by Nicole Ursin
“You can, and I love it,” says Family Promise volunteer Rosemary Watson from Lakewood United Methodist Church. Her church hosts Family Promise families four times a year and is one of many congregations in Pulaski County helping Family Promise.
Family Promise volunteers from Lakewood United Methodist Church
Family Promise of Pulaski County is an affiliate of the national Family Promise program (based in Summit, NJ) and helps housing insecure families achieve independence and stability. Family Promise strives to help homeless families achieve independence, increase public awareness of homeless and low-income needs, and give people of all ages meaningful volunteer opportunities. Families are housed for a week at a time, typically once per quarter at different Pulaski County houses of worship and other faith communities aid the host church with the hosting duties.
Rosemary, who usually helps with coordinating their churches volunteers and overnight stays says “it has been a blessing to our church.” Her church has a group of eager volunteers and gets help from other congregations for the hosting duties. The congregations provide three nutritious meals a day, shower and laundry services, and volunteers who stay overnight with the families.
Faith Communities Involved with Family Promise of Pulaski County
Family Promise helps four families or up to fourteen people at a time. The organization provides comprehensive case management services including finding child care; locating safe, affordable housing; and assisting with the search for jobs. The families on average only stay with Family Promise for 60 days before developing the resources they need to stand on their own.
Executive Director, Cynthia Ramey says “congregations do not have to travel out of their communities for meaningful mission opportunities. They can be of service to homeless children and their parents, right inside their own houses of worship.”
Interested in helping end housing insecurity for Pulaski County families with Family Promise of Pulaski County?
Contact Family Promise of Pulaski County, Executive Director, Cynthia Ramey at (501) 372-0733 or at familypromise@familypromisepc.org.