Since 2015, the Neighborhood Church has partnered with Family Promise of the South Bay to help transform the lives of homeless families and children in our community. This partnership has taken many forms as it has grown throughout the years-- we’ve supported them through seasonal offerings, hands on volunteer projects, special events, and collection drives. Last year, Women’s Fellowship donated significant funds that allowed Family Promise to purchase a new van for transporting their guests. In 2017, we began serving as a support congregation, providing hot meals and care to families who are guests in the program. The hardworking members of our Christian Action Ministry are always working to find new ways to support Family Promise, and this summer, our congregation had an opportunity unlike any other. 

Earlier this year, Family Promise of the South Bay signed a lease on a three bedroom house to be used as interim housing for families in their program. Together, our Neighborhood Church Family came together with Family Promise volunteers to refurbish the home and turn it into a warm, welcoming and safe place for Family Promise guests.  

The project took place in many phases over the summer months, beginning in August with a painting and cleaning day. Almost a dozen church members showed up in their painter’s best and helped paint the bedrooms and living room and cleaned out the kitchen. New flooring was installed along with new kitchen appliances including a refrigerator and dishwasher.

In September, more Neighborhood Church members helped set up the home and make it move in ready, assembling eight (!) beds and dressing them in new sheets and blankets to get them ready for families. Curtains were hung and the kitchen was stocked with utensils and cookware through generous donations that members made through a Bed Bath and Beyond registry.

A special thank you to all of our church families who supported this exciting new project in any way, and to those who have supported Family Promise of the South Bay in the past. Together, our volunteers donated almost 200 hours of their time and dedication to the Family Promise Interim Housing Project! Our Women’s Fellowship and Christian Action Ministry donated a combined $5,500 to the project which was instrumental in getting the house ready for families to move in earlier this Fall.

On behalf of the two families who have felt the love and dedication that went into this project and who cried tears of joy upon seeing their new home, thank you for support. You can learn more about Family Promise of the South Bay and their interfaith network of support and host congregations on their website at www.familypromiseosb.org

Photos courtesy of Doreen Wright