FAMILY PROMISE
Come help families in need!
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”
-St. Francis
Who is Family Promise?
Family Promise of Pickens County is a non-profit, interfaith effort to assist homeless families with immediate needs for shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services. Services provided help homeless families transition back into affordable housing, and Saint Andrew has committed to support this effort.
The Family Promise program keeps families together. In most homeless shelters, fathers are separated from the rest of their families and sometimes children are separated from their parents. In Family Promise stay together so that parents are not separated from their children. This program involves host and support congregations, volunteers, community agencies, a day center and transportation. Currently, fifteen congregations have committed to serve as hosts, including Clemson First Baptist, Clemson Presbyterian, Fort Hill Presbyterian and Holy Trinity Episcopal in the Clemson area. Saint Andrews is committed to serve as a support congregation, along with Clemson United Methodist, University Lutheran and the Unitarian Fellowship. Saint Andrews will provide primary support to Clemson First Baptist Church. Host congregations welcome families to have a meal and stay the night in their facilities. Support congregations help with duties associated with hosting by sending a regular stream of volunteers.
Will You Help?
Volunteers will be the foundation of St Andrew’s efforts. This is a unique opportunity for families with children to assist those in need. Individuals and families are asked to serve a two hour period, two-three times a year, and may assist in the following ways:
- Evening meal preparation
- Supper assistance (5:30PM – 8:30PM) – we hope that families will provide this support
- Overnight volunteers (8:30PM – 7:00AM)
- Clean-up – during the week or on Sunday morning
- Help with laundry (sheets and towels)
- Donating supplies needed by a host congregation
Contact
To volunteer or for further information, please contact Pat Marcondes (jmarcond@bellsouth.net) or Bob Fennell (rsfennell43@gmail.com).