Because so much progress has been made, not only in host recruitment, but in identifying and preparing for the Day Center, Communications, and Fund Development, we have set a target opening date of October 1, 2016!

Our Host Recruitment Team is hard at work, presenting the Family Promise opportunity to individuals, boards, and entire congregations. We are currently at five committed Host Congregations and three committed Support Congregations.

Our Day Center Team is doing all they can to secure and prepare a functional and “homey” day center for use by our network director, case manager, and program guests. Charlie & Mable Mullen, Jeff & Jana Mullen, Jeremy Mitchell-Koch, Brandon Witt and others are working hard to make that happen!

Our Fund Development Team is off and running to make sure Family Promise of Greater Wichita has the funding we need to care for the precious families we will serve. The team recently launched CLUB316, asking for folks who believe in the mission of Family Promise to commit to contributing $316 / year to Family Promise of Greater Wichita. You can join CLUB316 online at https://familypromisewichita.org/club316/  Your donation of $316 helps provide services to a family for 1 week:

– Safe shelter

– Nutritious meals

– Rides to job interviews

– Intensive case management

– 76% success rate nationwide

Our Communications Team is doing an excellent job promoting our cause through our website, social media, brochures, and newsletters. Now that we have hit some important milestones in our development, the team is eager to begin engaging local print, radio, and TV media for even broader exposure.    

Our Transportation Team is busy turning over rocks to locate one major component of our program: a 15 passenger van. If you know of a van that might be available by October 1 for a reasonable price (preferably FREE!) please contact our team at transportation@familypromisewichita.org.

Some of the other items on our Wish List are:

–  WASHER & DRYER: Since it is not mandatory to have a washer & dryer at each church, it is necessary to have them at the day center.

– BEDS / COTS: We need 16 to 18 portable beds / cots. These beds will be moved between Host Congregations each week.

– 14 LARGE WHEELED PLASTIC CONTAINERS: Used to store and move the guests’ personal belongings during stays and transport between Host Congregations.

– WAREHOUSING: A space to store donated furnishings for program graduates to help them furnish their new home.

– FURNISHINGS: Good condition office/household furnishings to help start up the Day Center.  

As you can see, there are a lot of pieces to this puzzle that still need put together, so our October 1 target opening date may be a bit of a moving target. Even so, God has already opened so many doors that we are confident that we will NOT go another winter!