As the excitement of Holy Week and Spring Break settle, Family Promise catches up on acknowledging our host churches and volunteers.  Volunteers are the reason this program is so successful, and we could not have gotten this far without you.

Our friends, Grace Presbyterian Church

Last week, our families were hosted by Grace Presbyterian Church, a Beaufort church with a small but loving congregation. Our volunteers pitched in to help with meal preparation and provide overnight hosts. Spring break saw all the kids home for the week and there was a lot of activity in the day center, but it was expertly handled between our host church and volunteers.  In the midst of all this turbulence, one of our families acquired and moved in to their new permanent home. They are now graduated from the Family Promise program and we look forward to their future successes!

The week before, Ann Street Methodist Church in Beaufort invited our families with cheer and jubilation, ready to celebrate the days approaching Easter with our guests. The hosts made certain the Easter Bunny found our families and their children, with baskets for each child.

Our friends, Ann Street United Methodist Church

When children are homeless, they often miss the little traditions that require the stability of an address and the privacy of a place to hide gifts. This year they did not go without, thanks to so many people and volunteers providing gifts and assembling baskets and surprises for our guests. Thank you to everyone who kept this day special for our guests.

In further gratitude to new friends from Newport, we must thank the Woodmen of the World, Lodge 336. They heard of our need and put together a massive care package, and it has proven invaluable, both in the Day Center and in providing for the family who just moved on to bigger and better things!

Our friends, Lodge 336 of Woodmen of the World

Finally, as is customary, we acknowledge a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in so many ways the past few weeks. From jumping guests’ vehicles when they fail to start, helping our family move, providing furniture and resources, keeping the van running throughout the week and so much more, Floyd Jones is one indispensable part of the Family Promise program.  He is keeping the lights on, in more ways than one, as an over night host and a handy man.  Thanks to him, and other volunteers like him, we are continuing to improve the lives and opportunities for the “least of these”.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  – Matthew 25:35-36

Our volunteers and partners are the backbone of Family Promise. This week, we are thanking a couple of long time friends for their help in making us so effective at helping “the least of these”.

Our friends, First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City

The First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City took care of our families last week. With fabulous amenities, the church provided resources needed and very welcome to our guests. The kids loved their youth group room, which hosts a variety of activities. Everyone was impressed by the little niceties of this active church community. We are all grateful for the comfort and ease furnished by our most recent hosts.

In our office this week, Betty Goodwin has spent this winter providing us all with beautiful, colorful hats knitted while she takes care of calls and requests to our program. Her hands are never still, and we thank her for it.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35-36

Family Promise succeeds because of the efforts of our volunteers and partners. This week, we honor a new partnership and an old friend.

Our new friend, Parkview Baptist Church

Today, we would like to welcome our newest hosts, Parkview Baptist Church of Morehead City. Last week was their very first week hosting homeless families at their church, and our families met some new friends, and eat some wonderful meals. The volunteers who spent the nights with them in this new place made them feel like extended family, with grace, generosity, and God’s love. We are so glad to welcome them as our newest partners, they truly know how to treat “the least of these”.

We would also like to highlight our volunteer Miriam Green, for her tireless efforts keeping our systems up to date and organized, and for training newcomers to those same systems.  Miriam has dedicated a great deal of her time and expertise to the homeless in our community and we honor her as our Volunteer of the Week.