Hello Church!
We are excited to share with you that Maitland Presbyterian Church is a new partner with Family Promise!
What is Family Promise?
Family Promise partners with families in our community who are unhoused. Many of the shelters are full here in Central Florida. Family Promise helps one family at a time by providing a safe place to sleep and then offers long term support to help families find permanent housing.
What will we do as a partner?
Our congregation will be hosting up to four families the week of December 17 - 24, 2023. As a host site, we will provide lodging, meals and hospitality. For the families, each day begins with breakfast here at the church, followed by a van ride to the Family Promise Resource Center, work or daycare. At 5:30 the guests return to the church, where we will provide dinner and spend some quality time. On Saturday the families will be here for the day and we will offer activities for them.
Where will the families be staying?
We will be providing housing and sharing meals in the Family Life Center. They will also be able to use the showers and laundry facilities.
Why are we working with this new mission partner?
Over a year ago, the congregation was asked to fill out a survey sharing your passion for different social issues. The top two issues that the congregation asked Mission Outreach to prioritize were homelessness and hunger. The committee, under the leadership of chair Sandy Bishop, then began a discernment process of best ways to address these issues. During this time, a connection was made with Family Promise. The committee has since met with the staff of Family Promise as well as several local churches who are also host sites for the program. After session’s approval of the partnership, the committee began its work to prepare for our first host week next December.
How can I learn more?
On Sunday, May 21 leaders from Family Promise will be coming to speak with the congregation during a Minute for Mission in worship. They will be available between services in Fellowship Hall for you to ask any questions about their program.
How can I help?
Over the next few months you will be invited to donate items for the program and to sign up to volunteer. Here are the way you can volunteer:
Dinner: Cook or serve dinner for the families and spend time with the parents and children in the early evening hours. A meal plan will be provided to guide cooking teams in selecting a meal to prepare.
Food Pantry: A food pantry with extra items will be open for the families. Volunteers will check the pantry each day to organize the food and report items that need to be purchased.
Breakfast/Lunch: Breakfast and to-go lunches are provided every morning. Volunteers prepare and clean up these meals before families leave for the day.
Saturday Hosts: These volunteers host the families in the church during the day on Saturday and play games or offer help as needed.
Overnight Hosts: At least two adults (or an adult and teenager) from the church will stay in the building overnight to assist with emergencies or questions. Overnight hosts will sleep in the youth room.
Set up and Break Down: At the beginning and end of the week, all beds and supplies from Family Promise will be loaded into and out of the building.
Post Program: After our host week, volunteers are needed to wash the bedding and towels and organize/restock our supplies.
Trailer Driver: At the end of our host week, a volunteer with a pick up truck will tow the trailer with beds and other Family Promise supplies to the next host church in Orlando.
In preparation for this new program, we will be collecting the following items starting in June: Twin sheets and pillow cases, twin sized blankets, towels, small lamps (preferably battery operated), combination locks, adult sized flip flops, brown paper lunch bags, sandwich size zip lock bags, laundry detergent, board games, art supplies, plastic child sized plates, cups, forks and spoons, granola bars, individual chip bags, boxes of cereal, lemonade powder, coffee, disposable water bottles, individual toothbrushes and toothpaste, Costco-sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash, three in one shampoo/conditioner/soap for children, deodorant for men and women, maxi pads and tampons, shower caps, hair brushes and combs, washcloths, shaving cream and razors.
If you would like to be on our email list for more information about how to help, email Sandy Bishop here. You can find the sign up sheet for volunteers here.
Let's love like Jesus!
Megan and Dave