Hosting Congregation
VOLUNTEERS CHANGING LIVES TOGETHER
Family Promise’s shelter program relies on a partnership of interfaith congregations, civic organizations, and other volunteer groups to help our families facing homelessness. Our host sites provide lodging, meals, and hospitality to families in need. For families in the program, each day begins with breakfast available at the host site with volunteers, followed by a van ride to our Day Center. In the evening, guests return to the host site, where volunteers provide dinner and spend some quality time. The evening hours are for homework, relaxing, and family fun time, as they would be with any family. Each day begins with the family together, and ends with the family all together, under one roof.
HOSTING
Local houses of worship or civic groups, which we call host sites, provide temporary overnight lodging in otherwise unused spaces in their buildings. A host site team of volunteers, along with support volunteers, may be involved with the following:
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Cooking and/or hosting dinner
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Spending the evening with families, talking, tutoring kids, or playing games
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Sleeping overnight at the host site
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Coordinating children’s crafts & activities
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Donating necessary supplies for the hosting week
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Setting up and breaking down of guest families’ rooms
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Transporting the families to and from the host site to the Day Center
You can still be a volunteer even if you aren’t connected to one of our hosting or partner organizations.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact our Community Liaison, Susan, Community Engagement Associate susan@familypromisehcr.org
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Families stay overnight, not 24 hours a day
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Each congregation hosts families for just one week, four times a year
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Guests consist of up to three families (14 children & adults max)
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Family Promise runs criminal background checks and drug screenings on all program participants
Become a Support Volunteer!
Can we host FPHCR at our site?
A partner organization can be so many things! Our partners can be houses of worship such as congregations, mosques, or synagogues, or civil organizations such as fire companies, VFW, Elks, Lions, Rotary, Scouts or others. Some partner organizations serve as host sites, and some serve as supporting sites.
What does a "Support Volunteer" do?
You are our "hands and feet" and typically are matched with a host site. Volunteers can sign up to fill any of the volunteer roles at a host site instead of at their own facility. Some of our partner organizations aren't able to host families due to a lack of space or some other reason. Instead, individuals or teams from an organization can volunteer with a Host Site to fulfill any role that is needed.
To learn more about becoming a support volunteer, click here
WE THANK OUR HOST AND
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS!
Thank you to our fantastic congregation partners!
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Camp Hill United Methodist Church
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Charlton United Methodist Church
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Crossroads Christian Ministry
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Dillsburg Brethren in Christ
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Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church
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Good Shepherd Lutheran, Harrisburg
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Grace Lutheran Church, Camp Hill
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Grace United Methodist Church, Lemoyne
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Grace United Methodist Church, Harrisburg
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Living Legacy Church
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Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren
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Our Saviour Lutheran, Harrisburg
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Shepherdstown United Methodist Church
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Shiremanstown United Methodist Church
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St. Peter Lutheran, Highspire
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St. Peter Lutheran, Mechanicsburg
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St. Peter Lutheran, Middletown
Partners and hosts share in providing overnight lodging, meals, and hospitality to our families. Learn more by emailing Susan, Community Engagement Associate susan@familypromisehcr.org.
We need your help! Can your organization become a host or support congregation?