, Faith in Florida, Bay Area Dream Defenders, and more.
A few years ago with the help of Bryan Beckman, Mt. Zion began converting all our lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. Recently we installed motion-sensor light switches in the bathrooms and smart thermostats to optimize energy use. These changes reflect our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint while maximizing the impact of every dollar entrusted to us.
Now installing solar panels is the next step in our journey in being good stewards of the environment. Not only does this significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but it also cuts down on utility costs, freeing resources for ministries and community programming.
Partners
Solar United Neighbors is supporting this campaign by providing the donation platform and collecting donations. Contributions made are tax deductible and will directly offset the cost of Mt. Zion's solar installation. If you would prefer donating to this campaign offline, please send checks to Solar United Neighbors, 1350 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 412, Washington, DC 20036 and write Mt Zion Crowdfunding Project in the memo field.
The Sierra Club Suncoast Group is a proud partner and contributor to this project. Mt. Zion is participating in the switch together program.
Thank you from Mt. Zion
February 4, 2026
On behalf of the entire Mt. Zion United Methodist Church family, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution to our Solar Project Giving Campaign.
Because of your gift, this past month we completed the installation of our solar panels that will significantly lower our energy costs, allowing us to invest more deeply in outreach and justice work here in Clearwater and beyond.
Now, we are eagerly awaiting final inspections and connection to the grid. With your support, our dream of becoming better stewards of the environment has become a reality.
We are really close to our fundraising goal. If you are able to make another donation and/or share our efforts with others, that would be greatly appreciated. We took out a gap loan and any additional donations will enable us to pay it off quicker.
As a historic African-American congregation, Mt. Zion has always stood at the intersection of faith, justice, and innovation. Your contribution allows us to write a new chapter in that legacy - breaking the "green-ceiling," accessing cleaner energy technology that many minority communities are restricted from.
We will keep you updated as the solar panels become operational and we finalize a date to celebrate the installation.
With profound thanks,
Rev. Lee Hall-Perkins
Senior Pastor
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