VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER

Where Are They Now?

All who attended the 10th Anniversary celebration had a

chance to visit with Tarshette, Jackie and Levar, Bliss, Claudia,

Renae, Michelle, Maria & Louis and all the kids. It was great

to see some of our old friends. Tarshette is almost finished with

beautician school. Jackie & Levar’s oldest is in college — we

saw him at the Christmas party, looking great! Kat and her two daughters

moved into their own apartment on December 23rd and were able to celebrate

Christmas in their own fully-furnished (by a generous sponsor) home.

New Families:

Tina with her 1 1/2 year old

son

Edwin & Jessica with their

two sons, 16 months and 2

months

Kermly with her 18 month-

old daughter

Michele with her two sons,

11 & 12 years old

WE CELEBRATED OUR

10TH! WHAT A NIGHT!

The dinner was a sell-out.

Some 335 people were there to

meet and greet, enjoy the

music of the New River Blue

Grass Band, silently bid on

terrific prizes and share the joy

of being part of this wonderful organization.

As Rev. Janet Chilcote told the crowd,

“Whether you were here ten years ago at the

beginning or you just began volunteering

last week, know that you are important.

You are doing God’s work here.” Former

guest Jackie spoke a little about her family’s

experience and the need for faith when you

don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

Mary Alice Fish wound up the evening

by thanking all who had contributed

their time and care

and money to keep

the faith alive for the

past 10 years. What

a great night!

Interfaith Hospitality Network 2313 1/2 N. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32804

familypromiseorlando.org 407 893-4580 February 2012

Share the Love Walk

4/14/2012

This year the walk will start This year the walk will start This year the walk will start

from First United Methodist from First United Methodist from First United Methodist

Church of Winter Park Church of Winter Park Church of Winter Park

e

A Few Words from the Director

The last quarter of 2011 saw the fabulous 10th

Anniversary celebration, the dedicated and won-

derful men of the Golf Marathon and all the loving

support for current and former guest families at

the holidays. Thanks to all our volunteers we have

been able to fulfill our mission to care for home-

less families with children. Looking ahead, we

really need to bring additional congregations into

our network. The best way to make that happen is

from the ground up, person to person. Tell your

friends what you do and whom you help. When

they want to help, ask them to bring it to others in

their congregation and to their pastor. Pastors

need to know there will be support for any new

project before they jump into it.

Mary Alice Fish

Family Needs

Weekly Bus

Pass

(available at

Amscot)

Diapers sizes

2 & 4

Homework

helpers 1 hour

after school

Resume coach

Job coach

Donated

storage space

*Move-out

Basket of

Supplies

Answers from April

Q. Some families only stay a short time with us.

Why do they leave and what happens to them?

April: Some families choose to leave because they

believe they will improve their situation, either

reconciliation with family members or a spouse or old

boyfriend comes back into their lives. Some families

are not allowed to stay because they have chosen not

to follow our rules or, more commonly, are not

working the plan which we have agreed upon. I try to

find these families some place else to go if possible

and will drive them to a hotel or another shelter. We

cannot keep people who do not see a benefit to

working a plan since there are so many needy families

who will use our help to get ahead.

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THE IHN VAN

Old Faithful, the Family Promise/IHN van, drives about

1500 miles each month, with an average of 3 families.

Although some families have their own vehicles, they

often choose to ride the van to and from the Day Center

to save gas.

Sunday: April drives the van from the Day Center to the

host congregation where the families hop in. After a

short stop at a grocery store to pick up after-school

snacks, the van heads back to the Day Center. At 5 PM

April drives the van to the new host congregation. April

spends some time there and then returns the van to the

Day Center.

Monday: 7AM Oscar or Mark gets the van and arrives at

host congregation at 7:30 where families board. He

drives from host to elementary school to drop off kids,

then to day care, then Good Will Job Club before heading

back to the Day Center. At 8:50 he takes kids to the

middle school. Back again to the Day Center.

Afternoon: 2:50 April goes to pick up

elementary school children. 3:50 April

leaves to pick up middle school kids.

5PM all at the Day Center load into the

van, a stop at day care and it’s off to the host

congregation.

Tuesday: Same as Monday.

Wednesday: Same as Monday except there is Early

Dismissal in the schools so in the afternoon the van goes

at 1:50 and 2:50.

Thursday: A parent is ill so everything begins one hour

earlier to take the parent to Health Care for the

Homeless. Children stay at the Day Center until it is time

to go to school.

Friday: Same as Monday except Mary Alice drives the

van on April’s day off.

Saturday: A day of rest.

(Other trips as needed: move out to new apartment,

pick up family’s belongings, job shadow, pick up donated

items, etc.)

Ho! Ho! Ho! It was a wonderful Holiday Season with an outpouring of love and help.

Thanks to all you Christmas angels out there:

All guests had presents on Christmas Day.

10 former guest families had boxes of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Santa came to visit on Christmas.

50 guests and former guests attended a fabulous Christmas party at First United Methodist of WP with more presents.

Thanks to a gift from Winter Park Health Foundation

we now can send 2 children to Day Care for 52 weeks.

Wanted: a few people with trucks or vans to help our families when they move out & up to their new

homes. Call Mary Alice to join the list. 407 893-4588

*Move-out Basket: cleaning supplies, broom, mop, buck-

et, kitchen garbage can, paper goods, dish towels. A good

project for a group (prayer, bridge, book, scout, golf)!