Host & Support Congregations
Become a Host | Support and Current Congregations
Host and Support Congregations
Christ Lutheran Church
Colonial Heights Assembly of God
Douglas Avenue Assembly of God
East Heights United Methodist Church
First Mennonite Brethren Church
Support Congregations/Groups:
Provide meals, volunteers, donations, and supplies, etc. to support the program. (Contact Family Promise if your congregation or community organization is interested in joining the network in a support role.)
Becoming a Host Congregation
Hosting provides families who have lost their homes with safe, secure lodging and a sense of community. It gives volunteers the opportunity to provide hands-on outreach in their own congregational facility. Basic elements needed for a congregation to join as a Host:
- Space for up to 4 families/14 individuals, to stay for a week at a time, 4 times a year. The space used can be classrooms, offices or a large hall with dividers. Families each get a private space that is left in place during the day.
- A common area for meals, homework, relaxation and fellowship.
- Two bathrooms: one for women; one for men. (The day center provides showers.)
- Space for volunteers to sleep. Any available space at the congregation can be used — offices, hallway, etc.
- A kitchen for meal preparation, including a refrigerator, food staples, and clean-up items. Dinners may be cooked at the congregation or brought in and heated there.
- The congregation is responsible for all meals (nutritious cooked dinners, simple breakfasts, and supplies for sack lunches), utilities (heat/cooling, water and electricity), linens, and various basic items such as toys, soap, etc. The program supplies the beds/cots.
- Volunteers: a congregation should always have at least 2 volunteers present and generally not more than 4 at a time. Volunteers can come from other congregations and organizations; all volunteers undergo training/orientation before they begin.
Common question: Our building is in use almost all the time. How will we find the space? Congregations are busy places with many demands on their space. Rarely does a perfect space exist. Hosting almost always means making some scheduling adjustments for activities and meetings. For example, four or five times a year, AA or the Bible Study Group may need to move their Tuesday night meeting to another room.
More questions? Please call us! 316-977-7026.