Host & Support Congregations
Become a Host | Support and Current Congregations
Host Congregations
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.