Family Promise : Food Pantry : Giving Tree : Habitat : Job Search : Knitting4Peace : OPEN M : Welcome Table
Family Promise
Family Promise of Summit County (previously known as Interfaith Hospitality Network) is "a consolidation of faith congregations caring for families in need of shelter, meals, and compassionate assistance that leads them to secure a stable home environment." Homeless families make up 40% of all homeless people, but there are no shelters organized to keep families intact during their homelessness. Typically, men end up in men's shelters while women and young children go to women's shelters, placing an additional stress on a family already facing a difficult situation. Family Promise works with host churches which provide food and overnight shelter to families who have been accepted into their program. During their time in the program, the families are assisted by professional social workers who guide them on a path to employment, if needed, and housing. This work is done in the Family Center in Akron, a space that provides shower and laundry facilities, a nursery and kitchen, and telephones and computers to aid in the search for jobs and housing.
For the past four years, members of our parish, including the youth, have volunteered their time to help families sponsored by Family Promise. Our neighbor, Hudson Congregational Church, is a host church to these families, providing services several times a year for one week at a time. We support their efforts. The services include transportation, meals, lodging, fellowship, and homework assistance.
Only an hour or two of volunteer time during a host week can make a difference in the lives of the homeless people we serve. And we only have to go next door to do this! Please call or e-mail Pam Zuhl zuhlfamily@aol.com if you are interested in volunteering or for more information.
