Hi Family Promise Partners,

It’s vendor season! I’ll spend many Saturdays at festivals, and events talking about Family Promise, meeting great folks and eating some wicked delish food truck fare. But it’s not all fun and games.

This week I went to the New Cumberland Resource Fair, a twice a year event which connects those in need and those wishing to volunteer with resources to do both.  The mayor of New Cumberland directed a young lady to my table. She was couch surfing and didn’t have a permanent place to stay.  She didn’t have children, so she wasn’t able to apply for FPHCR’s shelter, but we did provide her with contact information for three organizations that specifically assist young women with transitional housing. 

I met another woman who I directed to read our flyer, to which she replied, “I can’t read.”  A little shocked, I was silent for a moment and then the conversation moved on.  If I had seen these two women on the street, I would never has guessed their silent struggles.

Everyone has struggles, but not everyone has people to help them through those challenges. At FPHCR we endeavor to be a support system for folks to walk them through decisions, direct them when they don’t know how to begin, help them address barriers (work, ID, trauma etc.), and provide a sense of safety while they figure it all out. The families in turn work hard through fear, frustration, and one challenge after another to climb their way to stability. They are some of the most resilient, strongest people I’ve ever met. Our executive director often says that if he had to go through a fraction of what they’ve experienced, he’d be in a ball on the floor.

Vendor season is fun for sure, and it also presents opportunities to reach folks face to face, and talk about their struggles, or the struggles of someone they know. If you see the big Family Promise HCR canopy while you’re enjoying your funnel cake this summer, stop by and say “Hi!”